ttbrarp  of  Che  Cheoiocjical  ^eminarp 

PRINCETON  •  NEW  JERSEY 


•a^t- 


Part  of  the 
Addison  Alexander  Library 
Presented  by  Messrs.  H.L. 
and  A.  Stuart 


SCC  #10,866 

Howie,  John,  1735-1793. 

The  Scots  worthies 


THE 


SCOTS  WORTHIES; 


CONTAINING 


A  BRIEF  HISTORICAL  ACCOUNT 


OK    THE    MOST 


iBmwA  IMilnnnt,  Cnrtlenmi,  pirate,  otift  atjjff*, 


WHO  TESTIFIED  OK  SUFFERED  FOR  THE  CAUSE  OF  REFORMATION 

IN   SCOTLAND  FROM  THE  BEGINNING  OF  THE  SIXTEENTH 

CENTURY   TO   THE   YEAR   1688. 


BY   JOHN    HOWIE,  OF    LOCHGOIN. 


ILLUSTRATED. 


NEW   YORK: 
ROBERT    CARTER    AND    BROTHERS, 

N  o.    2  8  5     B  K  i )  A  I)  W  A  V  . 
1S53. 


CONTENTS. 


Life  of  John  Howie, 
Introduction, 


Memoir: 


Patrick  Hamilton, 

George  Wishart. 

Adam  Wallace,     - 

Walter  Mill, 

James  Sluart,  Earl  of  Moray. 

John  Knox.  - 

George  Buchanan, 

John  Frskine  of  Dun,    - 

Robert  Rollock,    - 

John  Craig, 

David  Black, 

'"lii   Davidson, 

Andrew  Melville. 

William  Row. 

Patrick  Simpson, 

Andrew  Duncan, 

John  Scrimgeour 

John  Welch, 

Robert  Boyd," 

Robert  Bruce, 

Josias  Welch, 

John  Gordon.  Viscount  Kenmure. 

Robert  Cunningham, 

James  Mitchell. 

Alexander  Henderson. 

George  Gillespie, 

:  ihn  M-Clelland, 

David  Calderwood, 

JTu»h  Binning. 

Andrew  Gray, 

James  Durham,    - 

Samuel  Rutherford, 

Archibald  Campbell,  Marquis  of  Argyle, 

James  Guthn'p. 


Page 

_ 

vii 

William  Govan,    - 

. 

411 

17 

John  Campbell,  Earl  of  Loudon 

4  1 2 

Robert  Baillie, 

. 

419 

David  Dickson, 

- 

42] 

Sir  Archibald  Johnston,  Lord  Warriston 

1 26 

James  Wood, 

- 

432 

William  Guthrie, 

- 

434 

-       25 

Robert  Blair, 

- 

443 

33 

Hugh  M'Kail,       - 

- 

452 

-       56 

John  Nevay, 

- 

461 

67 

John  Livingstone, 

- 

463 

-       73 

John  Semple, 

- 

470 

103 

James  Mitchell,    - 

- 

472 

194 

Colonel  James  Wallace, 

- 

481 

212 

John  Welwood,    - 

- 

is: 

-     225 

William  Gordon  of  Earlstoun, 

- 

491 

227 

John  King  and  John  Kid,     - 

- 

491 

-     230 

John  Brown.         ^» 

- 

497 

233 

Henry  Hall  of  Haugh-head, 

- 

501 

-     239 

Richard  Cameron, 

- 

503 

278 

David  Hackston  of  Rathillet, 

- 

510 

-     281 

Robert  Ker  of  Kersland, 

- 

514 

288 

Donald  Cargill,    - 

- 

516 

-     291 

Walter  Smith, 

- 

525 

294 

Robert  Garnock. 

- 

528 

-     309 

Robert  MacWard, 

- 

539 

320 

Captain  John  Paton, 

- 

545 

-     329 

Robert  Baillie  of  Jervisvvood. 

- 

554 

330 

John  Brown  of  Priesthill.    - 

- 

558 

-     343 

John  Nisbet  of  Hardhill, 

- 

566 

345 

Alexander  Peden, 

- 

574 

-     349 

John  Blackadder, 

- 

364 

James  Renwick, 

- 

590 

-     36S 

Account  of  the  Rising  which  en 

ded  in 

:i:o 

the  defeat  at  Pentland.     Anno 

1666. 

606 

-     374 

Account  of  the  Rising  which  orig 

mated 

380 

the  Battle  of  Drumclog,  and  endi 

-     383 

defeat   at   Bothwell   Bridge. 

Ahiio 

389 

1679, 

- 

610 

rgyle,  398 

Account  of  the  Skirmish  at 

405 

1 680, 

- 

BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 


JOHN    HOWIE. 


Before  entering  upon  the  following  brief  Memoir  of  one  who  has  contributed 
more  to  the  biographical  information  of  the  Scottish  peasantry  than  authors  of 
greater  celebrity,  it  may  not  be  uninteresting  to  delineate  the  site  of  his  humble 
dwelling-place,  which  was  so  often  the  rendezvous  and  retreat  of  the  persecuted 
Covenanters,  at  the  time  when  they  were  hunted  like  beasts  of  prey,  from  hill  to 
hill,  and  when  it  often  became  necessary  for  them  to  take  refuge  in  dens  and 
caves  of  the  earth. 

Lochgoin,  although  only  an  humble  cottage,  and  possessing  perhaps  more  of 
the  appearance  of  the  "  olden  time"  than  many  of  the  same  grade  at  the  present 
day,  has  yet  attractions  more  omnipotent  over  the  associations  of  every  Scottish 
Presbyterian,  than  the  turreted  remains  of  the  baronial  castle,  whose  most  stren- 
uous defender  had  bled  and  died  for  his  country's  civil  rights.  This  lonely, 
secluded  spot  is  situated  in  the  parish  of  Fenwick  in  the  county  of  Ayr,  about 
two  miles  from  the  King's-wells  Inn,  on  the  road  from  Glasgow  to  Kilmarnock  ; 
distant  from  the  former  fifteen  miles,  and  about  two  from  the  latter.  There  is 
not  in  Scotland,  perhaps,  a  situation  more  dreary  and  sequestered,  with  the 
exception  of  King's-house,  near  the  mountains  of  Glencoe ;  yet,  though  in  itself 
retired  and  uninviting,  it  looks  out  upon  scenery  as  picturesque,  sublime,  and 
romantic,  as  is  to  be  met  with  among  the  rugged  mountains  of  Switzerland. 

From  an  artificial  eminence  about  a  hundred  yards  from  the  cottage,  which 
was  raised  for  the  purpose  of  watching  the  movements  of  the  king's  troops  in  the 
time  of  the  persecution,  and  to  give  notice  of  their  approach,  the  prospect  is 
indescribably  grand  and  extensive.  Towards  the  north,  the  eye  rests  upon  the 
lofty  mountains  in  Argyleshire  ;  and  in  the  same  direction,  Benlomond  is  beau- 
tifully conspicuous.  The  Kilbirnie  range,  nearer  and  more  lowly,  limit  the  view 
towards  the  west.  Goatfell,  in  the  isle  of  Arran  ;  the  Pap  of  Jura;  and  Aika 
Craig,  although  removed  to  a  much  greater  distance,  are  distinctly  viable.  On 
the  south,  the  prospect  is   terminated  by  the  blue  hills  of  Carriek,  and  the  far 


via  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH   OF   JOHN   HOWIE. 

distant  range  in  Galloway ;  and,  upon  ascending  a  heathy  eminence  about  a 
mile  distant,  Tinto,  the  remote  Pentlands,  and  even  Arthur's  Seat,  meet  the  eye, 
as  it  moves  along  towards  the  east.  Onward,  the  verdant  Ochils  beyond  Stirling, 
and  the  less  lofty,  though  not  less  beautiful,  hills  of  Campsie  complete  the  cir- 
cumference. 

Within  this  vast  barrier,  the  whole  seems  but  one  misty  waste  of  moor,  where 
scarcely  any  human  habitation  is  visible,  save  the  shepherd's  cot ;  and  where  no 
sound  is  to  be  heard  but  the  voice  of  the  shepherd  himself  directing  his  faithful 
dog  ;  the  bleating  of  the  sheep  and  the  cry  of  the  feathered  foreigners  that  have 
fled  for  a  time  from  the  regions  of  a  more  inclement  sky,  until  winter  once  more 
compels  them  to  seek  the  shelter  of  a  milder  climate.  In  winter,  the  scene  is 
bleak  beyond  description  ;  and  terrible,  when  the  uncontrolled  winds  sweep  along 
the  trackless  expanse  in  fitful  fury.  The  only  exception  to  the  general  dreariness 
of  the  scene  is  a  portion  of  the  fertile  lauds  of  Ayrshire,  contiguous  to  the  firth 
of  Clyde,  apparently  slumbering  like  a  peaceful  lake  at  the  base  of  the  lofty 
Arran. 

Distant  only  a  few  miles  is  Loudonhill,  near  the  battle-field  of  Drumclog ;  and 
almost  at  its  base,  a  cairn  of  stones,  commemorative  of  the  spot  where  the  Cove- 
nanters worshipped  on  the  morning  of  the  conflict.  A  few  miles  further  off  is 
Airsmoss,  from  whose  bleak  and  lonely  bosom  rises  Cameron's  monumental  stone ; 
and  a  mile  or  rather  more  distant  stands  Priesthill,  the  hallowed  house  of  John 
Brown,  the  Christian  Carrier,  and  the  scene  of  his  infamous  murder  by  the 
bloody  Claverhouse.  Not  so  remote  stands  Loudon  house,  the  residence  of  the 
Campbells,  marked  out  by  the  tops  of  the  many  woods  in  which  it  is  imbosomed  ; 
and  just  beyond  the  environs  is  Hardhill,  where  Nisbet  lived.  Meadowhead,  the 
ancient  residence  of  Captain  Paton,  and  other  farm-houses,  occupy  a  more  culti- 
vated locality  in  the  same  parish.  To  this  day  the  repetition  of  the  troublous 
times  in  which  those  devoted  martyrs  lived,  forms  the  subject  of  many  a  winter 
evening's  conversation ;  and  the  church  of  Fenwick,  where  the  pious  Guthrie  so 
successfully  dispensed  the  word  of  life,  is  still  pointed  to  as  a  relique  clear  to  the 
descendants  of  the  Covenanters.  Such  is  an  imperfect  outline  of  Lochgoin,  the 
residence  of  the  Howies. 

The  Howies  appear  to  have  been  originally  of  French  extraction — such  at 
least  is  the  tradition  of  the  family,  and  we  have  no  reason  to  question  its 
accuracy.  The  severities  to  which  the  Waldenses  were  subjected,  during  the 
twelfth  century,  compelled  many  of  that  body  to  leave  their  native  country  and 

!  refuge  in  distant  lands.  It  was  during  that  period  that  three  brothers,  sur- 
named  Howie,  took  up  their  residence  in  the  west  of  Scotland;  one  in  the  parish 
of  Mearns  ;  another  in  the  parish  of  Craigie;  while  the  third  chose  for  his  place 
of  abode   the  <\   Lochgoin,  which,   after  the   lapse  of  more   than  six 

his  descendants  still  occupy.  And  the  tradition  receives  farther 
confirmation  from  the  fact,  that  this  is  almost  the  only  part  of  Scotland  where 
persons  bearing  this  name  are  to  be  met  with. 

About  the  period  of  the  Reformation,  we  find  their  posterity  adhering  boldly 
to  the  cause  of  Protestantism,  a  circumstance  which  renders  it  highly  probable 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH  OF   JOHN    HOWIE. 


is 


that,  notwithstanding  the  proselytizing  spirit  of  the  age  in  which  they  lived,  the 
humble  occupants  of  Lochgoin  had  never  swerved  from  the  faith  of  their  fathers. 
It  was  not,  however,  till  the  period  of  the  second  Reformation,  that  the  Howie* 
were  brought  into  prominent  notice,  by  becoming  sufferers  for  the  truth.  Nor 
were  these  sufferings  of  a  trivial  nature.  Lochgoin,  as  the  reader  has  already 
seen,  being  peculiarly  favourable  for  concealment,  had  often  afforded  an  asylum  to 
the  harrassed  Covenanters  when  flying  from  their  ruthless  persecutors  ;  and  thus 
the  inmates  themselves  became  also  tbe  objects  of  the  most  rigorous  oppression. 
Not  only  were  they  twelve  different  times  subjected  to  confiscation  of  property  ; 
but,  upon  one  occasion,  their  cattle  were  driven  to  the  market-cross  of  Kilmar- 
nock and  exposed  for  sale ;  the  Howies  themselves  were  declared  rebels  to  the 
government ;  their  names  were  inserted  in  the  fugitives'  roll ;  and  they,  with 
hundreds  more,  were  compelled  to  betake  themselves  for  concealment  to  the 
mountains  and  moors. 

John  Howie,  the  subject  of  this  memoir,  who  has  given  so  much  additional 
celebrity  to  the  family,  was  born  at  Lochgoin  on  the  14th  November,  1735. 
His  father,  John  Howie  also,  dying  suddenly  when  our  biographer  was  only  about 
a  year  old,  the  child  was  removed  to  Blackhill,  a  farm  in  the  parish  of  Kilmar- 
nock, at  that  time  the  residence  of  his  maternal  grandparents,  who  took  upon 
themselves  the  charge  of  his  education.  Being  pious  and  intelligent,  the  advan- 
tages which  the  youth  derived,  both  from  their  tuition  and  example,  were  invalu- 
able. Indeed  his  future  life  bespoke  the  correctness  of  his  early  tuition  ;  having 
been  alike  free  from  severity  on  the  one  hand,  and  from  over  indulgence  on  the 
other.  In  addition  to  the  instructions  he  received  from  his  grandfather,  he  was 
put  to  two  country  schools  in  the  neighborhood  ;  the  one  at  Whirlhall,  taught  by 
an  uncle  of  the  family  name  ;  and  the  other  at  Horsehill,  conducted  by  a  person 
of  the  name  of  Adam  Millar.  If  the  reader — keeping  in  mind  that  John  Howie 
possessed  hardly  an  ordinary  education,  and  that  his  youthful  years  were  devoted 
chiefly  to  the  customary  sports  and  recreation  of  the  neighbourhood  where  he  had 
been  brought  up — contrast  the  advances  in  religious  knowleelge  and  information 
which,  by  his  own  unaided  exertions,  he  made  in  his  youth,  and  at  a  subsequent 
period  of  his  life,  with  the  usual  amount  of  intelligence  generally  to  be  found 
among  people  of  his  station  in  life,  he  cannot  fail  to  be  regarded  as  a  person  of 
unwonted  talent. 

The  first  important  event  in  the  life  of  this  remarkable  man  was  his  connubial 
union  with  a  person  of  the  name  of  Lindsay,  who,  however,  did  not  long  survive 
the  nuptials ;  for,  falling  into  consumption,  she  died  soon  after,  leaving  behind  her 
an  infant  son.  In  1766,  about  four  years  after  that  distressing  event,  he  entered 
a  second  time  into  the  matrimonial  state  ;  the  object  of  his  attachment  at  this 
time  being  a  cousin  of  his  own.  She  is  represented  as  having  been  singularly 
eminent  for  piety,  and  in  every  respect  a  helpmate  suited  to  his  taste  and  habits. 
The  fruits  of  this  union  were  five  sons  and  three  daughters. 

According  to  his  own  account,  it  was  not  till  after  the  second  marriage  that  his 
early  religious  impressions  assumed  the  form  of  decided  piety.  About  a  year 
after  his  first  marriage  he  entered  to  the  farm  of  Lochgoin,   which,   from   the 


BIOGBAPHICAL    SKETCH   OF   JOHN   HOWIE. 

not  admitting  of  extensive  manual  cultivation,  left  him  sufficient 

to  which  he  had  habituated  himself  from   hi* 

religious  biography.     No  sooner,  therefore,  had 

■  stematic  mode  of  study,  than  it  seems  to  have  occurred  to 

bin  that  he  might  turn  to  good  account  the  information  he  had  obtained  of  the 

some  of  those  eminent  Worthies,  whom  he  had  been 

taught  from  his  earliesl  years  to  revere  and  admire. 

'it  which  he  gives  of  the  method  he  took  to  collect  materials  for  the 
so  simple  and  graphic  that  we  shall  present  it  to  the  reader  in 
The  chief  obstacle  which  he  appears  to  have  had  to  encounter 
from  the  opposition  of  his  own  pious  wife. 

•  ..k  up  a  resolution  to  collect  what  materials  I  could  obtain,  and  write  a 

i  if  them,  which  I  did  at  leisure  hours,  with  small  views 

ren  anything  I  could  doshould  merit  the  publishing  of  them.     However  my 

oul  of  love  to  them  and  their  contendings,  or  cause  they 

1      I  determined  that  they  both  should  be  published,  and 

happily  tin  y  were  much  est  emed  by  men  of  all  ranks  and  denominations.     While 

writing  the  6rst  draught  of  the  Scots  Worthies,  sometimes  in  the  moru- 

g  my  wife,  who  was  not  without  an  inclination  to  religion,  being 

I  in  the  little  closet  where  I  was  writing,  was  going  to  give  me  a  reproof  for 

ly  in  writing  ;  what  would  I  do  but  make  people  laugh  at  my  folly  !     Im- 

ffords  came  into  her  mind,  Mark  vii.  37;  'He  hath  done  all 

well :  he  maketh  the  deaf  to  hear  and  the  dumb  to  speak  ;'  after  which  she 

dunl  ik  against  it." 

I  i  other  person  appeal's  to  have  had  the  courage  to  under- 

we  believe  that  John   Howie,  while  employed  at  his  literary 

Liable  animadversion  among  many  of  his  neHi- 

who  were  but  ill  able  to  appreciate  the  worth  of  his  intellectual  pursuits. 

1,  h.-  was  accused  of  indolence;  inasmuch  as,  while 

rhat  appeared  to  them  a   profitless  concern,  he   was   neglecting  his 

ading  more  assiduously  to  the  cultivation  of  his  farm. 

I  during  the  hay  season,  that  though  the  good   man 

lay  aside  his  books,  Btep  out  to  the  field,  and  for  a  short  time 

ttreme  bustle  and  activity,  yet  it  was  soon  over;  so  that  among 

prof  ssional  brethren  he  never  acquired  a  character 

luring  labour.    To  a  certain  extent  these  observations  might  be 

■  when  we  consider  the  immense  service  he  was  at  that  very  time 

I  urch,  to  the  cause  of  presbytery,  and  to  posterity,  we  cannot 

i  in  the  cry  of  censure;  '..a  must  repel  their  conclusions'  as  short-sighted.     Had 

ra  bul  taken  the  trouble  to  inquire,  they  might  have  ascribed  the 

'"w,':,t  '    omenta  of  the  worthy  biographer  to  a  different  cause.     It 

known  thai  Mr.  Howie,  who  died  at  a  comparatively  early  age,  was  never 

•    Symptoms  of  physical  debility  began  toshowthem- 

"  ,,,s  b  •'"' !  ;  ;""'  "'•'"  ^ry  disease  which  brought  him  prematurely  to 

hw^il  :  '''•"  rot  as  its  easy  victim !    In  perusing  his 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH   OF   JOHN   HOWIE.  x; 

diary  we  find  frequent  allusions  to  a  variety  of  Ailments  with  which  he  was  often 
afflicted  ;  and  on  examining  the  parlour  or  spence,  with  its  damp  floor  and  walls 
we  do  not  hesitate  to  say  that  the  maladies  of  which  he  complained  must  have 
been  greatly  aggravated,  by  the  atmosphere  in  which  his  studies  were  prosecuted. 
Another  circumstance  which  must  have  contributed  to  prevent  Mr.  Howie  from 
exhibiting  the  usual  steady  industry  of  moorland  farmers  was,  the  number  of  visi- 
tors who  came  to  wait  upon  him  at  Lochgoin.  These,  attracted  by  the  fame  of 
his  literary  pursuits,  were  exceedingly  numerous,  and  composed  of  all  classes  in 
the  religious  world. 

Since  we  have  gone  thus  far,  however,  in  endeavouring  to  account  for  his  gene- 
ral character  as  a  farmer,  it  would  be  unfair  not  to  state  distinctly,  that  he  evinced 
great  anxiety  for  the  temporal  welfare  of  his  numerous  family.  So  far,  indeed 
was  he  from  being  indifferent  to  worldly  matters,  that,  upon  perusing  his  diary, 
we  find  him  repeatedly  accusing  himself  of  carrying  the  principle  of  parental  anxiety 
to  a  length  bordering  on  criminality. 

The  life  of  a  moorland  farmer,  even  although  combined  with  that  of  literary 
pursuits,  cannot  be  supposed  to  furnish  any  great  variety  of  adventure  or  incident ; 
still  such  a  life  is  not  without  its  interest.  The  circumstance  of  Mr  Howie  risiii"- 
soon  after  cock-crowing,  for  the  purpose  of  engaging  in  severe  and  not  very  invit- 
ing study  before  commencing  the  labour  of  the  day,  is  worthy  of  admiration ;  and 
then,  with  his  mind  full  of  his  subject,  after  having  added  a  few  more  pages  to 
the  Work  which  has  stamped  his  name  with  renown ;  after  having  partaken  of  his 
homely  meal,  sallying  forth,  perhaps  barefooted,  into  the  wide  and  trackless  moor, 
to  ascertain  if  all  was  well  with  his  flocks  ;  or,  it  might  be,  to  engage  in  the  severer 
exercise  of  the  spade,  is  what  farmers  of  the  present  day  are  altogether  strangers 
to.  Nor  were  such  labours  merely  occasional  and  temporary  ;  for,  if  we  consider 
the  variety  and  extent  of  his  writings,  commencing  about  the  time  of  his  second 
marriage,  we  shall  find  that  they  must  have  continued,  with  but  little  intermis- 
sion, until  the  day  of  his  death.  The  "  Scots  Worthies"  itself  is  a  work  of  no 
inconsiderable  labour  ;  for  though  the  biographical  information  he  had  procured, 
and  with  which  his  powerful  memory  was  richly  stored,  must  have  greatly  facili- 
tated the  task ;  yet,  living  remote  from  cities,  and  almost  shut  out  from  the 
abodes  of  civilized  life,  the  difficulty  of  correspondence,  and  the  want  of  books, 
must  have  tended  not  a  little  to  render  his  task  both  painful  and  irksome- 
Under  all  these  disadvantages,  however,  did  Mr.  Howie,  in  the  seclusion  of  Loch- 
goin, bring  the  work  to  a  successful  termination.  The  first  edition  appeared  m 
17*74  ;  and  a  second,  gteatly  enlarged,  in  1785.  Like  the  "  Pilgrim's  Progress," 
it  has  been  long  so  extensively  popular  with  all  classes  of  the  community,  that  it 
has  secured  for  itself  a  position  from  which  it  will  never  be  dislodged,  so  long  as 
Presbyterianism,  and  a  religious  attachment  to  the  covenanted  work  of  Reforma- 
tion, continue  to  engage  the  attention  of  the  natives  of  Scotland.  It  has  been 
long  a  family  piece,  both  in  town  and  country ;  but  especially  among  our  Scottish 
peasantry.  In  youth  we  are  rivetted  to  it,  as  if  by  fascination  ;  aud  in  our  riper 
years  we  look  back  upon  the  impressions  then  produced,  and  wonder  whether 
they  may  have  been  created  by  the  realities  of  truth. 


,       .!.    SKETCH  OF  JOHN  HOWIE. 


Hr.Ho     •  produced  a  number  of  o&er  works, 

Jly  known,  are  still  not  without  a  tolerable  share  of 

tioD  of  "  Lectures  and  Sermons    by  some  ot  the 

..  p^hed  dining-  the  stormiest  days  of  the  Persecution- 

[SS.        which  be  had   not  only  to  transcribe  for  the  Press,   but 

,:i,l  exp  rose,  be  bad  even  to  collect  from  various  quarter,. 

;  by  a  preface  of  bis  own  composition.     His  second  wqrtf 

,  G(  aeration  ;"  a  small  tract  characterized  by  good 

ritten  in  a  bold  and  forcible  style,  though  in  a  garb   that  would  be 

for  the  taste  of  the  present  day.     The  third  production 

odings    Displayed;"    being   an   account   of   the   suffering 

I  Scotland,  from   1081  till  1691.     This  was  neither 

a  than  a  transcription  from  a  record  kept  by  a  person  of  the  name  of 

.  clerk  to  the  Societies,  to  which  Mr.  Howie  prefixed  a  preface, 

„  appendix  with  notes.     His  fourth  Essay  was  "  Faithful  Witness- 

opb'fii  .1  ;"  i  of  the  following  divisions  :— 1.  Useful  Cases  of 

2.  A  Testimony  against  Toleration  oy  the  Commission  of  the  Gen- 

.     \   History  of  the  Indulgence.     The  fifth  was  "Patronage 

,"  a  work  which, Hext  to  the  Scots  Worthies,  must  be  regarded   as 

ill  bis  other  writings.     The  sixth  was  "  A  Vindication  of  the  mode 

:  the  Elements  in  the  Lord's  Supper  before  giving  thanks,"  written  at 

the  tin.    when  the  controversy  took  place  on  this  subject  among  the  Antiburgher 

seventh  was  "  Clarkson's  Plain  Reasons  for  Dissenting,"  with  a 

-.  and  an  abstract  of  the  Principles  of  the  Reformed  Presbytery, 

ril  Government     His  eighth — and  the  last  production  of  his  pen — 

I  to  Mr.  Brown  of  Wamphray's  Looking-glass  of  the  Law  and 

through  the  medium  of  bis   writings  alone  that  Mr.  Howie 

il   bis  countrymen.     He  availed  himself  of  the  extensive  circle 

irritmgB   bad   formed   for  him  to  instruct  all  who  had  a  desire   for 

is  knowlc  j  lung   men,  especially,  he  was  particularly  attentive. 

1  alive,  lately  informed  the  writer,  that  in  his  youth  he   made 

lio  waited  upon  our  biographer  for  instruction;  and  was  deeply 

irith  Mr.  I!  tremely  judicious  method  of  conveying  religious 

He  usually  commenced  with  some  simple  or  own 

t,  which  bad  always  the  effect  of  banishing  that  restraint  from 

his  auditors  which  the  eclat  of  bis  piety  and  talent  naturally  tended 

Having  accomplished  this,  he  immediately  availed  himself  of  the 

xnmunicate  information  of  the  most  solid,  pious,  and  edifying 

iry,  too,  of  several  hundred  volumes,  he  gave  them 

book   the]  chose,     "On  such  occasions,"  states  our 

iger  was  he  to  do  g 1,  that,  not  content  with  conversing  freely 

within  would  accompany  us  miles  across  the  moor,  urging  home  upon 

•  all  our  other  assiduities,  the  importance  of  attention  to  personal 

II    ■  is  ever  readj  to  comply  with  the  request  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH   OF   JOHN   HOWIE.  jjjj 

such  as  wished  for  his  religious  advice  or  prayers  for  themselves  or  their  sick 
friends.  Although  this  was  frequently  attended  with  much  inconvenience  and 
fatigue — having  to  travel  several  miles  before  he  could  reach  the  abode  of  any 
of  his  neighbors,  either  in  the  parish  of  Eaglesham  or  that  of  Mearns — yel 
never  complained.  One  night  of  every  week  was  regularly  set  apart  for  meeting 
with  some  of  his  pious  neighbors,  for  the  purpose  of  religious  fellowship  and 
social  prayer ;  a  practice  which  we  feel  happy  to  say,  of  late  years  has  been 
greatly  revived  in  all  parts  of  Scotland. 

Although  Mr.  Howie  was  thus  devoted  to  books,  and  lived  "  far  retired  from 
men,"  the  reader  will  form  a  very  false  idea,  if  he  suppose  him  to  have  spent  the 
life  of  a  recluse.  On  the  contrary,  at  all  the  surrrounding  fairs  and  markets, 
John  Howie  was  to  be  found  bustling  and  bargaining  with  the  men  of  the  world. 
He  was  indeed  a  marked  character,  whether  at  home,  in  the  public  market,  or  at 
church ;  and  wherever  he  went,  the  fame  of  his  piety  and  varied  acquirements 
contributed  greatly  to  facilitate  his  moral  influence.  Nor  did  his  personal 
appearance  belie  the  impression  which  his  works  produced ;  for,  though  but  of 
low  stature,  his  form  was  dignified  and  erect.  Even  his  gait  seemed  to  imply  an 
inward  consciousness  of  mental  superiority  over  those  of  his  less  literary  acquaint- 
ances ;  nevertheless,  he  was  a  paragon  of  humility  ;  pride  having  no  seat  in  his. 
breast.  He  was  remarkably  attentive  to  neatuess  in  dress,  and  seldom  walked 
abroad  without  his  silver-mounted  staff.  Wherever  he  went  he  was  received  with 
respect;  and  his  approach  to  either  kirk  or  market  was  made  known  by  the  cir- 
culating whisper — "  There's  Lochgoin  !" 

Were  we  to  characterize  Mr.  Howie's  personal  piety  in  a  single  sentence,  we 
would  say,  that  it  was  distinguished  at  once  by  its  humility  and  its  fervor  ;  the 
latter  sometimes  producing  an  excitement  bordering  on  enthusiasm  ;  the  former, 
not  unfrequently  generating  a  feeling  analogous  to  despondency.  An  attentive 
perusal  of  his  diary  evinces  the  extreme  jealousy  with  which  he  was  wont  to 
scrutinize  his  heart  after  secret  prayer,  and  the  deep  religious  meditation  in  which 
he  took  great  delight.  Not  only  did  he  peruse  the  Word  of  God  with  fervent 
prayer  for  the  teaching  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  but  marked  with  distinctive  observa- 
tion its  influence  upon  his  future  life ;  and,  when  he  could  trace  an  increasing  love 
to  his  God  and  Saviour,  he  never  failed  to  ascribe  the  praise  to  whom  alone  ii 
was  due.     We  quote  the  following  brief  extract : 

"  When  I  look  back  upon  my  short  and  despicable  life,  I  find  it  altogether 
made  up  of  deficiencies,  faults,  and  imperfections  ;  my  disposition  was  somewhat 
soft ;  my  bodily  constitution  weak  or  tender  which  soon  broke,  so  that  no 
apparent  probability  yet  occurs  that  I  shall  attain  either  to  an  advanced  age,  or 
even  to  the  age  of  some  of  my  immediate  progenitors ;  but  it  is  a  question 
whether  it  is  the  greatest  difficulty  to  live  or  die  well ;  to  be  united  to  Christ ; 
to  live  unto,  and  die  in  Him  is  the  summary  of  all ;  a  God  reconciled  in  Christ. 
a  complete  Saviour.  Here  we  are  often  in  the  dark,  see  and  know  but  in  part ; 
but  when  once  admitted  into  the  higher  house  we  shall  see  face  to  face,  and 
know  as  we  are  known.     Here  the  believer  sees  and  lives  by  faith  ;    but  there  by 


x  BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH  OF   JOHN  HOWIE. 

thegra    B  must  give  place  to  love  and  wonder.    The  great 

reation,  word  and  providence,  must  be  folded  up,  and  the 

_,.,„], .   ,n,i  then  the  believer  must  read  in  the  Book  of  God 

,1  .,  they  are  freed  from  the  power  of  sin;  but  there 

.  from  the  very  indwell  of  it.     Here  there  is  only  a  dehver- 

.     ,,.  but  there  shall  be  a  freedom  from  all  his  temptations.     It  is 

I  race  we  Bball  be  raised  to  perfection.     Here  affliction  is  only 

■  there  will  be  a  deliverance  from  all  trouble,  with  the  sancti- 

fn.it,  of  it  forever.     And  here  He  only  supports  us  from  the  fears  of  death  ; 

but  there  Be  Bhall  Bet  us  beyond  the  reach  of  death,  and  we  shall  die  no  mora 

__<  |  Bhall  bVe  also.'     There  we  shall  be  admitted  into  the  com- 

the  Firstrborn,  that  blessed  assembly  whose  glory  it  has  been  to  have 

their  garments  washed  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb,  and  continually  nourish  before 

of  whose  glorious  and  beautiful  face  shall  make  all  sighing  and 

BOn  to  fly  aw  aw" 

ly  said  that,  from  his  earliest  years  Mr.  Howie's  constitution  was 
phj  k  and  delicate.     It  was  not,  however,  till  the  spring  of  1791,  that 

;  Beriously  to  alarm  his  friends.     About  that  time  he  had  a 
•ark   <>f  rheumatism,  which,  after  traversing  almost  every  part  of  his 
,llv  Bettled  down  in  his  left  knee,  and  confined  him  entirely  to  his  apart- 
ment, suffering  frequently  the  most  gnawing  and  excrutiating  pains.     During 
1 11.  r  be   removed  to  Saltcoats,  for  the  double  benefit  of  sea-bathing  and   a 
:'  air,  luit  without  any  good  effect ;  for,  although  his  bodily  suffering  from 
abated,  a  complication  of  other  disorders  began  to  show 
■  tin-  renewed  anxiety  and  grief  of  his  friends,  who  now  began  to 
look  upon  his   recovery  as   almost  hopeless.     During  the  whole  of  that  trying 
exhibited  all  that  Christian  resignation   and  submission  to  the   divine 
will,  which  tip'  consistency  of  his  conduct,  during-  the  whole  of  his  previous  life, 
1  one  to  anticipate.     His  maladies,  however,  continuing  to  increase, 
resource  he  was  in  the  month  of  July,  conveyed  back  to  Saltcoats,  to 
try  anew  the  ■  thing.     But  tin'  second  experiment  had  no  more 

than  tin'  first ;  and,  after  remaining  two  weeks,  he  returned  to  his 
beginning  of  August,   with   the   impress   of  death   visibly 
I  ed  upon  hi-  countenance. 
In  tin-  mouth  of  September,  a  most  affecting  circumstance,  and  one  greatly 
calculated  to  put  hi-  faith  and  resignation  to  the  test,  occurred  in  the  family  of 

dying  man.    Smallpox  had  1 a  committing  ravages  in  the  country  round, 

and  tli«'  loathsome  disease  at  length  invaded  his  own  dwelling.    Ill  able  to 
lii-  own  infirmities,  he  was  doomed  to  witness  his  children  attacked  one  by 
tntil  the  whole  \\<t.'  confined.     A  sound  constitution,  however,  warded  off 
of  the  distemper  in  them  all,  except  his  eldest  son,  John, 
wl<  tim  to  the  destroyer,  after  fourteen  days  of  severe  suffer- 

On  irning  of  the  young  man's  death,  which  was  on  a  Tuesday,  Mrs. 

her  husband's  apartment,  in  tears,  and  requested  his  presence  in 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCH  OF   JOHN  HOWIE. 


xv 


tlie  chamber  of  the  dying  youth,  whose  spirit  was  just  about  to  take  its  flight  to 
a  holier  region.  The  old  man  was  now  so  weak,  that  he  was  for  the  most  pail 
confined  to  bed ;  but  when  he  heard  the  unexpected  tidings,  he  raised  himself  on 
his  elbow,  and  for  a  little  seemed  to  doubt  its  veracity.  Being  soon  assured, 
however,  that  his  wife's  fears  were  too  well  founded,  he  was  prevailed  upon  to 
dress  himself;  and,  assisted  by  his  wife,  he  tottered  to  the  bed  of  his  beloved 
son.  With  grief  unutterable,  as  he  gazed  upon  the  young  man's  countenance,  he 
saw  that  the  seal  of  death  had  been  surely  impressed  upon  it ;  and,  fearing  that 
the  "  iron"  might,  sooner  than  expectation,  "  enter  into  his  soul,"  he  lost  no  time 
in  engaging  in  deep  and  fervent  prayer.  It  was  a  solemn  and  affecting  sight,  to 
behold  the  aged  man,  pale  and  emaciated,  bending  over  the  death-bed  of  a  son  in 
the  bloom  of  youth,  who  had  given  promise  of  a  vigorous  manhood,  cut  down 
and  taking  his  departure  before  him,  that  he  might  be  ready  to  welcome  him 
into  the  land  of  bliss.  After  prayer,  he  began  to  touch  a  tender  string,  and  to 
inquire  into  the  state  of  the  young  man's  soul ;  if  he  had  any  valid  hopes  of 
his  eternal  well-being ;  and  upon  what  these  hopes  were  founded.  The  youth 
was  too  exhausted  to  articulate ;  but  the  significant  motion  of  his  hands,  and 
the  darting  of  an  expressive  ray  from  his  fast  dimming  eye,  gave  pleasing  indica- 
tion that  all  was  well. 

Lochgoin  was  powerfully  affected  upon  the  occasion  ;  for,  turning  to  a  friend 
who  was  present,  he  remarked,  that  this  was  an  event  of  rare  occurrence ;  a 
dying  father  addressing  the  language  of  consolation  to  an  expiring  son.  After 
having  again  knelt  by  the  bedside  of  the  young  man,  and  offered  up  a  final 
prayer  for  the  repose  of  his  soul,  he  was  reconducted  to  his  own  apartment ;  the 
young  man  having  breathed  his  last.  The  last  effort  he  made,  as  an  inhabitant 
of  this  world,  was  on  the  day  of  his  son's  funeral.  He  not  only  dressed  him- 
self, and  conversed  with  such  friends  as  came  to  attend  the  funeral ;  but,  sup- 
ported by  an  individual  belonging  to  the  family,  he  accompanied  the  procession 
a  short  way  from  the  house  ;  when,  with  striking  solemnity,  he  took  leave  of 
the  company ;  adding,  that  it  would  not  be  long  before  they  would  be  called  to 
return,  and  perform  for  himself  the  same  sad  office.  And  it  happened  as  he  had 
said  ;  for  in  a  few  days  after,  upon  a  Saturday  morning  about  the  end  of 
Autumn,  he  bade  adieu  to  all  that  was  terrestrial,  leaving  behind  him  a  name 
and  fame  that  will  be  long  revered  by  the  religious  peasantry  of  Scotlaud. 


THE     LIVES 

OF 

THE  SCOTS  WORTHIES. 


INTRODUCTION. 

Christianity  seems  to  have  made  its  appearance  in  Scotland  at  a 
very  early  period :  according  to  some  writers,  it  was  propagated  in 
this  kingdom  by  the  apostles  themselves.  It  is  said  by  some, 
that  Simon  Zelotes,  by  others,  that  Paul  preached  the  gospel  in  this 
part  of  the  world ;  but  as  this  opinion  is  not  supported  on  proper 
authority,  it  merits  only  the  regard  due  to  conjecture,  not  the 
attention  which  an  undoubted  narrative  demands.  Another,  and 
more  probable  account  is,  that  during  the  persecution  raised  by 
Domitian,  (the  twelfth  and  last  Caesar,  about  a.  d.  96,)  some  of  the 
disciples  of  the  apostle  John  fled  into  our  island,  and  there  taught 
the  religion  of  Jesus. 

It  does  not  appear  that  Christianity  made  any  very  rapid  progress 
for  a  considerable  time.  The  first  account  of  the  success  of  the  gospel 
that  can  be  depended  on,  is,  that  about  a.d.  203,  king  Donald  I.,  with 
his  queen  and  several  courtiers,  were  baptized,  and  continued  for  a 
time  to  promote  the  interests  of  Christianity,  in  opposition  to 
pagan  idolatry.  But  the  invasion  of  the  emperor  Severus  disturbed 
this  king's  measures ;  so  that  for  the  space  of  more  than  seventy 
years  after,  religion  declined  and  the  idolatry  of  the  Druids 
prevailed.  They  were  an  order  of  heathen  priests,  who  performed 
their  rites  in  groves  of  oak  trees  ;  a  species  of  idolatry  of  great 
antiquity,  being  of  the  same  kind  to  which  the  Jews  so  often 
revolted.  These  Druids  likewise  possessed  a  considerable  share 
of  civil  power,  which  made  it  a  difficult  task  to  establish  a  religion  so 
opposite  to,  and  subversive  of,  their  own:  but  the  difficulties  which 
Christianity  has  in  every  age  and  country  had  to  encounter, 
have  served  its  interest,  and  illustrated  the  power  and  grace 
of  its  divine  Author.  About  the  year  277,  they  were  expelled 
by  king  Cratilinth,  who  took  special  care  to  obliterate  every 
memorial  of  them  ;  and  from  this  period  we  may  date  the  true 
era  of  Christianity  in  Scotland,  because,  from  this  time  forward,  until 
the  persecution  under  the  emperor  Diocletian,  in  the  beginning 
of  the  fourth  century,  there  was  a  gradual  increase  of  the  true 
2 


18  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

knowledge  of  God  and  religion.  That  persecution  became  so  Lot  in 
the  southern  parts  of  Britain,  as  to  drive  many,  both  preachers  and 
professors,  into  Scotland,  where  they  were  kindly  received,  and  had 
the  Isle  of  Man,  then  in  possession  of  the  Scots,  given  them  fur  their 
residence,  and  a  sufficient  maintenance  assigned  them.  King  Crati- 
linth  built  a  church  for  them,  which  was  called  the  church  of 
our  Saviour,  in  the  Greek  <twt??p,  and  is  now,  by  corruption, 
Sodok,  in  Icolmkill,  one  of  the  western  isles.  These  men  were  not 
employed,  like  the  Druidical  priests  in  whose  place  they  had  come, 
in  settling  the  worldly  affairs  of  men,  but  gave  themselves  wholly  to 
divine  services,  instructing  the  ignorant,  comforting  the  weak, 
administering  the  sacraments,  and  training  up  disciples  to  the  same 
services. 

Whether  these  refugees  were  the  ancient  Culdees,  or  a  different 
set  of  men,  it  is  neither  easy  nor  material  to  determine.  Some 
profess  to  trace  Culdeeism  to  the  primitive  ages  of  Christianity,  while 
others  ascribe  its  institutions  to  Columba  "about  the  middieofthe 
sixth  century.  The  Culdees  (from  cultores  Dei,  worshippers  of  God) 
flourished  at  this  time  :  they  were  called  \iova%oi,  or  monks,  from  the 
secluded  religious  lives  which  they  led  ;  and  the  cells  into  which 
they  had  retired,  were,  after  their  deaths,  mostly  converted  into 
churches,  which  to  this  day  retain  their  names,  as  Cell,  or  Kell,  or 
church  of  Marnock;  Kil-Patrick,  Kil-Malcom,  etc.  Opposed  to 
papal  supremacy  in  unyielding  resistance,  they  differed  from  the 
votaries  of  the  Eomish  church,  not  only  in  their  rigid  adherence  to 
the  infallible  standard  of  the  word  of  God,  but  also  differed  from 
them  in  their  habits  as  a  body  of  Christian  teachers :  far  from 
cloistering  themselves  in  some  retreat,  wherein  they  could  look  forth 
with  cold  unconcern  upon  the  doings  of  their  fellowmen, — bearing 
not  the  trials  and  vicissitudes  of  life,  or  sharing  its  joys  ;  confining 
that  love  which  they  owed  to  the  human  family  within  the  limited 
circle  of  a  monastic  fraternity,  or  seeking  the  aggrandizement  of  the 
order  to  which  they  belonged,  the  Culdees,  like  Paul,  laboured  for 
their  subsistence  among  their  fellow-men  ;  they  performed  all  the 
duties  of  useful  members  of  society,  while  they  taught  and  preached 
the  truths  of  the  gospel. 

Their  manner  of  operation  was  to  choose  superintendents  from 
among  themselves,  whose  office  obliged  them  to  travel  the  country,  in 
order  to  see  that  every  one  discharged  his  duty  properly  :  but  these 
men  were  utter  strangers  to  the  lordly  power  of  the  modern  prelate, 
having  no  proper  diocese,  and  only  a  temporary  superintendency, 
with  which  they  were  invested  by  their  brethren,  and  to  whom  they 
were  accountable.  It  was  an  institution,  in  the  spirit  of  it  the  same 
with  the  private  censures  of  ministers  among  Presbyterians. 

During  the  reigns  of  Cratilinth  and  Fincormac,  his  successor,  the 
Culdees  were  in  a  flourishing  state  :  but  after  the  death  of  the  latter, 
both  the  church  and  state  of  Scotland  went  into  disorder.  Ma.ximus, 
the  Roman  praefect,  stirred  up  the  Picts  to  aid  him  against  the  Scots, 
who  were  totally  defeated  ;  their  king,  Ewing,  with  most  part  of  the 
nobility  being  slain.  This  bloody  battle  was  fought  about  the  year 
380,  at  the  water  of  Doon,  in  Carrick.     This  overthrow  was  imme- 


INTRODUCTION.  19 

diately  succeeded  by  an  edict  commanding  all  the  Scots,  without  ex- 
ception, to  depart  the  kingdom  against  a  certain  day,  under  pain  of 
death.  This  drove  them  entirely  into  Ireland,  and  the  western  isles 
of  Denmark  and  Norway,  except  a  few  ecclesiastics  who  wandered 
about  from  place  to  place. 

After  an  exile  of  forty-four,  or,  according  to  Buchanan,  twenty-seven 
years,  which  the  Scots  endured,  the  Picts  became  sensible  of  their 
error  in  assisting  the  Romans  against  them,  and  accordingly  strength- 
ened the  hands  of  the  few  who  remained,  and  invited  the  fugitives 
back  into  their  own  land.  These  were  joined  by  some  foreigners, 
and  returned,  with  Fergus  II.,  then  in  Denmark,  at  their  head.  Their 
enterprise  was  the  more  successful,  that  at  this  time  many  of  the 
Roman  forces  were  called  home.  Their  king  was  crowned  with  the 
usual  rights  in  his  own  country,  and  the  news  of  his  success  drew 
great  numbers  to  him ;  insomuch  that  he  recovered  all  the  country 
out  of  which  the  Scots  had  been  expelled.  Most  of  the  foreign 
forces  returned  home,  except  the  Irish,  who  received  the  country  of 
Galloway  for  their  reward.  This  successful  undertaking  happened 
about  the  year  404,  or,  as  others  will  have  it,  420. 

The  Culdees  were  now  called  from  their  lurking  places,  restored  to 
their  livings,  and  had  their  churches  repaired.  At  this  time  they 
possessed  the  people's  esteem  to  a  higher  degree  than  ever  :  but  this 
tranquillity  was  again  interrupted  by  a  more  formidable  enemy  than 
before.  The  Pelagian  heresy  had  now  gained  considerable  ground 
in  Britain  :  it  is  so  called  from  Pelagius,  a  monk  at  Rome.  Its  chief 
articles  are,  1.  That  original  sin  is  not  inherent.  2.  That  faith  is  a 
thing  natural.  3.  That  good  works  done  by  our  own  strength,  of  our 
own  free-will,  are  agreeable  to  the  law  of  God,  and  worthy  of  heaven. 
Whether  all  or  only  part  of  these  errors  then  infected  the  Scottish 
church,  is  uncertain ;  but  Celestine,  then  bishop  of  Rome,  embraced 
this  opportunity  to  send  Palladius  among  them,  who,  joining  with  the 
orthodox  of  south  Britain,  restored  peace  to  that  part  of  the  church, 
by  suppressing  the  heresy.  Eugenius  the  Second,  being  desirous  that 
this  church  should  likewise  be  purged  of  the  impure  leaven,  invited 
Palladius  hither,  who,  obtaining  liberty  from  Celestine,  and  being 
enjoined  to  introduce  the  hierarchy  as  opportunity  should  offer,  came 
into  Scotland,  and  succeeded  so  effectually  in  his  commission,  as  both 
to  confute  Pelagianism  and  new  model  the  government  of  the 
church. 

The  church  of  Scotland  as  yet  knew  no  officers  vested  with  pre- 
eminence above  their  brethren,  nor  had  anything  to  do  with  the 
Roman  Pontiff,  until  the  year  450.  Bede  says,  that  "  Palladius  was 
sent  unto  the  Scots  who  believed  in  Christ,  as  their  first  bishop."- 
Boetius  likewise  says,  "  that  Palladius  was  the  first  .of  all  who  did 
bear  holy  magistracy  among  the  Scots,  being  made  bishop  by  the 
great  pope.  Fordun,  in  his  Chronicle,  tells  us  that,  "  before  the  com- 
ing of  Palladius,  the  Scots  had  for  teachers  of  the  faith ,  and  ministers 
of  the  sacraments,  presbyters  only,  or  monks,  following  the  customs 
of  the  primitive  church."f     Tradition  affirms  that  the  shire  of  Kin- 

*   Vide  Bede's  Eccles.  Hist.  lib.  i.  ch.  13.     Buchanan  Hist,  book  v. 
i  Book  iii.  chap.  8. 


20  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

cardine  was  tlie  scene  of  his  residence  and  labours;  the  place  when 
his  ashes  are  said  to  repose  being  still  marked  by  the  ruins  of  a  chapel 
bearing  his  name. 

But  while  we  may  consider  him  as  having  opened  that  intercourse 
which  gradually  obtained  more  and  more  between  Scotland  and 
Rome,  yet  we  are  not  to  date  from  his  time  the  era  of  diocesan  bishops ; 
for  there  were  no  such  office-bearers  in  the  church  of  Scotland,  until 
the  reign  of  Malcolm  II.,  in  the  eleventh  century.  During  the  first 
1000  years  after  Christ,  there  were  no  divided  dioceses,  nor  supe- 
riorities over  others,  but  they  governed  in  the  church  in  common  with 
presbyters ;  so  that  they  were  no  more  than  nominal  bishops,  possess- 
ing little  or  nothing  of  that  lordly  dignity,  which  they  now,  and  for 
a  long  time  past,  have  enjoyed.  Spottiswood  (History,  p.  29,)  him- 
self testifies,  that  the  Scottish  bishops,  before  the  eleventh  century, 
exercised  their  functions  indifferently  in  every  place  to  which  they 
came.  Palladius  may  be  said  to  have  rather  laid  the  foundation  of 
the  after  degeneracy  of  the  church  of  Scotland,  than  to  have  built  that 
superstructure  of  corruption  and  idolatry  which  afterwards  prevailed  ; 
because  she  continued  for  near  two  hundred  years  in  a  state  compa- 
ratively pure  and  unspotted,  when  we  cast  our  eyes  on  the  following 
periods  of  her  history. 

Columba,  too,  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  descended  from  royal  blood, 
flourished  about  the  middle  of  the  sixth  century.  His  education  was 
intrusted  to  Irish  ecclesiastics  ;  but  on  account  of  some  civil  dissen- 
sions he  left  his  native  country,  and  travelled  both  in  Europe  and 
Asia,  which  might  tend  to  give  him  that  intrepedity  which  he  after- 
wards so  nobly  displayed  in  propagating  the  gospel.  While  Ireland 
had  been  early  blessed  with  Christianity,  Scotland  was  wrapped  up 
in  the  darkness  of  ignorance  and  superstition ;  hence  it  was  that  Co- 
lumba, after  his  return  to  his  native  land,  set  out  on  that  missionary 
tour  which  entitled  him  to  be  called  the  Apostle  of  the  Highlands. 
In  the  year  563,  he  sailed  in  a  small  wicker  boat  with  twelve  associates, 
and  landed  on  Hi,  or  Iona,  now  called  Icolmkill,  or  Columkill,  for 
Columba  himself.  Here  he  established  his  missionary  college,  which 
gave  birth  to  those  of  Dunkeld,  Abernethy,  St.  Andrew's,  Abercorn, 
Govan  on  the  Clyde,  and  many  other  religious  establishments.  Hence 
this  remote  and  rugged  isle  may  be  viewed  as  the  upper  room  in 
Jerusalem,  a  well-spring  whence  flowed  a  flood  of  gospel  light 
throughout  our  land.  It  is  affirmed  that  Columba  was  not  only  in- 
strumental in  propagating  the  gospel  in  Britain  and  Ireland,  but  also 
on  the  continent  of  Europe,  particularly  France  and  Italy. 

About  the  end  of  the  sixth  and  beginning  of  the  seventh  century, 
a  number  of  pious  and  wise  men  flourished  in  the  country,  among 
whom  was  Kentigcrn,  commonly  called  St.  Hun  go.  Some  of  these 
men  were  employed  by  Oswald,  a  Northumbrian  king,  to  instruct  his 
people;  they  are  represented  by  Bede,  as  eminent  for  their  love  to 
God,  and  knowledge  of  the  holy  scriptures.  The  light  of  the  gospel 
by  their  means,  broke  into  other  parts  of  the  Saxon  dominions,  which 
long  maintained  an  opposition  to  the  growing  usurpation  of  the  church 
of  Borne,  which,  after  the  middle  of  this  century,  was  strenuously 
supported  by  Austin's  disciples.     Besides  these  men,  the  church  of 


INTRODUCTION.  21 

Scotland  at  this  time  sent  many  other  worthy  and  successful  mission- 
aries into  foreign  parts,  particularly  France  and  Germany. 

Thus  was  Scotland  early  privileged,  and  thus  were  her  privileges 
improved ;  but  soon  "  the  gold  became  dim,  and  the  most  fine 
gold  was  changed." 

Popery  came  now  by  degrees  to  show  her  horrid  head ;  the 
assiduity  of  Austin  and  his  disciples  in  England  was  attended 
with  melancholy  consequences  to  Scotland  :  by  fomenting  divisions, 
corrupting  her  pr'nees  with  Eomish  principles,  and  inattention 
to  the  lives  of  her  clergy,  the  papal  power  soon  came  to  be  univer- 
sally acknowledged.  In  the  seventh  century  a  hot  contest  arose  be- 
tween Austin  and  his  disciples  on  the  one  part,  and  the  Scots  and 
the  northern  Saxons  on  the  other,  about  the  time  of  keeping 
Easter,  the  threefold  immersion  in  baptism,  shaving  of  priests, 
&c. ;  which  the  latter  would  not  receive,  nor  submit  to  the  authority 
that  imposed  them.  Each  party  refused  ministerial  communion 
with  the  other  party,  until  an  arbitral  decision  was  given  by  Osway, 
king  of  the  Northumbrians,  at  Whitby  in  Yorkshire,  in  favour 
of  the  Romanists,  when  the  opinions  of  the  Scots  were  exploded,  and 
the  modish  fooleries  of  papal  hierarchy  established.  This  decision, 
however,  was  far  from  putting  an  end  to  the  confusion  which  this 
dissension  had  occasioned  ;  the  Romanists  urged  their  rites  with 
rigour,  the  others  rather  chose  to  yield  their  places  than  conform. 
Their  discouragements  daily  increased,  as  the  clerical  power  was 
augmented.  In  the  year  886,  they  obtained  the  act  exempting 
them  from  taxes,  and  all  civil  prosecutions  before  temporal 
judges,  and  ordaining  that  all  matters  concerning  them  should 
be  tried  by  their  bishops,  who  were  at  this  time  vested  with  those 
powers,  which  are  now  in  the  hands  of  commissioners,  respecting 
matrimonial  causes,  testaments,  &c.  They  were  likewise  by  the 
same  statute  empowered  to  make  canons,  try  heretics,  &c. ;  and 
all  future  kings  were  ordained  to  take  an  oath  at  their  coronation,  for 
maintaining  these  privileges  to  the  church.  The  Convention  of 
Estates  which  passed  this  act  was  held  at  Forfar,  in  the  reign  of  that 
too  indulgent  prince,  Gregory. 

In  the  eleventh  and  twelfth  centuries,  Malcolm  III.,  Alexander, 
David,  &c,  successively  supported  this  dignity,  by  erecting  particular 
bishoprics,  abbeys,  and  monasteries.  The  same  superstitious  zeal 
seized  the  nobility  of  both  sexes,  some  giving  a  third,  others  more, 
and  others  their  whole  estates  for  the  support  of  pontifical  pride,  and 
spiritual  tyranny ;  which  soon  became  insupportable,  and  opened  the 
eyes  of  the  nation,  so  that  they  discovered  their  mistake  in  raising 
clerical  authority  to  such  a  height.  Accordingly,  we  find  the  nobles 
complaining  of  it  to  Alexander  III.,  who  reigned  after  the  middle  of 
the  thirteenth  century;  but  he  was  so  far  from  being  able  to  afford 
them  redress,  that  when  they  were  excommunicated  by  the  church 
on  account  of  this  complaint,  to  prevent  greater  evils,  he  was  obliged 
to  cause  the  nobility  to  satisfy  both  the  avarice  and  arrogance  of  the 
clergy,  who  had  now  resolved  upon  retiring  to  Rome,  with  a  view  to 
raise  as  great  commotions  in  Scotland,  as  Thomas-a-Becket  had 
Utelv  made  in  England. 


22  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

The  pope's  power  was  now  generally  acknowledged  over  Christen- 
dom, particularly  in  our  nation,  for  which,  in  return,  the  church  of 
Scotland  was  declared  free  from  all  foreign  spiritual  jurisdiction, 
that  of  the  "  apostolic  see  only  excepted."  This  bull  was  occasioned 
by  an  attempt  of  one  Roger,  bishop  of  York,  in  the  year  1159, 
to  raise  himself  to  the  dignity  of  metropolitan  of  Scotland,  and  who 
found  means  to  become  legate  of  this  kingdom,  but  lost  that 
office  upon  the  remonstrance  of  the  clergy.  This  remonstrance 
procured  the  above  bull  in  their  favour,  with  many  other  favours  of 
a  like  nature  at  this  time  conferred  upon  them,  by  all  of  which  they 
were  exempted  from  any  other  jurisdictions  than  that  of  Rome  ; 
so  that  we  find  pope  Boniface  VIII.,  commanding  Edward  of 
England  to  cease  hostilities  against  the  Scots,  alleging  that  "  the 
sovereignty  of  Scotland  belonged  to  the  church  ;"  a  claim  which 
seems  to  have  been  founded  in  the  papal  appointment  for  the  unction 
of  the  Scots  kings,  which  was  first  used  on  king  Edgar,  a.  d.« 
109S,  and  at  that  time  regarded  by  the  people  as  a  new  mark 
of  royalty  ;  but  which,  as  the  appointment  of  the  pope,  was  really 
the  mark  of  the  beast. 

There  were  now  in  Scotland  all  the  orders  of  monks  and  friars, 
Templars,  or  red  monks,  Trinity  monks  of  Aberdeen,  Cistertian 
monks,  Carmelite,  Black,  and  Grey  friars,  Carthusians,  Dominicans, 
Franciscans,  Jacobines,  Benedictines,  &c. ;  which  show  to  what 
a  height  antichrist  had  raised  his  head  in  our  land,  and  how 
readily  all  his  oppressive  measures  were  complied  with  by  all 
ranks. 

But  the  reader  must  not  think,  that  during  the  period  we  have 
now  reviewed,  there  were  none  to  oppose  this  torrent  of  superstition 
and  idolatry ;  for  from  the  first  appearance  of  the  Roman  antichrist 
in  this  kingdom,  God  wanted  not  witnesses  for  the  truth,  who  boldly 
stood  forth  in  defence  of  the  blessed  and  pure  gospel  of  Christ. 
Mention  is  first  made  of  Clements  and  Samson,  two  famous  Culdees, 
who  in  the  seventh  century  supported  the  authority  of  Christ  as  the 
only  king  and  head  of  his  church,  against  the  usurped  power 
of  Rome,  and  who  rejected  the  superstitious  rites  of  antichrist  as  con- 
trary to  the  simplicity  of  gospel  institutions.  The  succeeding  age 
was  no  less  remarkable  for  learned  and  pious  men,  to  whom  Scotland 
gave  birth,  and  whose  praise  was  in  the  churches  abroad ;  par- 
ticularly Joannes  Scotus,  who  wrote  a  book  upon  the  eucharist,  con- 
demned by  Leo  IX.,  in  the  year  1030,  long  after  his  death.  In  the 
ninth  century,  a  convention  of  estates  was  held  at  Scoon  for  the 
reformation  of  the  clergy,  their  lives  and  conversations  at  that  time 
being  a  reproach  to  common  decency 'and  good  manners,  not  to  say 
piety  and  religion.  The  remedies  provided  at  this  convention 
discover  the  nature  of  the  disease.  It  was  ordained,  that  churchmen 
should  reside  upon  their  charges,  that  they  should  not  intermeddle 
with  secular  affairs,  but  instruct  the  people,  and  be  good  examples 
in  their  conduct ;  that  they  should  not  keep  hawks,  hounds,  or 
horses,  for  their  pleasure,  and  that  they  should  carry  no  weapons, 
nor  be  pleaders  in  civil  causes.  And  if  they  failed  in  the  observance 
of  these  injunctions,  they  were  to  be  fined  for  the  first,  and  deposed 


INTRODUCTION. 


23 


for  the  second  transgression.  These  laws  were  made  under  king 
Constantine  II. ;  but  his  successor,  Gregory,  rendered  them  abortive 
by  his  indulgence.  The  age  following  was  not  remarkable  for 
witnesses  to  the  truth  ;  but  historians  are  agreed  that  there  were  still 
some  of  the  Culdees,  who  lived  and  ministered  apart  from  the 
Romanists,  and  taught  the  people  that  Christ  was  the  only  propitia- 
tion for  sin,  and  that  his  blood  only  could  wash  them  from  the  guilt 
of  it,  in  opposition  to  the  indulgence  and  pardons  of  the  pope.  Mr. 
A.  Shields,  in  his  "  Hind  let  Loose,"  says,  that  the  Culdees  trans- 
mitted their  testimony  to  the  Lollards  ;*  and  pope  John  XXII., 
in  his  bull  for  anointing  king  Robert  Bruce,  complains  that  there 
were  many  heretics  in  Scotland  ;  so  that  we  may  safely  affirm,  there 
never  was  any  very  great  period  of  time  without  witnesses  for  the 
truth,  and  against  the  gross  corruptions  of  the  church  of  Rome. 
Some  of  our  kings  themselves  opposed  the  pope's  supremacy, 
and  prohibited  his  legates  from  entering  their  dominions  :  the  most 
remarkable  instance  of  this  kind  is  that  of  Robert  Bruce.  After  his 
having  defeated  the  English  at  Bannockburn,  they  became  suppli- 
ants to  the  pope  for  his  mediation  ;  who  accordingly  sent  a  legate 
into  Scotland,  proposing  a  cessation  of  arms  till  the  pope  should 
hear  and  decide  the  quarrel  betwixt  the  crowns,  and  be  informed 
of  the  right  which  Edward  had  to  the  crown  of  Scotland.  To  this 
king  Robert  replied,  "  that  the  pope  could  not  be  ignorant  of  that 
business,  since  it  had  been  often  explained  to  his  predecessors,  in  the 
hearing  of  many  cardinals  then  alive,  who  could  tell  him,  if  they 
pleased,  what  insolent  answers  pope  Boniface  received  from  the 
English,  while  they  were  desired  to  desist  from  oppressing  the  Scots. 
And  now,"  said  he,  "  when  it  hath  pleased  God  to  give  us  the  better 
b}^  some  victories,  by  which  we  have  not  only  recovered  our  own, 
but  can  make  them  live  as  good  neighbours,  they  have  recourse  to 
such  treaties,  seeking  to  gain  time  in  order  to  fall  upon  us  again 
with  greater  force  :  but  in  this  his  holiness  must  excuse  me,  for 
I  w^ill  not  be  so  unwise  as  to  let  the  advantage  I  have  slip  out  of  my 
hand."  The  legate  regarding  this  answer  as  contemptuous,  inter- 
dicted the  kingdom,  and  departed  ;  but  king  Robert  paying  little 
regard  to  such  proceeding,  followed  hard  after  the  legate,  and 
entering  England,  wasted  all  the  adjacent  counties  with  fire  and 
sword. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  fifteenth  century,  the  reformation  from 
popery  began  to  dawn  in  Scotland  ;  at  this  time  there  was  pope 
against  pope,  nay,  sometimes  three  of  them  at  once,  all  excommuni- 
cating one  another  ;  which  schism  lasted  for  about  thirty  years,  and, 
by  an  over-ruling  providence,  contributed  much  to  the  downfall  ot 
antichrist,  and  to  the  revival  of  real  religion  and  learning  in  Scot- 
land, and  many  parts  in  Europe  ;  for  many  embracing  the  opportu- 
nity now  afforded  to  them,  began  to  speak  openly  against  the  heresy, 
tyranny,  and  immorality  of  the  clergy.  Among  those  who  preached 
publicly  against  these  evils,  were  John  Huss  and  Jerome  of  Prague 
in  Bohemia,  John  Wickliffe  in  England,  and  John  Resby,  an 
Englishman  and  scholar  of  "Wickliffe's  in  Scotland,  who  came  hither 
*Hind  let  Loose,  period  II.  p.  11,  first  edit 


24  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

about  the  year  1407,  and  was  called  in  question  for  some  doctrines 
which  he  taught  against  the  pope's  supremacy  ;  he  was  condemned 
to  the  fire,  which  he  endured  with  great  constancy.  About  ten 
years  after,  one  Paul  Craw,  a  Bohemian,  and  follower  of  Huss,  was 
accused  of  heresy  before  such  as  were  then  called  doctors  of  theology. 
The  articles  of  charge  were,  that  he  followed  Hus's  and  Wickliffe  in 
the  opinion  of  the  sacrament  of  the  sapper,  denying  that  the 
substance  of  bread  and  wine  were  changed  by  virtue  of  any  words, 
and  that  auricular  confession  to  priests,  or  praying  to  departed 
saints,  were  proper.  He  was  committed  to  the  secular  judge, 
condemned  to  the  flames  at  St.  Andrews,  where  he  suffered,  being 
gagged  when  led  to  the  stake,  that  lie  might  not  have  the  opportunity 
of  making  his  confession.  Both  the  above-mentioned  martyrs 
suffered  under  Henry  Wardlaw,  bishop  of  St.  Andrew's,  who  founded 
that  university,  1412  ;  which  might  have  done  him  honour,  had  he 
not  imbrued  his  hands  in  innocent  blood. 

These  returnings  of  the  gospel  light  were  not  confined  to  St. 
Andrew's :  Kyle,  Carrick,  Cunningham,  and  other  places  in  the  west 
of  Scotland,  were  also  favoured  about  the  same  time  ;  for  we  find  that 
Robert  Blackatter,  the  first  archbishop  of  Glasgow,  anno  1494, 
caused  summon  before  king  James  IV.,  and  his  council  at  Glasgow, 
George  Campbell  of  Cessnock,  Adam  Peid  of  Barskimming,  John 
Campbell  of  Newmills,  Andrew  Shaw  of  Polkemmet,  lady  Pokellie, 
and  lady  Stair.  These  were  opprobriously  called  the  Lollards  of 
Kyle,  from  Lollard,  an  eminent  preacher  among  the  Waldenses,  for 
maintaining  that  images  ought  not  to  be  worshipped  ;  that  the  relics 
of  saints  should  not  be  adored,  and  other  obnoxious  tenets  ;  but  they 
answered  their  accusers  with  such  constancy  and  boldness,  that  it 
was  judged  most  prudent  to  dismiss  them  with  an  admonition,  to 
content  themselves  with  the  faith  of  the  church,  and  to  beware  of 
new  doctrines. 

Thus  have  we  brought  down  this  summary  of  church  affairs  in 
Scotland  to  the  time  of  Patrick  Hamilton,  whose  life  stands  first  in 
this  collection ;  which  contains  a  somewhat  minute  history  of  the 
church  in  our  land,  during  the  period  to  which  it  refers. 


PATRICK    HAMILTON. 


This  illustrious  youth,  destined  to  the  high  honour  of  being  the  first* 
to  announce  the  truth  to  his  fellow  countrymen,  and  the  first  to  seal 
it  with  his  blood,  was  born  in  the  year  1501.  lie  was  of  royal  lineage, 
being  the  son  of  Sir  Patrick  Hamilton  of  Kincavil,  who  was  the  son 
of  lord  Hamilton,  by  a  sister  of  king  James  III.  By  maternal  descent 
his  birth  was  not  less  illustrious ;  his  mother  being  a  daughter  of  John 
duke  of  Albany,  brother  to  the  same  monarch.  He  was  early  edu- 
cated with  a  view  to  future  high  preferment,  and  had  the  abbacy  of 
Feme  given  him  that  he  might  prosecute  his  studies,  which  he  did 
with  great  assiduity. 

He  was  sent  to  the  university  of  St.  Andrew's,f  and  there  he  fin- 
ished his  studies  in  philosophy  and  belles  lettres.  His  vigorous  mind 
gave  promise  of  future  eminence,  and  when  he  was  little  more  than 
twenty  years  of  age,  he  had  made  himself  master  of  all  the  learning 
then  in  repute.  The  university  of  St.  Andrew's,  although  it  had  not 
been  a  century  in  existence,  was  at  this  time  in  considerable  reputa- 
tion, and  contained  many  learned  men.  The  celebrated  John  Mair, 
or  Major,  the  preceptor  of  our  great  reformer  Knox,  and  of  our  un- 
rivalled classical  scholar  Buchanan,  flourished  at  this  time,  and  was 
professor  of  philosophy  and  theology  at  St.  Andrew's,  where  Hamilton 
received  his  education.  Major  was  born  at  North  Berwick,  studied 
at  Oxford  and  Paris,  and  became  a  professor  of  the  Sorbonne,  in  1509. 
In  1519,  he  was  invited  to  his  native  country  by  James  Beaton, 
archbishop  of  Glasgow,  and  inducted  professor  in  the  archiepiscopal 

*  It  is  not  strictly  true  that  Patrick  Hamilton  was  either  the  first  who  announced  the  truth 
in  Scotland,  or  there  sealed  it  with  his  blood.  Dr.  M'Crie  affirms  it  as  his  conviction,  that 
the  opinions  of  Wickliffe  had  a  powerful  and  extensive  influence  upon  the  Reformation  in 
Scotland,  before  Patrick  Hamilton  made  his  appearance.  This  learned  historian  says,  "  we 
can  trace  the  existence  of  the  Lollards  in  Ayrshire  from  the  time  of  Wickliffe  to  the  days 
of  George  Wishart ;  and  in  File  they  were  so  numerous,  as  to  have  formed  the  design  of 
rescuing  Patrick  Hamilton  by  force  on  the  day  of  his  execution."  And  with  regard  to 
priority  in  the  martyrdom  of  Scotland,  in  the  records  of  the  city  of  Glasgow,  mention  is 
made  by  historians  of  one  James  Resby,  an  Knglishman  and  a  scholar  of  Wickliffe,  who  was 
accused  by  Lawrence  Lindoris  in  Scotland,  in  the  reign  of  Robert  III.,  for  having  said  that 
the  pope  was  not  the  vicar  of  Christ,  and  that  a  man  of  wicked  life  was  not  to  be  acknow- 
ledged as  pope.  For  holding  these  two  tenets  he  was  burnt  alive.  In  the  reign  of  James  I., 
about  the  year  1431,  Paul  Craw,  a  Bohemian  and  a  disciple  of  the  celebrated  John  Huss, 
was  committed  to  the  flames  at  St.  Andrew's,  under  the  primacy  of  cardinal  Henry  Ward- 
law,  archbishop  of  that  see.  But  these  are  instances  so  isolated,  that  it  may  be  said,  with- 
out offending  truth,  that  Patrick  Hamilton  was  the  first  who  suffered  for  the  doctrines  of 
the  Reformation. 

f  This  is  stated  on  the  authority  of  Mackenzie,  but  it  may  be  questioned.  Had  Hamil- 
ton been  educated  at  St.  Andrew's,  Knox,  who  was  a  student  there  at  the  time,  would  have 
recorded  it.     Knox  does  not  seem  even  to  have  been  acquainted  with  him. 


26  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

university  of  St.  Andrew's.  His  patron,  Beaton,  four  years  afterwards, 
followed  him  to  that  city,  as  archbishop  and  primate.  He  died  about 
the  year  1550.  His  commentary  on  the  Third  Book  of  the  "  Magis- 
ter  Sententiarum,"  and  his  "Exposition  of  Matthew's  Gospel,"  had 
by  this  time  been  printed  in  Latin  at  Paris,  the  former  in  1517,  the 
latter  in  the  following  year.  Objectionable  as  many  of  Major's  writ- 
ings undeniably  are,*yet  he  deserves  applause  for  exposing  several  of 
the  most  glaring  errors  and  abuses  of  his  time.  He  was  at  that  period 
reckoned  the  greatest  master  of  the  sciences  which  he  taught.  From 
the  circumstances  of  his  having  acquired  the  chief  part  of  his  educa- 
tion in  France,  and  his  having  held  the  professorial  chair  in  the  uni- 
versity of  Paris,  Major  had  acquired  a  nicer  discrimination  of  things 
and  more  rational  and  liberal  modes  of  thinking,  than  were  to  be  met 
with  in  Scotland,  or  indeed  in  many  other  parts  of  Europe.  He 
adopted  the  opinions  on  polity  defended  by  John  Gerson  and  Peter 
D'Ailly,  who  had  nobly,  and  with  so  much  applause,  argued  in  favour 
of  the  council  of  Constance,  against  those  who  advocated  the  doctrine 
of  the  pope's  unlimited  power.  Major,  in  fact,  taught  many  things 
which  must  have  been  peculiarly  obnoxious  to  the  catholic  clergy, 
and  which  must  have  had  a  peculiar  influence  on  the  minds  of  his 
pupils  ;  such  as,  that  a  general  council  was  superior  to  the  pope,  and 
might  rebuke,  restrain,  and  even  depose  him  ;  he  denied  the  temporal 
power  of  the  Roman  bishop,  and  loudly  censured  the  ambition,  ava- 
rice, and  splendour  of  the  Vatican.  These,  with  a  variety  of  other 
opinions  which  Major  taught,  must  have  excited  some  spirit  of  in- 
quiry among  his  hearers,  which  would  not  likely  end  in  increasing 
their  devotion  to  the  Romish  church. 

Under  such  a  teacher,  Hamilton's  mind  must  have  been  preparing 
for  the  reception  of  the  truth,  although  his  preceptor  still  held  several 
untenable  and  inconsistent  doctrines,  and  could  not,  therefore,  be  a 
very  safe  guide  to  his  noble  pupil. 

In  this  manner  did  Patrick  Hamilton  finish  his  studies  at  the  uni- 
versity ;  and  although  he  acquired  great  applause  for  his  learning 
from  his  teachers,  there  is  no  definite  notice  taken  by  any  historian 
of  his  appearance  as  a  student.  Knox  must  have  been  at  the  uni- 
versity during  this  period,  but  he  is  altogether  silent  on  the  subject, 
as  he  generally  is,  on  the  early  lives  of  all  the  Reformers.  There 
does  not  seem  to  have  been  a  great  intimacy  subsisting  between 
Hamilton  and  Knox,  though  the  latter  was  only  one  year  younger. 
Knox,  indeed,  never  mentions  that  he  knew  him  at  all,  though  the 
supposition  is  not  improbable,  that  there  might  have  been  an  acquaint- 
anceship. It  must  be  recollected,  however,  that  Knox  was  at  this 
time  a  priest  of  the  Romish  church,  having  received  orders  before  he 
arrived  at  the  canonical  age, — and  that  the  absence  of  the  future  mar- 
tyr  from  Scotland,  for  a  season,  might  also  tend  to  stop  all  commu- 
nication. Another  reason  might  also  be  alleged, — the  high  birth  of 
Elamilti  >n,  and  the  comparative  obscurity  of  Knox, — for  the  latter  had 
not  as  yet  given  those  indications  of  the  important  part  he  was  to  sus- 
tain in  the  future  Reformation  of  his  country,  which  more  than  coun- 
terbalanced the  most  splendid  family  renown,  or  illustrious  alliance. 

Hamilton  was  in  the  twenty-second  year  of  his  age  when  the  know- 


PATRICK   HAMILTON. 


27 


ledge  of  divine  truth  dawned  upon  his  mind.  His  conduct  had  al- 
ready drawn  upon  him  the  suspicions  of  the  clergy.  The  freedom 
with  which  he  recommended  ancient  learning  instead  of  the  dogmas 
of  the  schools,  and  the  no  less  undisguised  language  which  he  used 
in  declaiming  against  the  corruptions  of  the  church,  made  him  an  ob- 
ject of  peculiar  notice.  His  influence,  however,  was  not  yet  of  such 
consequence,  as  to  warrant  punishment ;  and  as  he  still  remained  in 
the  church,  and  in  all  probability  would  be  one  of  her  greatest  dig- 
nitaries ;  his  opinions  were  viewed  as  the  ebullitions  of  a  heated  im- 
agination. But  to  Hamilton  they  were  not  so,  and,  ere  the  canonical 
age  for  receiving  his  ordination,  he  resolved,  in  the  year  1526,  to  leave 
Scotland,  and  to  improve  his  mind  by  travelling  in  foreign  parts. 
This  was  the  prevalent  custom  in  those  days  among  men  of  rank,  and 
especially  among  those  who  were  designed  for  the  church.  The  Conti- 
nent was  the  great  resort  of  all  our  learned  men,  and  they  returned  to 
their  native  land,  after  having  pursued  a  course  of  study  there,  to  the 
discharge  of  those  duties  for  which  they  were  eventually  destined. 

Hamilton  proceeded  to  Germany,  being  attracted  thither  by  the 
great  fame  of  Luther.  He  first  repaired  to  Wittemberg,  the  resi- 
dence of  that  reformer,  by  whom  he  was  received  with  cordiality, 
and  introduced  to  Melancthon,  the  most  amiable  and  moderate  of  all 
the  reformers.  They  retained  Hamilton  a  short  time  with  them,  and 
then  recommended  him  to  the  university  of  Marpurg.  This  university 
had  been  recently  founded  by  Philip,  the  landgrave  of  Hesse,  who 
was  distinguished  above  all  the  princes  of  that  age  for  his  learning, 
and  he  had  placed  at  its  head  the  celebrated  scholar,  Francis 
Lambert  of  Avignon.  This  great  man,  wTho  had  resigned  a  most 
lucrative  situation,  and  left  his  native  country,  in  consequence 
of  his  attachment  to  the  reformed  doctrines,  soon  felt  towards 
Hamilton  the  greatest  attachment.  The  young  Scotsman  with  fond- 
ness and  ardour  adopted  the  sentiments  of  his  perceptor,  and 
attended  with  the  utmost  regularity  his  daily  prelections.  Hit 
residence  at  Marpurg  was  to  him  of  the  utmost  advantage  ;  and  here 
it  was  that  he  first  felt  an  anxious  desire  to  preach  the  gospel  to  his 
own  countrymen,  and  to  instruct  them  in  true  religion.  He  com- 
municated his  sentiments  to  Lambert,  who  freely  warned  him  of  the 
danger  to  which  he  would  be  exposed,  and  he  tried  to  persuade  him 
to  remain  at  Marpurg ;  but  his  resolution  was  fixed,  and,  taking  an 
affectionate  leave  of  his  learned  preceptor,  with  one  domestic  he  pre- 
pared to  return  to  Scotland. 

It  does  not  appear  whether  Hamilton  returned  immediately  to  his 
native  country,  or  prolonged  his  stay  for  a  short  time  on  the  Conti- 
nent, after  leaving  Marpurg.  It  is  asserted  by  some  historians  that 
he  was  in  Bohemia ;  and  there  is  probably  some  truth  in  the 
assertion,  especially  considering  Hamilton's  ardent  disposition,  and 
his  eager  desire  after  knowledge. 

Hamilton,  however,  found  among  the  protestants  of  Germany  certain 
principles  congenial  to  his  own,  and,  from  his  intimacy  with  Luther, 
who  was  now  their  greatest  friend,  he  was  received  with  great 
hospitality.  He  made  himself  master  of  all  their  tenets,  though 
there  is  no  ground  for  Mackenzie's  assertion,  "with  a  design  of 


28  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

reforming  our  church  according  to  their  models."  His  residence  was 
brief  among  them  ;  for,  earnest  to  commence  the  work  of  Reforma- 
tion in  his  native  land,  he  arrived  in  Scotland  with  a  single  attendant, 
in  the  year  1527. 

Accordingly,  being  as  yet  a  youth  not  much  past  23  years  of  age, 
he  began  to  sow  the  seed  of  God's  word  wherever  he  came,  exposing 
the  corruptions  of  the  Romish  church,  and  pointing  out  the  errors 
which  had  crept  into  the  Christian  religion  as  professed  in  Scotland. 
He  was  favourably  received  and  followed  by  many,  unto  whom  he 
readily  "  showed  the  way  of  God  more  perfectly."  His  reputation  as 
a  scholar,  and  his  courteous  demeanour,  contributed  not  a  little 
to  his  usefulness  in  this  good  work. 

The  arrival  of  Hamilton  was  not  long  a  secret,  nor  was  he  allowed 
much  time  by  the  clergy  to  disseminate  his  opinions.  No  sooner 
had  this  young  reformer  set  foot  on  his  native  land,  than  he  felt  his 
bowels  yearning  with  compassion  towards  his  deluded  countrymen ; 
and,  contrasting  the  moral  aspect  of  his  country  with  that  of  the  coun- 
tries where  he  had  been,  he  longed  for  the  time  when  the  Reforma- 
tion should  be  as  publicly  acknowledged  in  Scotland  as  in  Germany. 
But  he  knew  that  this  could  be  accomplished  only  by  human  means  ; 
and,  nothing  dismayed  at  the  magnitude  or  the  probable  issue  of  the 
undertaking,  he  resolved  himself  to  begin  the  noble  work.  James 
Beaton  was  at  this  time  at  the  head  of  the  Scottish  catholic  church, 
being  archbishop  of  St.  Andrew's,  and  lord  chancellor  of  the  kingdom. 
This  primate  soon  made  it  appear,  that  he  was  determined  to  oppose, 
to  the  utmost,  every  advancement  to  knowledge.  The  conduct 
of  Hamilton,  in  faithfully  preaching  wherever  he  went,  exposing  the 
corruptions,  and  pointing  out  the  dreadful  errors  of  the  church, 
as  well  as  his  celebrity  as  a  scholar,  and  his  general  courtesy 
to  all,  roused  the  fury  of  the  archbishop,  and  made  him  determine 
on  revenge.  The  high  birth  and  honourable  connections  of  Hamilton 
alone  restrained  him  from  proceeding  openly  ;  for  though  James  V., 
then  a  minor,  was  on  the  throne,  yet  the  primate  well  knew  that  the 
reformer's  noble  relatives  would  shield  him  from  his  rage,  even 
though  they  might  not  be  led  away  by  his  doctrines.  At  all  events, 
the  alarm  of  the  clergy  was  apparent,  and  they  resolved  as  soon 
as  possible  to  rid  themselves  of  this  dangerous  and  formidable 
enemy. 

The  city  of  St.  Andrew's — a  place  venerable  for  its  antiquity, 
for  its  classical  retreats,  and  for  the  many  impressive  associations 
connected  with  it,  was  at  that  time  the  great  capital  of  the  clergy. 
Here  the  Romish  hierarchy  reared  its  majestic  and  imposing  form  ; 
and,  surrounded  by  hundreds  of  priests,  the  primates  were  wont  to 
sit  enthroned  in  power,  in  the  splendid  and  magnificent  cathedral, 
which  the  over  zeal  of  the  reformers  afterwards  levelled  with  the 
ground.  Beaton,  as  we  have  said,  was  archbishop,  Hugh  Spence 
provost  of  St.  Salvador's  college  and  dean  of  divinity,  John"  Wad  dell, 
parson  of  Flisk,  rector  of  the  university,  James  Simson  official 
of  the  abbey,  John  Gregson  provincial  of  the  Black  Friars,  Martin 
Bailor  and  John  Spence  lawyers,  Sir  John  Annan  canon  of  St. 
Andrew's,   and  Alexander  Campbell  prior  of   the  Black  Friar' 


PATRICK   HAMILTON. 


29 


Those,  with  a  number  of  others  of  inferior  note,  consisting  of  canons, 
friars,  rectors,  deans,  and  prebendaries,  completed  the  ecclesiastical 
chapter  of  this  venerable  city,  which,  in  its  contrast  now,  to  the 
splendour  of  those  days  of  superstition,  in  its  almost  deserted 
university,  its  silent  streets,  and  mouldering  ruins,  exhibits  a  mourn- 
ful picture  of  the  wreck  of  ages,  and  of  those  mighty  revolutions 
of  time,  in  which  cities,  as  well  as  kingdoms  and  empires,  par- 
ticipate. 

The  archbishop  now  became  Hamilton's  inveterate  enemy ;  but 
the  chief  difficulty  with  the  primate  was  how  to  get  him  into  his 
power,  as  he  was  every  day  more  convinced  that  his  friends  were 
powerful  and  numerous.  Through  craftiness,  however,  he  at  last 
succeeded ;  for,  concealing  his  intentions  under  the  appearance 
of  friendship,  he  invited  Hamilton  to  St.  Andrew's,  under  the 
pretense  of  holding  a  free  conference  with  him,  in  which  he 
lamented  the  errors  of  the  church.  The  unsuspicious  victim  thrown 
off  his  guard  by  the  primate's  seeming  candour,  and  rejoicing  that 
he  would  have  an  opportunity  of  arguing  with,  and  perhaps  con- 
vincing, the  greatest  dignitary  in  the  church,  willingly  consented. 
This  was  all  the  primate  wished,  and  accordingly  he  proceeded 
against  him  without  delay. 

Thus,  through  the  vilest  artifice,  cunning,  and  hypocrisy,  did 
the  archbishop  of  St.  Andrew's  succeed  in  apprehending  a  man,  who 
while  he  was  at  large,  made  him  tremble  in  his  archiepiscopal 
seat. 

Friar  Alexander  Campbell  had  several  interviews  with  Hamilton, 
after  his  arrival  in  St.  Andrew's.  As  Campbell  was  a  man  of  learn- 
ing and  considerable  talents,  Hamilton  openly  engaged  him  in 
disputation  on  the  comparative  effects  of  the  reformed  and  popish 
doctrines,  and  the  friar,  though  not  convinced,  felt  himself  van- 
quished. He  knew  well  that  the  martyr's  positions  were  true,  but 
he  could  not  subdue  his  prejudices,  and  at  once  acquiesce  in  the 
evils  of  superstition. 

Nevertheless  he  went  cunningly  to  work.  He  pretended  to  ac- 
knowledge the  force  of  Hamilton's  objections  against  the  clergy,  and 
the  general  errors  of  the  Romish  church  ;  but  no  persuasions  of  the 
friar  could  induce  the  Reformer  to  recant.  All  his  arguments 
rather  tended  the  more  to  confirm  Hamilton  in  the  truth.  Campbell 
at  last  left  him,  and  proceeded  to  the  archbishop,  to  whom  he 
related  his  ill  success.  The  primate  had  previously  resolved  what  to 
do.  But  he  and  the  inferior  clergy  made  concessions  to  Hamilton, 
for  he  was  not  as  yet  confined,  owning  that  many  things  required 
reformation,  which,  they  said,  they  earnestly  wished  ;  but  those 
acknowledgments,  there  is  every  reason  to  believe,  were  made  only 
the  more  effectually  to  conceal  their  intentions,  and  to  make  Hamil- 
ton the  more  secure. 

Archbishop  Beaton,  however,  soon  threw  off  the  mask  of  friend- 
ship and  hospitality.  Like  his  nephew  and  successor  the  celebrated 
cardinal,  who  seems  most  liberally  to  have  imbibed  his  spirit,  he  was 
distinguished  by  the  same  want  of  principle,  the  same  craftiness, 
desire  for  political  intrigue,  and  hatred  to  sacred  truth.     He  showed 


30  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

his  ambition  to  the  greatest  degree,  during  the  two  months  he 
acquired  the  ascendancy  in  the  government,  after  John  duke  of 
Albany  had  resigned  the  regency,  which  was  shortly  after  his  pro- 
motion from  the  see  of  Glasgow  to  the  primacy  of  St.  Andrew's, 
having  succeeded  the  avaricious  Forman  in  the  latter  see,  to  the 
exclusion  of  Gawin  Douglas,  the  warrior  bishop  of  Dunkeld,  and 
celebrated  translator  of  Virgil's  iEneid  into  Scottish  verse;  and 
since  that  time,  till  the  present,  though  he  had  been  hated  by  the 
faction  of  the  Douglases,  and  often  compelled  by  them,  while  they 
retained  possession  of  the  king's  person,  to  lurk  among  his  friends, 
he  had  insinuated  himself  into  the  government,  and  on  his  restitution 
to  his  archiepiscopal  seat,  after  the  memorable  escape  of  the  king 
from  the  hands  of  the  Douglases,  he  had  resided  in  splendour  at 
St.  Andrew's,  equally  powerful  in  church  and  state.  As  yet,  till  the 
time  of  Hamilton,  no  heretic  had  disturbed  his  security ;  he  had 
reposed  on  the  downy  pillow  of  ease,  and  none  dared  to  make  him 
afraid ;  but  now,  though  he  regarded  not  the  church,  as  far  as 
religion  was  concerned,  and  was  callous  to  everything  uncon- 
nected with  his  own  aggrandizement,  he  determined  to  arrest  the 
progress  of  a  man,  who  was  able,  from  his  rank,  influence  and 
talents  to  shake  his  archieopiscopal  throne,  and  sow  the  seeds  of  dis- 
sension and  turbulance  in  that  church,  of  which  he  was  the  chief 
dignitary.  Accordingly,  in  the  middle  of  the  night,  an  order  was 
issued  by  the  primate  for  Hamilton's  apprehension,  and  he  was  com 
mitted  a  close  prisoner  to  the  castle  of  St.  Andrew's. 

Hamilton  now  saw  the  peculiar  nature  of  his  situation,  but  he  wan' 
nothing  discouraged  at  the  dreary  prospect.  He  was  well  instructed 
in  the  things  of  heaven,  and  those  truths  which  he  firmly  believed 
now  supported  and  animated  his  soul.  He  prepared  himself  for  the 
issue,  with  all  the  calmness  and  resignation  of  a  believer,  committing 
his  cause  to  Him  who  judgeth  righteously. 

The  measures  which  Beaton  and  his  clergy  took  after  Hamilton's 
apprehension,  fully  prove  their  original  designs.  Knowing  well  that, 
from  Hamilton's  rank  and  relationship  to  the  royal  family,  there 
would  be  powerful  and  not  unlikely,  effectual  application  for  his  life, 
the  young  king,  James  V.,  at  the  solicitation  of  the  clergy,  was  per- 
suaded to  undertake  a  pilgrimage  that  same  day  to  the  shrine  of  St. 
Dothes,  in  Itoss-shire,  that  he  might  be  out  of  the  reach  of  all  inter- 
cession in  behalf  of  the  victim.  And  yet  those  churchmen  pretended 
that  they  had  Hamilton's  salvation  at  heart!  The  tender  mercies  of 
the  wicked  are  cruel ;  and  the  inveterate  offences  which  Patrick  Ha- 
milton, a  youth  only  twenty-four  years  of  age,  had  committed  against 
the  Eomish  hierarchy,  could  be  expiated  only  by  his  blood. 

The  day  after  Hamilton's  imprisonment,  a  convention  of  the  clergy 
was  called  by  the  archbishop,  in  which  he  presided  in  person. 
Hamilton  was  summoned  to  appear  before  them,  and  accordingly  he 
was  brought  with  all  solemn  parade  into  the  abbey  church.  They 
charged  him  with  preaching  and  maintaining  heretical  doctrines,  and 
tbey'exhibited  a  number  of  charges  of  great  importance,  though 
they  finally  restricted  them  to  some  of  those  fundamental  dogmas  of 
popery  which  he  denied.   The  doctrines  for  which  he  was  condemned, 


PATRICK   HAMILTON. 


31 


however,  according  to  Mackenzie  and  Spottiswoode  (afterwards  the 
Protestant  archbishop  of  that  see,)  were  the  following : 

"  1.  That  the  corruption  of  sin  remains  in  children  after  their 
baptism. 

"  2.  That  no  man  is  without  sin  as  long  as  he  lives. 

"  3.  That  no  man,  by  the  mere  power  of  his  free  will,  can  do  any 
good. 

"That  every  true  Christian  may  know  whether  or  not  he  is  in  a 
state  of  grace. 

"  5.  That  a  man  is  not  justified  by  works,  but  by  faith  only. 

"  6.  That  good  works  make  not  a  man  good,  but  that  a  good  man 
doth  good  works,  and  that  an  ill  man  doth  ill  works;  yet  the  same  ill 
works  truly  repented  of,  do  not  make  an  ill  man. 

"7.  That  faith,  hope,  and  charity  are  so  linked  together,  that  he 
who  hath  one,  hath  all,  and  he  who  lacketh  one,  lacketh  all. 

"  That  God  is  the  cause  of  sin  in  this  sense,  that  he  withdraweth 
his  grace  from  man,  and  when  grace  is  withdrawn,  he  cannot  but 
sin." 

Other  five  charges  were  added,  making  them  in  all  thirteen. 

"  1.  That  auricular  confession  is  not  necessary  to  salvation. 

"2.  That  actual  penance  cannot  purchase  the  remission  of  sins. 

"  3.  That  there  is  no  purgatory. 

"  4.  That  the  holy  patriarchs  were  in  heaven  before  Christ's 
passion. 

"  5.  That  the  pope  is  antichrist,  and  that  every  priest  hath  as  much 
power  as  he." 

The  sentence,  as  given  by  Mr.  Fox  in  his  "  Acts  and  Monuments 
of  Martyrs,"  is  as  follows  : 

"  GIIRI8T1 nomini  invocato  :  We,  James,  by  the  mercy  of  God, 
archbishop  of  St.  Andrew's,  primate  of  Scotland,  with  the  counsel, 
decree  and  authority,  of  the  most  reverend  fathers  in  God,  and  lords, 
abbots,  doctors  of  theology,  professors  of  the  holy  scripture,  and  mas- 
ters of  the  university,  assisting  us  for  the  time,  sitting  in  judgment 
within  our  metropolitan  church  of  St.  Andrew's,  in  the  cause  of  here- 
tical pravity,  against  Mr.  Patrick  Hamilton,  abbot  or  pensionary  of 
Feme,  being  summoned  to  appear  before  us,  to  answer  to  certain 
articles  affirmed,  taught,  and  preached  by  him,  and  so  appearing  be- 
fore us,  and  accused,  the  merits  of  the  cause  being  ripely  weighed, 
discussed,  and  understood,  by  faithful  inquisition  made  in  Lent  last 
passed :  We  have  found  the  same  Mr.  Hamilton  many  ways 
infamed  with  heresy,  disputing,  holding  and  maintaining  divers 
heresies  of  Martin  Luther  and  his  followers,  repugnant  to  our  faith, 
and  which  is  already  condemned  by  general  councils,  and  most 
famous  universities.  And  he  being  under  the  same  infamy,  we  dis- 
cerning before  him  to  be  summoned  and  accused  upon  the  premises, 
he  of  evil  mind  (as  may  be  presumed),  passed  to  other  parts,  forth  of 
the  realm,  suspected  and  noted  of  heresy.  And  being  lately  return- 
ed, not  being  admitted,  but  of  his  own  head,  without  license  or  privi- 
lege, hath  presumed  to  preach  wicked  heresy. 

"  We  have  found  also  that  he  hath  affirmed,  published,  and  taught, 
divers  opinions  of  Luther  and  wicked  heretics,  after  that  he  was  sum- 


32  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

rnoned  to  appear  before  us  and  our  council :  That  man  hath  no  free 
will :  That  man  is  in  sin  so  long  as  he  liveth  :  That  children  incon- 
tinent after  their  baptism,  are  sinners  :  all  Christians,  that  be  worthy  to 
be  called  Christians,  do  know  that  they  are  in  grace  :  No  man  is  justified 
by;  works  but  by  faith  only  :  Good  works  make  not  a  good  man,  but 
a  good  man  doth  make  good  works :  That  faith,  hope,  and  charity 
are  so  knit,  that  he  that  hath  the  one  hath  the  rest,  and  he  that 
wanteth  one  of  them  wanteth  the  rest,  &c,  with  divers  other  her- 
esies and  detestable  opinions;  and  hath  persisted  so  obstinate  in  the 
same,  that  by  no  counsel  or  persuasion  he  may  be  drawn  therefrom,  to 
the  way  of  our  right  faith. 

"  All  these  premises  being  considered,  we  having  God  and  the 
integrity  of  our  faith  before  our  eyes,  and  following  the  counsel  and 
advice  of  the  professors  of  the  holy  scripture,  men  of  law,  and  others 
assisting  us  for  the  time,  do  pronounce,  determine,  and  declare,  the 
said  Mr.  Patrick  Hamilton,  for  his  affirming,  confessing,  and  main- 
taining of  the  aforesaid  heresies,  and  his  pertinacity  (they  being  con- 
demned already  by  church,  general  councils,  and  most  famous  uni- 
versities,) and  to  have  an  evil  opinion  of  the  faith,  and  therefore  to 
be  condemned  and  punished,  like  as  we  condemn  and  define  him  to 
be  punished  by  this  our  sentence  definitive,  depriving,  and  sentencing 
him  to  be  deprived  of  all  dignities,  honours,  orders,  offices,  and  bene- 
fices of  the  church  ;  and  therefore  do  judge  and  pronounce  him  to  be 
delivered  over  to  the  secular  power,  to  be  punished,  and  his  goods  to 
be  confiscated. 

"  This  our  sentence  definitive  was  given  and  read  at  our  metropoli- 
tan church  of  St  Andrew's,  the  last  day  of  the  month  of  February, 
anno  1527,  being  present,  the  most  reverend  fathers  in  Christ,  and 
lords,  Gawand  archbishop  of  Glasgow,  George  bishop  of  Dunkelden, 
John  bishop  of  Brechin,  William  bishop  of  Dunblane,  Patrick  prior 
of  St  Andrew's,  David  abbot  of  Aberbrothoe,  George  abbot  of  Dun- 
fermline, Alexander  abbot  of  Cambuskenneth,  Henry  abbot  of 
Lenders,  John  prior  of  Pittenweeme,  the  dean  and  subdean  of  Glas- 
gow, Mr  Hugh  Spence,  Thomas  Ramsay,  Allan  Meldrum,  &c,  in 
the  presence  of  the  clergy  and  the  people." 

Such  was  the  solemn  mockery,  by  the  Romish  clergy,  of  all  law, 
justice,  and  religion,  in  drawing  out  their  "sentence  definitive" 
against  the  martyr.  The  sentence  was  originally  in  Latin,  as  all  such 
documents  are,  connected  with  the  church ;  and  they  foolishly 
imagined,  by  the  parade  and  show  of  equity,  that  they  would  con- 
vince the  people  of  the  danger  of  heresy,  and  confirm  their  attachment 
to  the  holy  church  infallible.  Beaton,  however,  soon  got  more  work 
to  perform  than  what  he  at  first  anticipated  ;  yet  let  us  not  contem- 
plate this  impiety,  but  rather  turn  to  the  closing  scene  of  this  noble 
martyr's  life,  and  briefly  witness  the  constancy  of  him,  whom  a 
modern  historian  has  justly  characterized  as  having  received  "  the 
eternal  honour  of  being  the  proto-martyr  in  Scotland,  for  the  freedom 
of  the  human  mind." 

Hamilton  heard  his  sentence  with  all  the  meekness  and  resignation 
of  a  Christian  martyr.  He  had  previously  argued  with  his  judges, 
and  had  defended  his  opinions  with  firmness,  though  with  modesty : 


3 


GEORGE   WISHART.  33 

now  lie  anticipated  the  result  and  lie  prepared  himself  for  death.  On 
the  same  day  that  this  sentence  was  pronounced  by  the  ecclesiastical 
court,  he  was  also  condemned  by  the  secular  power  ;  and  the  clergy, 
afraid  that  some  sudden  intercession  would  be  made  for  his  life, 
determined  to  hurry  him  to  the  stake  that  very  afternoon. 

During  the  interval  he  was  visited  by  Alexander  Aless,  canon  of 
the  metropolitan  church  of  St.  Andrew's,  who  again  tried  to  reclaim 
him  to  the  bosom  of  the  catholic  church,  but  in  vain.  Aless  was 
himself  staggered  by  the  martyr's  arguments.  He  had  studied  the 
Lutheran  controversy,  and,  being  well  instructed  in  scholastic  the- 
ology, held  several  conferences  with  Hamilton,  to  induce  him  to 
recant.  These  conferences  ended  in  the  conversion  of  Aless ;  and 
the  constancy  with  which  he  beheld  Hamilton  adhere  to  his  opinions 
at  the  stake,  strengthened  his  resolutions.  Aless  some  time  after 
delivered  a  Latin  discourse  to  the  synod,  which  brought  him  under 
suspicion  of  heresy.  He  was  thrown  into  prison  ;  but  after  a  i'cw 
years'  confinement  he  made  his  escape,  and,  embarking  in  a  vessel 
on  the  coast,  eluded  the  vigilance  of  his  pursuers.  Aless  went  to 
Germany,  and  in  1535,  came  over  to  England,  recommended  to 
Cranmer  by  Melancthon.  He  returned  to  Germany,  in  1540,  and 
was  made  professor  of  divinity  in  the  University  of  Leipsic. 


GEORGE   WISHART. 


This  illustrious  martyr  was  of  the  house  of  Pitarrow,  in  the  county 
of  Mearns.  He  was  born  in  the  reign  of  James  Y.,  though  the  par- 
ticular year  is  not  certain,  from  the  silence  of  contemporary  writers 
as  to  his  early  history  ;  but  as  he  might  be  nearly  30  years  of  age 
at  the  time  of  his  martyrdom,  it  is  very  probable  he  was  born  about 
1514  or  1515.  His  family  was  ancient  and  respectable,  his  brother 
being  laird  of  Pitarrow,  an  estate  by  no  means  insignificant. 

Little  is  also  known  of  Wishart's  youth.  In  the  early  part  of  his 
life  he  was  sent  to  the  university  of  Aberdeen,  and  there  he  com- 
pleted a  course  of  education  in  philosophy  and  belles  lettres,  such 
as  was  then  taught.  As  was  the  custom  of  all  the  youths  connected 
with  families  of  any  note  in  those  days,  Wishart  was  sent  abroad  bj 
his  parents,  and  travelled  on  the  continent  for  some  time,  especially 
in  France  and  Germany.  This  was  previous  to  the  year  1538.  It 
does  not  appear  that  he  ever  resided  at  the  university  of  St. 
3 


34  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

Andrew's,  or  Knox,  who  studied  there,  would  in  all  probability  have 
mentioned  it,  considering  their  after  intimacy  ;  but,  not  at  first  hav- 
ing any  designs  at  all  for  the  church,  Wishart  acquired  the  rudi- 
ments of  his  education  in  some  private  seminary  in  Scotland  ;  next 
at  Aberdeen,  and  then  he  proceeded  to  the  continent,  where  he  con- 
tinued his  studies.  There,  as  is  most  likely  also,  from  the  spread  of 
the  Reformation,  especially  in  Germany,  he  imbibed  those  doctrines 
from  some  of  the  reformers  themselves  which  he  afterwards  sealed 
with  his  blood. 

The  first  public  notice  which  we  have  of  "Wishart,  is  one  of  con- 
siderable interest,  as  connected  with  the  history  of  learning  in  Scot- 
land. In  those  days  literature  was  in  a  miserable  state,  all  the 
learning  being  confined  to  the  scholastic  jargon  of  the  schools,  from 
which  even  those  who  despised  it  could  never  afterwards  wholly 
free  themselves.  The  knowledge  of  the  languages  was  limited 
indeed.  Latin  was  the  only  language  studied — a  language  which 
was  generally  worse  understood  by  the  priests,  who  should  have 
understood  it  best,  than  by  the  laity  ;  Greek  was  almost  wholly  un- 
known ;  for  it  is  only  in  the  year  1522  that  Hector  Boetius  mentions 
George  Dundas  as  a  good  Greek  scholar,  which  lano-uaire  he  had 
most  probably  acquired  in  France  ;  but  that  writer  makes  no  men- 
tion of  this  language  as  a  branch  of  education  taught  in  the  univer- 
sities in  his  time.  In  the  year  1534,  the  celebrated  John  Erskine 
of  Dun,  a  man  to  whom  the  Reformation  was  subsequently  much 
indebted,  brought  a  learned  man  from  France  to  teach  Greek  in 
Montrose,  which  is  honoured  as  being  the  first  town  in  Scotland  in 
which  encouragement  was  given  to  this  elegant  and  beautiful  lan- 
guage. As  Erskine  was  provost  of  the  town  of  Montrose,  he  of 
course  had  much  in  his  power,  independent  of  the  frowns  of  the 
priests,  who  liked  not  this  encouragement  to  literature.  At  the 
school  of  this  French  scholar,  Wishart  obtained  the  knowledge  of 
the  Greek  language,  and  afterwards  succeeded  his  master  as  teacher 
there.  But  the  course  of  study  which  Wishart  prescribed,  drew 
upon  him  the  resentment  of  his  superiors  in  the  church.  The  bishop 
of  Brechin,  William  Chisholm,  hearing  that  Wishart  taught  the 
Greek  New  Testament  to  his  scholars,  summoned  him  to  appear  be- 
fore him  on  a  charge  of  heresy,  upon  which  he  consulted  his  safety 
by  flight,  and  retreated  into  England,  in  the  year  1538. 

Wishart,  thus  driven  by  prelatical  tyranny  from  his  native  country, 
betook  himself  to  the  university  of  Cambridge,  at  that  time  of  great 
celebrity,  from  the  lectures  of  reformed  divines  who  resided  there, 
and  entered  himself  a  student  of  Bene't  or  Corpus  Christi  college, 
in  that  university.  Here  he  resided  for  six  years,  leading  a  life  of 
the  most  unexampled  study  and  devotion.  He  was  out  of  the  juris- 
diction and  power  of  his  enemy  the  bishop  of  Brechin  ;  and  here  he 
made  those  truths  his  more  particular  study,  which  he  afterwards 
preached  with  such  effect  to  his  countrymen. 

The  following  graphic  description  of  him  during  his  residence  at 
the  university  of  Cambridge,  is  given  by  Emery  Tylney,  one  of  his 
scholars  : — 

"  About  the  yeare  of  our  Lord  a  thousand,  five  hundreth,  fortie 


GEORGE   WISHART. 


35 


and  three,  there  was  in  the  universitie  of  Cambridge,  one  Maister 
George  Wischart,  commonly  called  Maister  George  of  Bennet's  col- 
ledge,  who  was  a  man  of  tall  stature,  polde  headed,  and  on  the  same 
a  round  French  cap,  of  the  best ;  judged  to  be  of  melancholje  com- 
plexion by  his  physiognomie ;  blacke  haired,  long-bearded,  comely 
of  personage,  well-spoken  of  after  his  countrey  of  Scotland,  court- 
eous, lowly,  glad  to  teach,  desirous  to  learn,  and  was  well  trauelled, 
hauing  on  him,  for  his  habit  or  clothing,  neuer  but  a  mantell  or 
frize  gown  to  the  shoes,  a  blacke  Millian  fustain  dublet,  and  plain 
blacke  hosen  ;  coarse  new  canvasse  for  his  shirtes,  and  white  falling 
bandes  and  cuffes  at  the  hands.  All  the  which  apparell  he  gaue  to 
the  poor,  some  weekly,  some  monethly,  some  qnarterlie,  as  he  liked, 
sauing  his  French  cap,  which  he  kept  the  whole  yeare  of  my  beeing 
with  him. 

"  Hee  was  a  man  modest,  temperate,  fearing  God,  hating  couet- 
ousness  :  for  his  charitie  had  neuer  ende,  night,  noone,  nor  daye ; 
he  forbare  one  meale  in  three,  one  day  in  foure  for  the  most  part, 
except  something  to  comfort  nature.  Hee  lay  hard  upon  a  pouffe  of 
straw ;  coarse  new  canuasse  sheetes,  which,  when  he  changed,  he 
gaue  away.  He  had  commonly  by  his  bedside  a  tubbe  of  water,  in 
the  which  (his  people  being  in  bed,  the  candle  put  out,  and  all 
quiet,)  he  used  to  bathe  himselfe  ;  as  I  being  very  young,  being 
assured  offten  heard  him,  and  in  one  light  night  discerned  him.  He 
loued  mee  tenderlie,  and  I  him,  for  my  age,  as  effectuallie.  He 
taught  with  great  modestie  and  grauitie,  so  that  some  of  his  people 
thought  him  seuere,  and  would  haue  slain  him,  but  the  Lord  was  his 
defence.  And  hee,  after  due  correction  for  their  malice,  by  good  ex- 
hortation amended  them,  and  he  went  his  way.  O  that  the  Lord 
had  left  him  to  me  his  poore  boy,  that  hee  might  haue  finished  that 
he  had  begunne !  For  in  his  religion  he  was,  as  you  see  heere  in  the 
rest  of  his  life,  when  he  went  into  Scotland  with  diuers  of  the  no- 
bilitie,  that  came  for  a  treatie  to  king  Henry  the  Eight.  His  learn- 
ing was  no  less  sufficient  than  his  desire,  always  prest  and  readie  to 
do  good,  in  that  he  was  able,  both  in  the  house  privately,  and  in  the 
schoole  publikely,  professing  and  reading  divers  authours. 

"  If  I  should  declare  his  loue  to  me  and  all  men,  his  charitie  to  the 
poore,  in  giuing,  relieuing,  caring,  helping,  prouiding,  yea,  infinitely 
studying  how  to  do  good  unto  all,  and  hurt  to  none,  I  should  sooner 
want  words  than  just  cause  to  commend  him. 

"  All  this  I  testitie  with  my  whole  heart  and  trueth  of  this  godly 
man.  He  that  made  all,  gouerneth  all,  and  shall  iudge  all,  knowet'h 
I  speake  the  troth,  that  the  simple  may  be  satisfied,  the  arrogant 
confounded,  the  hypocrite  disclosed. 

"  Emery  Tylney." 

In  the  year  1544,  "Wishart  felt  a  desire  to  return  to  his  native 
country,  that  he  might  preach  those  truths  which  had  gladdened  his 
own  heart  to  his  fellow-countrymen.  And  when  Wishart  "  went  into 
Scotland,"  as  his  pupil  Tylney  expresses  it,  "  with  diuers  of  the 
Nobilitie  that  came  for  a  treatie  to  king  Henry  the  Eight ;"  it  was  at 
the   earnest  invitation  of  some  of  these,  who  were  the  principal 


36  SCOTS  WORTHIES. 

nobility.  These  "  Nobilitie"  were  commissioners  who  had  been  sent 
to  negotiate  a  treaty  with  the  English  monarch,  on  the  following 
account : — It  will  be  recollected,  that,  through  the  cardinal's  influ- 
ence, Henry's  favourite  scheme  of  uniting  the  two  kingdoms,  by  a 
marriage  with  his  son  Edward  and  the  infant  princess  Mary  of 
Scotland,  had  been  abandoned,  and  that  Henry,  in  high  wrath, 
proclaimed  war  against  the  Scots.  The  Scots,  however,  were  in  no 
condition  at  that  time  to  take  the  field  against  Henry,  then  the  most 
powerful  monarch  in  Europe  ;  and  the  disaster  of  Solway,  which 
took  place  only  two  years  before,  had  made  them  much  more  cautious 
respecting  the  mastering  of  their  army.  Peace  was  the  only  alter- 
native, and  commissioners  were  accordingly  despatched  to  the 
English  monarch,  to  conclude  a  treaty  between  the  two  kingdoms. 
In  the  company,  therefore,  of  these,  Wishart  returned,  and  estab- 
lished himself  first  in  Montrose,  where  he  commenced  his  ministry. 
Erom  Montrose  he  proceeded  to  Dundee,  where  his  discourses  excited 
the  highest  admiration. 

It  is  singular  that  he  should  have  chosen  a  town  for  the  com- 
mencement of  his  ministry  so  near  the  abode  of  the  cardinal, — St. 
Andrew's  being  only  about  nine  miles  from  that  town.  It  would 
seem  to  argue,  either  that  he  was  only  in  part  instructed  in  the 
cardinal's  character,  or  that  he  was  determined  to  make  known  the 
truth,  even  so  near  the  abode  of  archiepiscopal  tyranny.  It  is 
probable,  however,  that  Wishart  found  an  assembly  of  protestants  in 
Dundee,  to  whom  he  hoped  his  ministry  would  prove  peculiarly 
acceptable,  and  these  again  would  be  encouragements  for  him  to 
commence  his  ministry  among  them,  especially  as  they  would  appear 
to  him  a  people  thirsting  for  the  word  of-  life. 

While  Wishart  remained  in  Dundee,  he  began  to  give  public 
lectures  on  the  Epistle  to  the  Romans,  by  which  he  acquired  great 
fame.  In  the  unsettled  state  of  the  public  mind,  when  men  were 
literally  in  a  strait  between  two  opinions,  whether  to  adhere  to  the 
faith  of  their  fathers,  or  to  give  full  credence  to  the  doctrines  of  the 
Reformation,  when,  in  fact,  the  regard  for  the  established  religion 
was  completely  set  at  nought,  and  men's  eyes  wTere  gradually 
opening,  to  show  them  that  they  had  been  the  dupes  of  superstition 
and  credulity,  the  efforts  made  by  such  a  preacher  as  Wishart  to 
overthrow  the  catholic  church  must  have  been  formidable.  The 
cardinal,  whose  vigilance  was  unremitting,  soon  got  notice  of  this 
new  opponent,  and  forthwith  he  kept  his  eye  upon  him  as  his  sworn 
adversary.  lie  beheld,  wTith  deep  regret,  a  total  overthrow  of  all  his 
plans  by  the  preaching  of  Wishart ;  and  the  rapid  and  extensive 
desertion  which  he  caused  from  the  established  church  raised  in  him 
the  utmost  anxiety  to  arrest  Wishart's  exertions.  Compared  with 
this  new  enemy,  all  the  other  reformers  were  as  nothing  in  the  hands 
of  the  cardinal ;  but  now  he  had  to  grapple  with  a  master  mind — 
with  a  man  whose  fervour,  uprightness,  and  gentleness,  had  rendered 
him  greatly  beloved. 

There  cannot  be  the  smallest  doubt,  but  that  the  cardinal  from  the 
very  first  resolved  on  Wishart's  death. 

Measures,  however,  were  to  be  adopted  in  the  mean  time,  to  silence 


GEORGE   WISHART.  37 

the  reformer  in  Dundee  ;  and  accordingly,  either  by  bribery  or  by 
terror,  the  cardinal  prevailed  with  one  of  the  magistrates  of  the  town 
named  Robert  Mill,  who  had  formerly  been  an  adherent  to  the 
doctrines  of  the  Reformation,  and  a  considerable  sufferer  on  that 
account,  but  who,  having  renounced  these,  was  now  a  man  of  influ- 
ence in  the  town,  to  serve  Wishart  with  a  prohibition,  in  the  name  of 
the  queen  and  the  governor,  to  trouble  them  no  more  with  his 
preaching.  This  commission  was  executed  by  Mill  one  day  after 
Wishart  had  concluded  his  usual  sermon,  and  was  received  by  him 
with  every  expression  of  pious  zeal  and  resignation.  On  hearing  the 
prohibition  read  against  him,  the  reformer  kept  silence  for  a  little 
time,  with  his  eyes  turned  towards  heaven  ;  then  looking  steadfastly 
on  the  speaker,  with  a  sorrowful  countenance,  he  said,  "  God  is  my 
witness,  that  I  ever  mind  your  comfort,  and  not  your  trouble,  which 
to  me  is  more  grievous  than  to  yourselves  ;  but  sure  I  am,  that  to 
reject  the  word  of  God,  and  to  drive  away  his  messengers,  is  not  the 
way  to  save  you  from  trouble.  "When  I  am  gone,  God  will  send  you 
messengers,  who  will  not  be  afraid  either  for  burning  or  banishment. 
I  have,  with  the  hazard  of  my  life,  remained  among  you  preaching 
the  word  of  salvation,  and  now,  since  you  yourselves  refuse  me,  I 
must  leave  my  innocency  to  be  declared  by  God.  If  it  be  long  well 
with  you,  I  am  not  led  by  the  Spirit  of  truth  ;  and,  if  trouble  unex- 
pected fall  upon  you,  remember  this  is  the  cause,  and  turn  to  God  by 
repentance,  for  he  is  merciful." 

Wishart  determined  to  obey  the  injunction,  and  in  this  he  at  once 
evinced,  that  he  was  not  actuated  by  that  rash  zeal  which  willingly 
courts  danger  for  its  own  sake.  After  giving  this  short  address,  he 
came  down  from  the  preaching  place,  and  resolved  instantly  to  leave 
Dundee.  The  earl  marischall,  and  some  other  noblemen,  who  were 
present  at  the  sermon,  earnestly  pressed  him  to  go  to  the  north  with 
them,  but  he  resisted  their  importunities,  and  went  to  the  western 
parts  of  Scotland. 

The  town  of  Ayr  was  the  first  place  where  he  again  commenced 
his  public  ministrations.  Here  his  reputation  and  diligence  made 
him  to  be  gladly  received  by  many,  and  soon  procured  for  him 
numerous  followers.  The  great  freedom  and  faithfulness  with  which 
he  preached  the  gospel  in  this  quarter,  also  directed  against  him  the 
inveteracy  of  the  church,  and  the  archbishop  of  Glasgow  resolved  to 
apprehend  him.  Dunbar,  at  this  time,  was  archbishop  of  that  see, 
in  whose  diocese  Ayr  was  situated, — a  man  who  was  not  possessed 
of  that  furious  zeal  for  persecution  which  characterized  the  cardinal. 
Beaton  and  he,  in  fact,  had  long  looked  on  each  other  with  evil  eyes  ; 
for  when,  in  the  year  1543,  ablegate  from  the  pope  arrived  in  Scot- 
land, and  spent  the  winter  in  that  country,  during  the  residence  of 
this  functionary,  the  pride  of  the  cardinal  was  excessively  wounded 
before  him,  by  the  pretensions  of  the  archbishop  of  Glasgow.  _  The 
cardinal  having  attended  the  legate  in  his  visit  to  that  city,  claimed, 
as  primate  of  all  Scotland,  precedence  of  the  archbishop,  to  which, 
in  his  own  cathedral,  that  prelate  would  not  submit.  Upon  this,  a 
dispute  arose,  each  asserting  in  very  formal  terms  the  priority  ot 
erection  of  his   respective  see ;   and,  in  the   eagerness  of   both  to 


38  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

maintain  their  dignity  before  the  legate,  a  straggle  took  place  between 
them,  and  the  large  cross,  carried  before  the  primate,  was  thrown  to 
the  ground.  The  dispute  ran  so  high,  that  the  regent  was  compelled 
to  interfere,  and  to  restore  unanimity  between  men,  who,  professing 
to  be  the  ministers  of  a  religion  of  peace,  had  so  indecently  inter- 
rupted all  good  order,  dignity,  and  worship. 

The  archbishop,  who,  although  certainly  not  a  violent  persecutor, 
was  nevertheless  zealous  enough  for  the  church,  at  the  instigation  of 
the  cardinal,  with  whom  he  now  preserved  an  appearance  of  friend- 
ship, hastened  to  Ayr  with  a  number  of  attendants.  He  took  pos- 
session of  the  pulpit,  with  a  view  to  hinder  Wishart  from  preaching: 
on  the  report  of  which,  the  earl  of  Glencairn,  and  some  other  gen- 
tlemen of  the  neighbourhood,  came  quickly  to  the  town,  and  offered 
to  put  Wishart  by  force  into  the  pulpit,  should  the  archbishop  prove 
unwilling  to  resign  it.  To  this  Wishart  would  by  no  means  consent, 
and  as  the  archbishop  began  to  make  a  show  of  preaching,  he 
calmly  said,  that  the  bishop's  sermon  would  not  do  much  hurt,  and 
that,  if  they  pleased,  he  would  go  to  the  market-cross.  He  said 
this,  because  he  disapproved  of  whatever  could  be  regarded  as  a 
violation  of  peace  ;  "  and  it  was,  indeed,  his  uniform  practice,"  says 
Dr.  Cook,  "  to  shun  giving  unnecessary  offence ;  and  this  modera- 
tion, while  it  increased  the  attachment  of  his  adherents,  perplexed 
and  astonished  those  by  whom  he  was  opposed."  He  accordingly 
repaired  to  the  market-cross,  and  there  preached  with  such  success, 
that  various  persons  were  converted  to  the  truth.  During  the  time 
in  which  Wishart  was  thus  employed,  the  archbishop  was  haranguing 
his  own  followers  and  some  few  priests  in  the  church.  Having  no 
sermon  to  give  them,  and,  like  his  brethren,  not  being  much  accus- 
tomed to  the  employment,  he  told  them  "he  would  be  better  provided 
with  a  sermon  on  some  other  occasion,  and  speedily  thereafter  left 
the  town. 

After  the  archbishop's  departure,  Wishart  continued  with  those 
who  professed  the  reformed  doctrines,  protected  by  the  powerful,  and 
constantly  preaching  the  truths  of  the  gospel.  On  the  sabbath  fol- 
lowing, he  was  desired  to  preach  in  the  church  of  Mauchline ;  but 
the  sheriff  of  Ayr,  during  the  night,  had  anticipated  him  by  placing 
a  guard  of  soldiers  in  the  church.  Hugh  Campbell  of  Kinzean- 
cleugh,  a  man  of  considerable  influence  in  the  parish,  with  others, 
being  offended  at  this  proceeding,  would  have  entered  the  church 
by  force,  but  Wishart  again  displayed  his  accustomed  moderation 
and  forbearance.  "  It  is  the  word  of  peace,"  said  he,  "  which  I 
preach  unto  you,  and  the  blood  of  no  man  shall  be  shed  for  it  this  day. 
Christ  is  as  mighty  in  the  fields  as  in  the  church,  and  he  himself, 
when  he  lived  in  the  flesh,  preached  oftener  in  the  desert  and  upon 
the  sea-side,  than  in  the  temple  of  Jerusalem."  With  these  words 
he  appeased  the  multitude,  and  withdrawing  to  a  muir  on  the  south- 
west of  the  parish,  he  there  preached  for  almost  three  hours  to  a 
vast  multitude  of  attentive  hearers  ;  in  which  sermon  was  that  good 
seed  sown,  which  afterwards  brought  forth  much  fruit  to  the  glory 
of  divine  grace. 

While  Wishart  was  thus  employed  in  the  neighborhood  of  Ayr, 


GEORGE   WISHART.  39 

instant  in  season  and  out  of  season,  and  teaching-  daily  with  success, 
he  received  intelligence,  that  a  contagious  distemper  raged  with 
great  violence  in  Dundee,  and  was  daily  proving  fatal  to  vast  num- 
1  ers.  His  old  affection  towards  that  town  now  revived,  and  he 
accordingly  proceeded  thither,  after  a  month's  stay  in  Ayr,  notwith- 
standing the  urgent  entreaties  of  many  that  he  should  remain.  Ili3 
reasons  were,  "  they  are  now  in  trouble,  and  need  comfort.  Per- 
chance this  visitation  of  God  will  make  them  now  to  magnify  and 
reverence  that  word  which  before,  for  the  fear  of  man,  they  set  at  light 
price."  The  humanity  which  Wishart  on  this  occasion  displayed  is 
highly  honourable  to  his  character.  He  could  not  altogether  acquit 
the  inhabitants  of  Dundee  of  ingratitude,  in  forcing  him,  only  a 
month  previous,  to  depart  from  their  town,  even  although  his  resi- 
dence among  them  had  been  at  the  hourly  risk  of  his  life.  But  the 
religion  of  love  operated  too  powerfully  on  the  heart  of  this  eminent 
man ;  and  he  felt  every  latent  tie  to  revive,  which  bound  him  in  the 
affections  of  that  people. 

Having  arrived  at  Dundee,  he  found  that  the  reports  as  to  the 
malignity  of  the  distemper  had  come  far  short  of  the  truth,  and 
his  benevolent  soul  was  grieved  to  behold  the  ravages  made  by 
death.  "  The  joy  of  the  faithful,"  says  Knox,  "  was  exceeding  great 
when  he  gave  signification  that  he  would  preach  on  the  morrow." 
He  chose  the  head  of  the  street  called  the  East  Port  in  Dundee,  for 
his  preaching  station  ;  to  the  intent  that,  while  those  who  were  in 
health  might  remain  within,  those  who  were  infected  with  disease 
should  take  their  station  without,  the  port  or  gate.*  The  whole  eon- 
duct,  in  truth,  of  Wishart,  while  at  this  time  in  Dundee,  was  such 
as  entitles  his  memory  to  be  held  in  everlasting  remembrance. 

During  all  this  time,  his  sworn  adversary  the  cardinal  had  his  eye 
close  upon  him,  and,  like  the  indefatigable  animal  of  the  forest, 
urged  on  by  devouring  hunger,  watched  every  opportunity  to  seize 
him.  He  suborned  many  to  vilify  this  holy  man,  and  to  act  openly 
as  his  avowed  foes.  His  enemies,  however,  afraid  of  having  recourse 
to  open  violence,  attempted,  while  he  remained  in  Dundee,  to  assas- 
sinate him.  A  priest,  named  Sir  John  Wightnian,  either  from  his 
own  private  hatred  and  bigotry,  or,  as  has  been  supposed,  though 
without  sufficient  evidence,  stimulated  by  the  cardinal,  resolved  on 
his  destruction.  To  effect  his  purpose,  the  priest  stationed  himself 
at  the  foot  of  the  pulpit  steps,  with  his  gown  loose,  and  a  dagger 
concealed  under  it,  in  order  that  he  might  plunge  it  into  Wishart's 

*  The  East  or  Cowgate  Port,  with  the  exception  of  a  small  portion  at  the  old  burying 
ground,  is  the  only  remnant  of  the  wall  that  defended  this  ancient  town.  This  port  has 
been  religiously  preserved,  out  of  respect  to  Wishart  for  his  affectionate  attention  to  the 
inhabitants  during  the  dreadful  plague  in  1544.  it  was  on  the  archway  of  this  Port  he 
took  his  station  ;  where,  placing  himself  as  it  were  between  the  living  and  the  dead,  he  ad- 
ministered to  the  dejected  inhabitants  the  consolations  of  that  blessed  religion  which  alone 
imparts  comfort  in  the  deepest  distress;  taking  his  text  from  Psalm  cvii.  v;0,  "  lie  sent  his 
word  and  healed  them,  and  delivered  them  from  their  destruction/'  A  congregation  in  con- 
nexion with  the  United  Secession  Church,  have  lately  built  a  very  handsome  and  •  an- 
tial  meeting-house,  upon  the  site  of  the  old  church  of  St.  Roque.  In  honour  of  the  martyr 
this  edifice  has  been  called  Wishart  Church.  The  identity  of  this  spot  has  been  con- 
firmed by  the  fact,  that  while  digging  the  foundation,  various  ancient  reliques,  besides  hu- 
man skeletons  and  detached  bones,  were  found. 


40  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

breast,  as  he  came  down.  The  agitation  of  the  priest's  countenance, 
or  the  singularity  of  his  appearance,  luckily  arrested  Wishart's 
attention,  and  raised  his  suspicions.  Looking  steadfastly  on  him 
when  he  approached,  he  demanded  of  him,  What  he  intended  to 
do  ?  and  in  an  instant  seized  the  hand  which  grasped  the  murderous 
weapon.  The  priest,  overcome  by  his  intrepidity  and  presence  of 
mind,  instantly  fell  at  his  feet,  and  acknowledged  his  guilt.  The 
enraged  multitude  would  at  once  have  sacrificed  him  as  a  punish- 
ment for  his  barbarous  purpose;  but  "Wishart  restrained  their  vio- 
lence, and  calmed  their  resentment. 

The  reformer  now  prepared  himself  to  proceed  to  Edinburgh, 
that  he  might  appear  before  a  convocation  of  the  clergy,  and  be 
publicly  heard  in  defence  of  the  doctrines  he  taught.  To  this  he 
had  willingly  agreed,  and  as  the  time  appointed  for  the  conference 
was  at  hand,  he  resolved  first  to  visit  Montrose,  and  give  a  short 
exhortation  to  the  adherents  of  the  Reformation  in  that  town  ;  for 
he  felt  a  presentiment  that  they  would  after  that  see  his  face  no 
more.  He  accordingly  journeyed  thither,  and  imparted  fresh  cou- 
rage to  the  professors  of  religion  by  his  presence.  He  taught  pub- 
licly among  them,  and  administered  to  them  the  sacrament  of  the 
Supper,  with  great  solemnity.  This  was  the  first  time,  and  the  first 
place,  in  which  the  Lord's  Supper  was  administered  after  the  re- 
formed manner.*  While  here,  Wishart  received  a  letter  from  the 
friends  of  the  Reformation  in  Ayrshire,  desiring  him  to  meet  them 
at  Edinburgh  in  the  month  of  December.     They  promised  to  him, 

*  Wishart  while  he  was  dispensing  the  sacrament  at  Montrose,  received  a  letter  pretend- 
ed to  be  directed  to  him  from  his  intimate  friend  the  Laird  of  Kinnear,  acquainting  him 
that  he  had  taken  a  sudden  illness,  and  requesting  him  to  come  to  him  with  all  diligence. 
Upon  this  he  immediately  set  out  on  his  journey,  attended  by  some  honest  friends  in  Mon- 
trose, who,  out  of  affection,  would  accompany  him  part  of  the  way.  They  had  not  pro- 
ceeded far,  when  Wishart  suddenly  stopped,  saying  to  his  companions :  '■  I  am  forbidden  by 
God  to  go  this  journey.  Will  some  of  you  be  pleased  to  ride  yonder  (pointing  to  some 
particular  place")  and  see  what  you  find,  for  I  apprehend  there  is  a  plot  against  my  life." 
He  returned  instantly  to  the  town,  and  those  who  went  forward  found  an  ambuscade  of 
about  sixty  horsemen,  lying  in  readiness  to  seize  him.  This  at  once  exposed  the  whole 
affair ;  they  found  the  letter  to  be  counterfeit,  and  upon  their  informing  Wishart  of  the  cir- 
cumstance, he  replied,  "  I  know  that  I  shall  end  my  life  by  the  hands  of  that  wicked  man, 
the  cardinal,  but  it  shall  not  be  after  this  manner." 

Another  circumstance  is  connected  with  the  Reformer's  journey  to  Edinburgh,  to  meet 
his  friends  from  the  west.  The  first  night  after  he  left  Montrose,  he  lodged  at  Inver- 
gowrie,  a  place  about  four  miles  from  Dundee,  with  one  of  his  friends  named  James  Wat- 
son. About  midnight  he  was  observed  to  rise  from  his  bed,  and  to  go  out  into  an  adjoining 
garden,  where  he  gave  vent  to  his  sighs  and  groans,  thinking  he  was  unnoticed.  Two 
men,  however,  belonging  to  the  house  had  followed  him  at  a  distance,  and  observed  him  to 
prostrate  himself  on  the  ground,  weeping  and  supplicating,  and  then  return  to  his  apart- 
ments. As  they  lay  in  the  same  apartment  with  him,  they  took  care  to  come  back  before 
him  ;  and  upon  his  entering  into  the  room,  they,  as  if  ignorant  of  all  that  had  passed, 
asked  him  where  he  had  been  ?  But  he  made  no  answer.  In  the  morning  they  asked  him 
again  why  he  rose  in  the  night,  and  what  was  the  cause  ot  his  sorrow,  and  they  told  him 
all  that  they  had  seen  him  do.  He  answered  with  a  dejected  countenance,  "I  wish  you 
had  been  in  your  beds,  and  it  had  been  more  profitable  for  you,  for  I  was  scarcely  well 
occupied."  But  they  praying  him  to  satisfy  their  minds  farther,  and  to  give  them  some 
comibrt,  he  said,  "I  will  it'll  you  ;  I  assuredly  know  my  travail  is  nigh  an  end,  therefore 
pray  to  God  for  me  that  I  may  not  skiink  when  the  battle  waxes  hottest"  It  would  ap- 
pear from  these  two  tacts  in  Wisharfs  life,  that  he  possessed  the  spirit  of  prophecy.  This 
has  been  affirmed  of  other  distinguished  Reformers.  It  is  objected  that  its  possession  is  in- 
consistent with  the  perfection  ot  the  revelation  of  the  holy  scriptures,  and  that  superstition 
and  sagacious  foresight  will  account  fur  all  the  prophecies  attributed  to  the  Worthies.  We 
would  refrain  from  expressing  an  opinion  on  this  subject,  frankly  confessing  our  inability. 


GEORGE  WISHART.  41 

according  to  agreement,  that  they  would  demand  the  bishops  to 
grant  him  a  conference  on  the  matters  of  religion  ;  assured  him  that 
he  would  be  heard ;  and  that  he  might  dread  no  danger,  as  they 
would  answer  for  his  protection. 

These  things  gladdened  the  heart  of  Wishart,  as  he  had  now  the 
prospect  of  a  favourable  opportunity  of  promoting  the  great  designs 
he  had  in  view  by  his  return  to  Scotland.  But  Erskine  of  Dun,  who 
well  understood  the  political  aspect  of  the  times,  the  power  of  Car- 
dinal Beaton,  and  the  inconstant  temper  of  the  Regent,  earnestly 
dissuaded  him  from  his  proposed  journey.  Wishart,  however,  could 
could  not  be  withheld.  In  the  midst  of  winter,  he  travelled  with  a 
few  attendants  to  Invergowrie,  thence  to  Perth,  and,  after  proceed- 
ing through  Fife,  he  arrived  at  Leith  early  in  the  month  of  Decem- 
ber, 15-45.  There  he  had  the  mortification  to  learn,  that  his  friends 
from  the  west  of  Scotland  had  not  yet  arrived,  nor  was  there  any 
notice  of  their  being  on  their  way.  But  the  cardinal,  ever  vigilant, 
was  aware  of  their  intentions,  and  had  taken  most  effectual  mean3 
to  deter  them. 

On  Wishart's  arrival  in  Leith,  as  we  have  already  said,  he  found 
that  his  friends  from  the  west  had  not  arrived,  nor  was  there  any 
appearance  of  their  coming  to  Edinburgh.  This  was  the  contriv- 
ance of  the  cardinal,  who,  ever  active  and  vigilant,  had  thrown 
various  obstacles  in  their  way.  Beaton  well  knew  that  he  could  not 
resist  the  call  which  would  be  made  for  a  free  conference,  and,  as  he 
dreaded  the  result,  he  determined  to  disappoint  the  proposed  meet- 
ing. This  he  did  by  various  methods,  as  he  was  then  actually  at  the 
helm  of  power,  by  counterfeit  letters,  by  threats  and  by  employing 
secret  influence. 

Wishart  kept  himself  in  retirement  at  Leith  for  a  few  days.  lie 
began  now  to  feel  all  the  bitterness  of  hope  deferred,  his  friends  had 
disappointed  him,  and  the  great  objects  which  lay  nearest  his  heart 
had  every  appearance  of  being  overthrown.  Day  after  day  he 
passed  in  sorrow  and  heaviness,  especially  as  he  saw  that  no  man 
around  him  cared  for  his  own  soul.  His  friends  observed  his  dejec- 
tion, and  offered  him  their  consolations  ;  but  to  them  he  replied,  "  I 
have  laboured  to  bring  people  out  of  darkness,  but  now  I  lurk  as  a 
man  ashamed  to  shew  himself  before  men."  They  soon  perceived 
his  desire  was  to  preach  to  them  salvation  ;  upon  which  they  told 
him  that  they  would  gladly  hear  him,  but  that  the  danger  he  would 
run  was  so  great,  that  they  could  not  advise  him.  To  this  he  replied, 
"  If  you  and  others  will  hear  me  next  sabbath-day,  I  shall  preach  in 
Leith  and  let  God  provide  for  me  as  he  best  pleaseth."  He  accord- 
ingly, on  the  following  sabbath,  discoursed  to  his  audience  in  Leith, 
from  the  13th  chapter  of  Matthew,  taking  for  his  subject  the  admir- 
able parable  of  the  sower. 

At  this  time  the  celebrated  John  Knox  was  preceptor  in  the 
family  of  Langniddry,  in  East  Lothian.  This  illustrious  man,  to 
whom  posterity  is  so  much  indebted,  and  who  was  afterwards  des- 
tined to  complete  the  Reformation  in  Scotland,  had  by  this  time 
abjured  the  Romish  church.  He  had  received  ordination^ immedi- 
ately after  completing  his  education  at  St.  Andrew's,  even  before  tho 


42  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

age  appointed  by  the  canons,  but  he  had  never  publicly  preached, 
having  contented  himself  with  merely  expounding  the  scriptures,  in 
the  family  of  Douglas  of  Langniddry,  a  secret  friend  to  the  Refor- 
mation. Whether  Knox  was  acquainted  with  Wishart,  before  his 
retreat  into  England,  or  whether  he  was  attracted  by  his  great  fame 
to  Leith,  does  not  appear,  as  Knox  is  completely  silent  on  Wishart's 
early  history.  Be  that  as  it  may,  Knox  was  no  sooner  informed  that 
he  was  in  Leith,  than  he  hastened  thither  from  Langniddry,  disre- 
garding every  danger  to  which  he  might  be  subjected  by  such  a 
step.  The  future  reformer  resolved  not  to  leave  Wishart  during  the 
time  he  should  remain  in  the  Lothians,  in  order  that  he  might,  with 
the  greater  freedom,  enjoy  his  valuable  instructions. 

Knox  was  among  Wishart's  auditors  that  he  preached  to  in  Leith,  as 
were  also  various  gentlemen  of  repute  in  East  Lothian,  "  who  were 
then  earnest  professors  of  Christ  Jesus."  It  would  appear  also,  that 
the  Lairds  of  Langniddry,  Ormiston,  and  Brunston,  were  present 
among  the  rest.  After  the  sermon,  a  consultation  was  held  by  the 
gentleman  present,  who  all  agreed  that  it  would  be  advisable  for 
Wishart  to  depart  from  Leith,  especially  as  the  regent  and  the  car- 
dinal were  to  be  in  Edinburgh  at  the  approaching  Christmas.  With 
this  advice  Wishart  deemed  it  prudent  to  comply,  and  his  friends 
agreed  to  take  him  with  themselves,  and  to  give  him  safe  lodging  at 
Brunston,  Ormiston,  and  Langniddry. 

Knox  heard  this  resolution  with  great  joy,  for  he  had  now  found 
that  he  could  not  be  separated  from  him.  While  Knox  attended 
Wishart  he  was  instructed  by  him  in  the  Greek  language, — a  study 
which  was  at  that  time  almost  unknown  in  Scotland.  lie  likewise 
performed  an  office  of  considerable  notoriety.  From  the  time  that 
the  attempt  had  been  made  to  assassinate  Wishart  in  Dundee,  a 
sword  had  been  always  carried  before  his  person  by  one  of  his  attend- 
ants, for  his  defence.  This  office  was  at  this  time  fulfilled  by  Knox, 
and  none  more  faithful  could  have  been  chosen.  On  Sabbath,  De- 
cember 17th,  1545,  Wishart  and  his  friends  were  at  Inveresk,  near 
Musselburgh,  where  he  preached  twice  to  a  great  assembly.  Among 
his  hearers  was  Sir  George  Douglas,  who  at  the  close  of  the  sermon 
publicly  said,  "  I  know  that  my  lord-governor  and  my  lord  cardinal 
will  hear  that  I  have  been  at  this  preaching  (for  they  were  both  by 
this  time  in  Edinburgh,)  but  say  nnto  them  that  I  will  avow  it,  and 
will  not  only  maintain  the  doctrine  which  I  have  heard,  but  also  the 
person  of  the  preacher,  to  the  uttermost  of  my  power."  These  words 
greatly  rejoiced  the  people,  and  pleased  the  friends  of  Wishart.* 
During  the  sermon,  two  grey  friars  made  their  appearance  among 
the  auditors.  They  were  easily  distinguished  by  their  dress;  and, 
as  soon  as  Wishart  perceived  them,  he  exclaimed  to  the  people  who 
stood  near,  "  I  heartily  pray  you  to  make  room  for  these  two  men  ;  it 
may  be  that  they  come  to  learn."  Then,  addressing  himself  to  them, 
"  fur,"  says  Knox,  who  was  present,  they  stood  at  the  very  entrance 
of  the  door," — "  Come  near,  for  I  assure  you,  ye  shall  hear  the  words 
of  verity,  which  shall  either  this  very  day  seal  in  you  your  salvation 

*  Unfortunately,  however,  Sir  George  Douglas  did  not  fulfil  this  public  profession  in  after 
ife. 


GEORGE    WISHART.  43 

or  condemnation.  But  the  friars  showed  no  disposition  for  instruc- 
tion. "Wishart  proceeded,  however,  in  his  discourse,  supposing  them 
to  be  listening  attentively ;  but  seeing  that  their  object  was  to  dis- 
turb the  solemnity  of  the  service,  and  to  disturb  the  attention  of  the 
audience,  he  turned  to  them,  and  with  a  solemn  countenance,  said, 
"  O  ye  servants  of  Satan,  and  deceivers  of  the  souls  of  men,  will  you 
neither  hear  God's  truth,  nor  suffer  others  to  hear  it?  Depart,  and 
take  this  for  your  portion,  God  shall  shortly  confound  and  disclose 
your  hypocrisy  within  this  realm  !  Ye  shall  be  abominable  unto  men, 
and  your  places  and  habitations  shall  be  desolate."  Abashed  and 
confounded,  the  friars  retreated,  afraid  to  confront  this  minister  of 
the  New  Testament.  They  stole  from  the  service  like  guilty  crim- 
inals ;  while  Wishart  turned  to  the  audience,  and  said,  "  Those 
wicked  men  have  provoked,  the  Spirit  of  God  to  anger."  He  kept 
silence  for  some  time,  as  if  occupied,  in  internal  prayer.  The  audi- 
ence stood  deeply  affected  before  him.  He  then  resumed  his  dis- 
course, and  towards  the  end  comforted  them  greatly  with  the  assur- 
ances of  God's  grace.  Next  day,  the  reformer  proceeded  to  Lang- 
niddry,  in  company  with  his  friends.  The  two  following  Sabbaths  he 
preached  at  Tranent,  and  gave  distinct  intimation,  that  the  impres- 
sion was  on  his  mind,  that  his  ministry  was  near  a  close.  "  In  all 
his  sermons,"  says  Knox,  who  was  at  this  time  his  constant  auditor, 
"  after  his  departure  from  Argus,  he  forespake  of  the  shortness  of 
time  he  had  to  travail,  and  of  his  approaching  death,  the  day  whereof 
was  nearer,  he  said,  than  any  would  believe." 

At  the  end  of  the  Christmas  holidays,  we  find  him  with  his  friends 
at  Haddington.  Here,  by  the  consent  of  his  friends,  as  it  was  a 
town,  even  in  those  days,  of  considerable  note,  he  preached  to  a  very 
numerous  audience.  On  the  following  day,  however,  few  attended 
through  the  influence,  it  was  supposed,  of  the  earl  of  Both  well,  win 
was  the  most  powerful  man  in  the  country,  and  who  had  been  secretl} 
corrupted  by  the  cardinal.  At  this  time,  too,  he  received  notice 
from  his  friends  in  Ayshire,  stating  that  they  could  not  hold  the 
appointed  conference.  This,  with  the  circumstances  attending  his 
preaching  at  Haddington,  almost  overwhelmed  him  with  despond- 
ency. His  devotedness  to  the  truth  is  here  remarkably  conspicuous : 
as  long  as  he  saw  men  eager  to  be  instructed,  he  rejoiced  and  counted 
on  no  labour;  but  as  his  whole  soul  was  engaged  in  the  cause  of  the 
Reformation,  he  now  felt  himself  grieved  unto  death.  As  it  was  at 
the  request  of  his  friends  in  Ayshire  that  he  had  hazarded  his  life  by 
coming  to  the  Lothians,  where  he  had  not  a  sufficient  number  of 
friends  to  oppose  his  enemies,  all  the  hopes  which  he  had  long 
entertained  of  seeing  the  Reformation  furthered  were  now  blasted, 
and  he  already  felt  himself  like  one  deserted,  and  in  the  power  of 
the  cardinal,  his  implacable  foe.  He  conferred  with  Knox,  "who 
had  carefully  waited  upon  him  from  the  time  he  came  to  Lothian, 
to  whom  he' read  the  letter,  and  said  that  he  avus  now  weary  of  life, 
for  he  perceived  that  men  began  to  be  weary  of  God.  During  this 
time,  he  was  residing  with  Sir  Richard  Maitland,  at  Lethington,  who 
though  not  a  professed  protestant,  received  and  entertained  him  with 
hospitality.     To   Maitland  he  also   read   his    letter   in   the   deepest 


44  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

despondency;  and  though  he  was  just  on  the  point  of  ascending  the 
pulpit,  he  could  not  conceal  his  grief.  Knox,  desiring  to  recall  his 
ideas,  remarked  to  him  that  it  was  not  his  custom  to  consider  these 
things  before  preaching.  "  True,"  replied  Wishart,  "  the  time  for 
sermon  approacheth  ;  I  will  leave  you  for  the  present  to  your  medi- 
tation." 

It  is  extremely  difficult  to  account  for  the  conduct  of  Wishart's 
friends  on  this  occasion.  His  own  expressions  would  seem  to  indi- 
cate an  apostasy  on  their  part,  and  it  is  certain  that  they  expressed 
little  concern  for  his  disappointment,  or  for  the  danger  into  which 
the}r  had  brought  him.  Whether  the  earl  of  Glencairn,  who  after- 
wards acted  a  most  conspicuous  part  in  the  history  of  the  Reformation, 
and  who  was  among  the  first  of  the  nobility  who  renounced  popery, 
was  of  the  number,  does  not  appear ;  but  there  is  every  reason  to 
conclude,  that,  from  his  openly  encouraging  and  protecting  Wishart 
while  in  Ayr,  if  he  was  not  to  act  personally,  at  least  the  party  was 
to  set  out  under  his  cognizance.  Whatever  were  the  causes  which 
detained  them, — whether  the  designs  of  the  cardinal,  or  the  state  of 
the  weather,  still  their  conduct  is  highly  censurable,  on  account  of 
their  being  the  instruments  by  whose  advice  Wishart  brought  his 
life  into  hazard.  Had  they  not  expressed  themselves  with  callous- 
ness, Wishart  would  never  have  asserted,  that  "  he  was  weary  of 
life,  since  men  were  weary  of  God,"  for  he  was  possessed  of  a  nature 
by  far  too  generous,  and  he  had  too  much  of  Christian  charity,  to 
condemn  rashly,  when  there  was  any  reasonable  excuse.  He  seems, 
in  fact,  to  have  considered  their  conduct  as  highly  reprehensible,  and 
as  an  act  of  great  injustice  done  to  himself. 

These  feelings  operated  on  him  more  peculiarly,  as  he  was  just 
preparing  to  enter  the  pulpit  in  the  church  of  Haddington.  As  this 
was  the  last  sermon  our  reformer  ever  preached,  we  shall  be  here 
minute  in  our  detail,  taking  as  our  authority  the  graphic  description 
of  Knox,  who  was  present  on  the  occasion.  Wishart  went  into  the 
church,  and  walked  to  and  fro  before  the  high  altar  nearly  an  hour, 
his  dejected  countenance  indicating  the  grief  and  sorrow  of  his 
mind.  At  last  he  ascended  the  pulpit,  but  the  audience  was  the 
smallest  he  had  ever  witnessed.  He  clearly  saw  that  some  secret  in- 
fluence had  been  employed  to  restrain  the  attendance  of  the  people. 
He  had  purposed  to  expound  to  his  audience  the  second  table  of  the 
law,  "  but  thereof  in  that  sermon  he  spoke  very  little."  Mortified 
and  grieved  by  the  appearance  of  such  a  total  want  of  love  fur 
the  gospel,  despising  that  timidity  which  restrained  men  from  hear- 
ing the  word  of  life,  all  his  enthusiasm  burst  forth,  and  he  felt  him- 
self, as  it  were,  transported  by  his  piety  beyond  the  bounds  even 
of  charitable  allowances.  He  reasoned  from  his  own  consciousness ; 
and  knowing  the  hazard  to  which  he  had  exposed  himself  by  preach- 
ing, he  thought  it  indeed  a  most  grievous  dereliction,  when  men  re- 
fused the  least  dangerous  part,  namely,  to  hear,  the  holy  gospel. 
Nor  was  he  wrong  in  his  conclusion.  The  true  way  of  knowing  the 
sincerity  of  any  man's  religious  profession,  is  by  observing  his  con- 
duct in  the  hour  of  danger  and  persecution  ;  and  he  who  shrinks 
cowardly  from   witnessing  a   good    confession,  subjects   himself  to 


GEORGE  WISHART.  45 

a  charge  of  being  one  who  has  never  in  any  degree  felt  the  in- 
fluence of  religion.  To  be  pious  only  in  the  clay  of  prosperity,  when 
the  world  smiles  fair  on  every  outward  prospect,  but  afterwards 
to  conform  to  the  world  in  adversity,  when  by  so  doing  persecution 
is  avoided,  or  our  own  purposes  served,  is  like  a  hypocrite  who 
covers  himself  with  a  mask  to  further  his  intentions,  but  who  throws 
it  off  whenever  his  guilty  purposes  are  accomplished.  Of  what 
avail  is  profession  at  all,  unless  it  be  accompanied  by  a  correspond- 
ing practice  ?  and  of  what  avail  is  it  to  pretend  to  have  a  concern 
for  the  servants  of  God — the  ministers  of  truth,  unless  it  be  accom- 
panied by  a  resolution  to  stand  by  them  both  in  prosperity  and 
adversity  ?  We  must  say,  that  the  conduct  of  Wishart's  friends  in 
the  west,  and  that  of  his  hearers  at  Haddington  at  this  juncture, 
was  not  that  conduct  which  they  had  previously  professed.  And  it 
must  have  been  peculiarly  discouraging  to  that  good  man,  to  behold 
such  a  lamentable  decay  of  religious  zeal,  when  his  wdiole  soul  was 
occupied  by  love  to  God,  and  concern  for  the  immortal  interests  of 
his  countrymen. 

Wishart  thus  felt  keenly  the  unpropitious  prospects  before  him, 
and  in  the  pulpit  he  gave  utterance  to  his  feelings.  "  O  Lord,"  he 
cried  in  the  beginning  of  his  discourse,  "  how  long  shall  it  be  that 
thy  holy  word  shall  be  despised,  and  men  shall  not  regard  their  own 
salvation?  I  have  heard  of  thee,  Haddington,  that  in  thee  would 
have  been  at  any  vain  play  two  or  three  thousand  people,*  and  now, 
to  hear  the  messenger  of  the  eternal  God,  of  all  the  town  and  parish, 
cannot  be  numbered  one  hundred  persons.  Sore  and  fearful  shall 
the  plagues  be  that  shall  ensue,  because  of  this  thy  contempt. 
With  fire  and  sword  shalt  thou  be  plagued.  Yea,  thou  Haddington 
in  special,  strangers  shall  possess  thee ;  and  you,  the  present  inha- 
bitants shall  either  in  bondage  serve  your  enemies,  or  else  ye  shall 
be  chased  from  your  own  habitations  ;  and  that  because  ye  have  not 
known,  nor  will  not  now  know,  the  time  of  God's  merciful  visi- 
tation." "  In  such  vehemency  and  threatening,"  says  Knox,f  "  con- 
tinued that  servant  of  God,  near  an  hour  and  a  half ;  in  the  which 
he  declared  all  the  plagues  that  ensued,  as  plainly  as  after  our  eyes 
saio  them  performed."  Towards  the  end  of  his  discourse,  however, 
his  characteristic  meekness,  magnanimity,  and  benevolence  returned, 
and  he  said,  "  I  have  forgotten  myself,  and  the  matter  I  should  have 
treated  of;  but  let  these  my  last  words  concerning  public  preaching 
remain  in  your  minds,  till  God  send  you  new  comfort."  He  then  pro- 
ceeded to  make  a  few  remarks  on  the  second  table  of  the  law ;  and, 
as  if  impressed  with  the  conviction  that  his  end  was  at  hand,  he 
took  farewell  of  his  audience,  as  one  whose  face  they  should  see  no 
more  in  the  flesh. 

The  sermon  at  Haddington  a,  Tas  the  last  which  Wishart  preached. 
He  spoke  of  his  own  end  as  certain,  for  he  saw  that  the  cardinal 
had  so  ensnared  him  as  to  make  escape  impossible.  His  friends 
were  deeply  grieved,  and  in  t'.e  afternoon  of  that  very  day  he  took 
a  last  farewell  of  them  all  with  great  affection  and  solemnity,  cspe- 

*  Plays  were  wont  to  be  acted  here  ou  ah  open  grassy  plain.  t  Historie,  page  53. 


46  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

cially  of  Douglas  and  Langniddry,  who  was  under  the  necessity  of 
returning  home  that  night,  chiefly  on  Knox's  account,  whom  he 
wished  to  be  out  of  the  way  of  danger,  as  he  was  well  aware  of  the 
whole  proceedings  of  the  cardinal  with  the  earl  of  Both  well,  since 
the  former  had  arrived  in  Edinburgh.  Knox  could  hardly  be  pre- 
vailed upon  to  separate  from  his  revered  instructor,  for  whom  he 
now  felt  the  most  filial  affection.  As  Wishart  was  to  leave  Had- 
dington for  the  house  or  castle  of  Ormiston,  Knox  entreated  that  he 
might  be  permitted  to  accompany  him,  but  to  this  Wishart  would 
by  means  consent.  He  affectionately  embraced  him,  but  advised 
him  to  depart,  as  he  knew  that  Knox  had  brought  himself  under  the 
notice  of  the  cardinal,  by  his  attachment  to  him.  "  Return  to  your 
bairnes,"  said  the  martyr  mildly,  meaning  his  pupils,  "  and  God 
blesse  you.     Ane  is  sufficient  for  a  sacrifice  at  this  time." 

The  Reformer  then  commanded  that  the  two-handed  sword,  which 
Knox  had  been  accustomed  to  carry,  should  be  taken  from  him. 
Knox  complied  with  his  request,  and,  overwhelmed  with  sorrow, 
returned  to  Langniddry  with  the  father  of  his  pupils,  Hugh  Douglas. 

All  that  night,  however,  Wishart  remained  in  Haddington,  and  in 
the  morning  he  went  on  foot  to  Ormiston,  in  the  midst  of  a  severe 
storm,  accompanied  by  Cockburn,  the  owner  of  that  place,  Sandi- 
lands  of  Calder,  and  Crichton  of  Brunston.  But  now  the  time  was 
come  in  which  this  martyr  was  to  be  delivered  into  the  hands  of  his 
bitter  persecutors.  The  plans  of  the  cardinal  had  taken  effect,  and 
so  resolved  was  he  to  apprehend  Wishart,  that  he  had  secretly  left 
Edinburgh,  and  on  the  same  night  in  which  Wishart  went  to  Ormis- 
ton, the  primate,  unknown  to  the  martyr  or  his  friends,  arrived  at 
Elphingstone  castle,  a  place  about  two  miles  distant  from  Ormiston. 

The  cardinal  had  previously  been  with  Arran,  the  regent  of  the 
kingdom,  who  was  wholly  under  his  control,  and  desired  that  he 
would  send  his  own  servants  to  seize  Wishart,  a  request  with  which 
Arran  very  unwillingly  complied.  Wishart,  in  the  meanwhile,  his 
mind  strongly  impressed  with  the  impending  danger,  displayed  all 
that  magnanimity  and  patience  which  true  religion  so  effectually 
imparts.  His  behaviour  was,  as  usual,  devout,  expressing  an  entire 
resignation  to  the  will  of  God.  After  supper,  he  delivered  to  the 
inmates  of  Cockburn's  family  a  most  consoling  discourse  on  the 
death  of  God's  children,  at  the  end  of  which  he  pleasantly  said, 
"  Methinkes  I  desire  earnestlie  to  slepe ;  let  us  sing  a  psalme."  He 
appointed  the  51st*  Psalm  to  be  sung,  which  had  been  turned  into 


*  The  following  is  the  psalm  which  Wishart  sung  in  the  castle  of  Ormiston  on  the 
night  of  his  apprehension.  It  is  the  51st,  and  the  reader  can  compare  it  with  the  trans- 
lation now  adopted  in  the  version  authorized  by  the  Scottish  church  : — 

"  Miserere  met,  Deus.        Psal.  li.  Haue  mcrcio  on  me  (O  gude  Lord) 

Et'ter  thy  great  mercie. 

"  Haue  mercie  on  me,  God  of  might,  My  sinful]  life  does  me  remord, 

Of  mercie  Lord  and  King;  Qiihilk  sair  has  greuit  thee : 

For  thy  mercie  is  set  full"  right  Bot  thy  groit  grace  has  mee  restored, 

A  bone  all  eirdly  thing,  Throw  grace,  to  libertie : 

Therefore  I  cry  baith  day  and  night,  To  thy  morcie  with  thee  will  I  go." 
And  with  my  hert  sail  sing, 
To  thy  mercie  w>"  thee  will  I  go. 


GEORGE   WISHART. 


47 


Scottish  rhyme,  and   began  thns,   "  Hane  mercy  on  me,  God  of 
might:"  which  being  sung,  he  retired  to  his  chamber,  adding  these 


"  Et  secundum  rmdtitudinem. 
"  Guide  Lord,  1  knaw  my  wickedness, 
Contrail  to  thy  command, 
Robelland  ay  witli  cruelnes: 
And  led  me  in  ane  band 
To  Sathan,  gnha  is  merciless 
Zit,  Lord,  heir  me  cryand, 
To  thy  mercie  witli  thee  will  I  go. 

Quhat  king  can  tell  the  multitude, 

Lord,  of  thy  greit  mercie. 

Sen  sinners  lies  thy  celsitude 

Bes  sted  cruellie. 

Zit  na  sinner  will  thou  seclvVle, 

That  this  will  cry  to  tbee, 

To  thy  mercie  with  thee  will  I  go." 

"  Tibi  soli peccavi. 
"  Only  to  thee  I  did  oll'end, 
And  mekill  euill  lies  done, 
Throw  quhilk  appeirandly  defence 
To  me  is  nane  abone: 
Thus  men  will  judge  thy  just  vengeance 
lies  put  me  from  thy  throne. 
Zit  to  thy  mercie  with  thee  will  I  go. 

Thoght  thou,  gude  Lord,  be  judged  thus, 

Full  t'als  and  wrangonslie. 

O  God  sa  gude  and  gracious, 

Let  their  judging  vineust  be, 

And  shaw  thy  mercie  plenteous, 

Quhilk  mot  vs  Justine. 

To  thy  mercie  with  thee  will  I  go. 


Take  not  from  me  thy  godly  Spreit 

In  my  adversitie  ; 

For  till  my  Baull  it  is  full  sweit, 

"When  since  besettes  nice; 

And  tbow  sail  make  my  saull  full  meit 

Unto  thy  Majestic 

To  thy  mercie  with  thee  will  I  go." 

"  Redde  mild. 
"  Giue  me  the  blythncs  and  the  blis 
Of  my  sweit  Sauiour; 
For  throw  his  bitter  deid  I  mis 
Of  hell  the  dintis  dour, 
And  in  this  mortal]  life,  bee  is 
My  Strang  defence  and  tour. 
To  thy  mercie  with  thee  will  I  go. 

Confirme  thy  Spreit  most  principall 

Into  me,  throw  thy  grace  ; 

For  since  right  larig  held  me  in  thrall, 

.And  pur  me  from  thy  fare; 

Yet  vino  thee.  Lord,  will  I  call 

Into  my  hauie  caee. 

To  thy  mercie  with  thee  will  I  go." 


"  Quonimn  si  voluisses. 

"Gif  thou  had  pleased  sacrifice, 

Isuld  them  offered  thee; 

But  thou  wilt  nought  sic  auarice, 

For  thou  ait  wonder  free, 

Andgiues  vs  thy  benetites, 

Throw  Ohristes  blude  freely. 

To  thy  mercie  with  thee  will  I  go. 


Consauit  into  sin  I  am. 

My  wickednes  thoght  thou  behald, 

Quhilk  I  contracted  of  Adams 

Sinnand  right  manifald. 

My  mother  als  did  eik  the  same, 

And  1  to  sin  was  said. 

To  thy  mercie  with  thee  will  1  go. 


Brint  sacrifice  is  nadelito 

Unto  thy  Majestie. 

Thou  cans  noeht  of  it  ane  mite, 

For  sinne  to  satisfie ; 

For  onlie  I  hrist  did  make  vs  quite 

(if  all  enormitie. 

To  thy  mercie  with  thee  will  I  go." 


Bot  zit  the  Lord  omnipotent, 

My  cairfull  care  did  cure, 

At  font  when  I  was  impotent, 

Fragill,  vaine,  vylde  and  pure 

Then  helpit  me  that  King  potent, 

In  my  misaventure. 

To  thy  mercie  with  thee  will  I  go.'-' 

"  Asperges  me. 

"  With  isope,  Lord,  thou  sprinkle  me, 

And  then  I  sail  be  cleene. 

And  cleerer  then  maid  sail  I  be, 

Than  euer  snaw  lies  bene. 

Zit  of  my  clenenes,  thy  mercie 

The  rute  is  euer  seene. 

To  thy  mercie  with  thee  will  I  go. 

This  isope  is  humilitie, 

Eight  law  intill  ascence  ; 

'1  he  snaw  sa  white  in  all  degree, 

Betakens  innocence. 

For,  and  thir  twa  do  goucrne  me, 

I  >a  1  do  nane  offence. 

To  thy  mercie  with  thee  will  I  go." 

"  Se  projicias  me. 

"  0  gude  Lord,  cast  me  not  away 

From  thy  perfyte  presence, 

Sen  that  I  grant  my  sinnes  ay 

Hcs  done  thee  greit  offence; 

And  1  sail  praise,  baitli  night  and  day, 

Thy  greit  magnificence. 

To  thy  mercie  with  thco  will  I  go. 


"  Benigne  fac  Domino. 
"  To  Syon,  Lord,  bee  gude  againe, 
Efter  thy  godly  will ; 
And  let  thy  louintr  there  remaine, 
Thy  promise  to  fulfill : 
For  Mount  Syon,  with  greit  disdaine, 
In  thrall  is  bidder  till, 
To  thy  mercie  with  thee  will  I  go. 

Jerusalem  did  get  ane  fall; 

llcr  wallis  were  made  full  law: 

For  she  miskenned  the  God  of  all, 

And  dayly  brake  his  law  : 

But  thow  sail  put  her  out  of  thrall, 

When  shee  her  God  does  knaw. 

To  thy  mercie  with  thee  will  1  go." 

"  Tunc  accepUibis. 
"Then  sacrifice  thow  sail  accept, 
Of  truth  and  riijhteousnes, 
(  onformingto  thy  trew  precept, 
And  to  thy  gentilnes: 
For  no  man  then  sail  thou  except 
Into  their  neid  and  stres. 
To  thy  mercie  with  thee  will  I  go. 

Then  calfes  and  brint  sacrifice 

Thy  alter  sail  repleit, 

Then  grciter  glore  and  benefleo 

Thow  sail  make  for  vs  meit; 

Where,  .lay  and  bight,  wee  sail  not  ceiSO 

Ay  Bingand  with  sainotes  sweit. 

To  thy  mercie  with  thee  wiil  I  go." 


48  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

words,  "  And  grant  us  quiet  rest."  Alas  !  he  little  knew  that  the 
arch-en  em  j  was  at  hand,  and  that,  like  his  great  Master,  he  was 
almost  on  the  j)omt  of  being  betrayed  into  the  hands  of  those  who 
had  long  thirsted  for  his  blood. 

At  midnight,  however,  the  trampling  of  horses  was  heard  ;  the 
family  were  thrown  into  confusion,  as  it  was  found  that  the  house 
was  surrounded  by  armed  men.  The  party  was  commanded  by  the 
Earl  of  Bothwell,  high  sheriff  of  the  county,  who  had  been  commis- 
sioned by  the  governor  and  the  cardinal  to  take  Wishart  prisoner. 
Bothwell  desired  a  conference  with  Cockburn,  the  chief  of  Ormiston, 
whose  friend  and  guest  Wishart  was,  and  told  him  his  instructions. 
Cockburn  at  first  refused  to  deliver  him  up,  thinking,  that  by  contriv- 
ing a  delay,  that  Wishart  would  get  time  to  escape ;  but  Bothwell, 
in  virtue  of  his  authority  as  sheriff,  declared  to  him  that  it  was  in 
vain  for  him  to  hold  out  his  house — that  all  resistance  was  useless, 
for  the  governor  and  cardinal,  with  a  great  force,  were  at  hand,  and 
that,  indeed,  the  cardinal  was  then  at  Elphingstone,  only  two  miles 
distant :  but  if  he  (Ormiston,)  would  deliver  Wishart  into  his  hands, 
he  would  promise  on  his  honour  that  he  would  be  safe,  and  that  it 
would  be  out  of  the  cardinal's  power  to  do  him  harm ;  and  to  re- 
move Cockburn's  honourable  scruples,  Botlnvell  solemnly  pledged 
himself  that  he  would  answer  for  his  safety. 

Cockburn,  seeing  that  resistance  was  vain,  went  immediately  to 
his  guest,  to  whom  he  reported  the  whole  proceedings.  Wishart 
heard  him  with  his  usual  calmness  and  fortitude,  and  mildly  said, 
"Open  the  gates  :  the  will  of  God  be  done."  The  earl  entered  the 
house,  and  Wishart  being  conducted  into  his  presence,  thus  ad- 
dressed him  :  "  My  lord,  I  praise  my  God  that  so  honourable  a  man 
as  your  lordship  receives  me  this  night,  in  the  presence  of  these 
noblemen ;  for  I  am  assured,  that,  for  your  honour's  sake,  you  will 
suffer  nothing  to  be  done  against  me  but  by  the  order  of  the  law.  I 
am  not  ignorant  that  all  their  law  is  nothing  else  but  corruption, 
that  they  may  shed  the  blood  of  the  saints;  but  I  fear  less  to  die 
openly,  than  to  be  murdered  in  secret."  To  this  most  affecting  and 
interesting  appeal,  Bothwell  answered,  ';  I  shall  not  only  preserve 
your  body  from  violence,  if  any  be  purposed  against  you  in  violation 
of  all  law ;  but  also  I  solemnly  promise,  in  the  presence  of  these 
gentlemen,  upon  my  honour,  that  neither  the  governor  nor  the  car- 
dinal shall  be  able  to  harm  you  ;  but  I  shall  retain  you  in  mine  own 
hand,  and  in  mine  own  house,  either  till  I  set  you  at  liberty,  or 
restore  you  to  the  same  place  in  which  I  have  received  you."  This 
solemn  promise  being  given  in  the  presence  of  various  gentlemen, 
they  said  individually  to  Bothwell,  "  My  lord,  if  ye  will  do  as  ye 
have  spoken,  and  as  we  think  your  lordship  will  do,  then  do  we  pro- 
mise unto  your  lordship,  that  not  only  we  ourselves  shall  serve  you 
all  the  days  of  our  life,  but  also  we  shall  procure  the  whole  profes- 
sors of  the  truth  in  Lothian  to  do  the  same.  And  upon  either  the 
preservation  of  this  our  brother,  or  upon  his  delivery  again  into  our 
hands,  we  being  reasonably  advertised  to  receive  him,  that  we,  in 
the  name  and  behalf  of  our  friends,  shall  deliver  to  your  lordship, 
or  any  sufficient  man  that  shall  deliver  to  us  this  servant  of  God  again, 


GEORGE   WISHART.  49 

our  band  of  man-rent,  in  manner  requisite."  Bothwell  ao-ain 
solemnly  pledged  his  honour,  and  Wishart  being  put  into  his  hands, 
he  departed  with  him  to  Elphingstone,  where  the  cardinal  then  was. 

To  Wishart,  however,  death  seemed  certain,  although  he  relied 
much  on  Bothwell's  honour :  for  as  he  knew  the  cardinal's  utter 
worthlessness,  he  dreaded  the  idea  of  his  taking  private  revenue. 
"I  fear  less,"  he  says  to  Bothwell,  "to  die  openly,  than  to  be  mur- 
dered in  secret."  The  furious  zeal  of  Beaton,  in  whatever  concerned 
the  stability  of  the  church,  would,  Wishart  knew,  in  this  case  com- 
pletely overcome  all  the  prudence  and  policy  which,  in  secular 
affairs,  the  cardinal  had  hitherto  so  completely  displayed.  "  Instead 
of  preserving  Wishart,"  says  Dr.  Cook,  "  and  thus  keeping  the  Pro- 
testants, from  dread  of  accelerating  the  destruction  of  their  beloved 
teacher,  under  restraint,  he  thirsted  for  his  death,  and  hastened  by 
every  means  an  event,  with  which  he  little  knew  that  the  termi- 
nation of  his  own  career  was  so  intimately  connected." 

Bothwell,  as  we  have  already  said,  carried  Wishart  to  Elphing- 
stone castle,  where  the  cardinal  then  was.  But  the  rage  of  the  car- 
dinal, though  he  had  now  got  his  greatest  enemy  into  his  hands,  did 
not  stop  here.  He  made  inquiry  concerning  the  persons  who  were 
at  Ormiston  in  company  with  Wishart,  and  being  informed  that 
John  Sandilancls  the  younger,  of  the  house  of  Calder,*  the  Lord  of 
Brunston,  by  name  Orichton,  and  Cockburn  of  Ormiston,  were  all 
present,  he  immediately  commanded  that  these  should  be  appre- 
hended. By  this  time  his  whole  retinue  had  arrived  at  Elphing- 
stone ;  and  they,  with  some  of  the  regent's  soldiers,  were  sent  to  ap- 
prehend Wishart's  friends.  The  noise  of  horsemen  was  again  that 
night  heard  by  the  servants  at  Ormiston,  of  which  they  gave  imme- 
diate notice  to  their  superiors.  While  they  were  consulting  among 
themselves  what  now  could  be  the  motive  of  their  visiters,  the  sol- 
diers had  seized  that  part  of  the  building  which  Knox  designates 
"the  outer  and  inner  close."  They  quickly  called  for  Ormiston  and 
Sandilands  of  Calder,  who,  on  appearing,  demanded  the  cause  of 
their  visit ;  and  they  received  the  answer,  that  it  was  to  bring  them, 
as  also  the  Lord  of  Brunston,  to  the  governor  at  Elphingstone.  They 
soon  perceived  that  their  destruction  was  also  intended,  or,  at  any  rate, 
that  the  cardinal  would  take  his  revenge  on  them  in  some  way  or  other 
for  the  open  countenance  they  had  given  to  Wishart ;  and  therefore, 
contriving  a  delay  under  the  pretence  of  putting  themselves  in  readiness 
to  ride,  Brunston  made  his  escape  by  conveying  himself  secretly  to  the 
wood  of  Ormiston;  but  the  other  two  were  apprehended,  and  carried 
before  the  cardinal.  They  were  both  committed  prisoners  to  Edinburgh 
castle,  where  Sandilands  of  Calder  remained  till  he  had  given  satis- 
faction to  the  primate  ;  but  his  friend,  the  lord  of  Ormiston,  "  freed 

*  Now  the  noble  family  of  Torphichen.  The  chiefs  of  Calder  were  long  at  the  head 
of  the  famous  order  of  the  Knights  Hospitallers  in  Scotland.  They  were  early  and  steady 
friends  to  the  Reformation.  In  the  great  hall  of  Calder-House,  the  illustrious  Knox  dis- 
pensed the  holy  eucharist,  for  the  first  time,  it  is  said,  after  the  reformed  manner,  in  Scot- 
land,— which,  however,  is  not  the  case,  as  we  find  that  Wishart  administered  this  ordinance 
at  Montrose.  A  portrait  of  "the  reformer  of  a  kingdom,"  as  Milton  emphatically  calls 
Knox,  hangs  in  this  hall  with  an  appropriate  inscription, — a  hall  so  sacred  for  associations 
of  civil  and  religious  liberty. 

4 


50  SCOTS  WORTHIES. 

himself,  by  leaping  off  the  wall  of  the  castle,  betwixt  ten  of  the 
clock  and  eleven  before  noon."  Had  Knox  been  found  with  them, 
he  also  would  have  been  taken  ;  and,  as  he  had  already  brought  on 
himself  the  hatred  of  the  cardinal,  in  all  probability  he  would  have 
suffered  with  his  friend  the  martyr. 

Wishart  was  first  conveyed  from  Elphingstone  to  Edinburgh  castle, 
and  thence  back  again,  to  the  house  of  Ilailes,  the  earl  of  Bothwell's 
principal  residence  in  East  Lothian.  During  this  time  the  negotia- 
tion took  place  for  the  delivery  of  "Wishart  into  the  hands  of  the 
cardinal.  "  As  gold  and  women,"  says  Knox,  "  have  corrupted  all 
worldly  and  fleshly  men  from  the  beginning,  so  did  they  Bothwell ; 
for  the  cardinal  gave  gold,  and  that  largely ;  and  the  queen,  with 
whom  the  said  earl  was  then  on  bad  terms  (Knox  writes  glanders), 
promised  him  favours  in  all  his  lawful  suits  to  women,  if  he  would 
deliver  Wishart  to  be  kept  in  the  castle  of  Edinburgh.  He  made 
some  resistance  at  first,  by  reason  of  his  promise.  But  an  effeminate 
man  cannot  long  withstand  the  assaults  of  a  gracious  queen,  and  so 
was  the  servant  of  God  transported  to  Edinburgh."  Spottiswoode 
also  says,  the  "  queen-mother,  at  the  cardinal's  desire,  being  earnest 
with  the  earl  to  have  him  (Wishart)  sent  again  to  the  castle  of  Edin- 
burgh, albeit  in  regard  to  his  promise,  he  refused  a  long  time,  yet 
overcome  in  the  end  by  her  entreaty,  he  yielded.  And  thus  Wishart 
a  second  time  was  taken  to  the  castle." 

Wishart  was  not  permitted  to  remain  long  in  Edinburgh.  The 
cardinal  was  then  in  that  city,  presiding  in  a  convention  of  prelates, 
who  had  assembled  for  the  purpose  of  redressing  some  abuses  of  the 
church,  "  and  reforming  the  lives  of  the  clergy."  The  deliberations 
of  this  assembly,  however,  like  those  of  the  one  which  met  in  15-19, 
never  took  effect.  The  cardinal,  having  now  got  Wishart  com- 
pletely into  his  power,  speedily  broke  up  the  convention,  and  afraid 
of  delay,  proceeded  in  great  haste  with  his  prisoner  to  St.  Andrew's, 
where  he  summoned  a  convocation  of  the  prelates  to  assemble  on  the 
27th  day  of  February,  1516.  Wishart,  in  the  mean  time,  was  com- 
mitted a  close  prisoner  to  the  castle  of  St.  Andrew's. 

As  the  cardinal,  from  the  very  first,  and  long  before  he  got 
Wishart  into  his  power,  had  resolved  on  his  death,  it  may  easily  be 
supposed  that  he  knew  what  to  do.  We  have  already  alluded  to  the 
dispute  which  took  place  between  him  and  the  archbishop  of  Glasgow, 
respecting  the  priority  of  their  respective  Sees  before  the  pope's 
legate ;  and  to  the  ludicrous  and  disgraceful  scene  which  took  place 
between  them  at  Glasgow.  The  conduct  of  the  archbishop  of 
Glasgow  had  been  most  offensive  to  Beaton's  pride ;  and,  as  might 
be  expected,  a  deadly  animosity  subsisted  between  the  two  prelates. 
The  former  had  held  forth,  that  he  was  an  archbishop  in  his  own 
diocese,  and  would  give  place  to  no  man,— that  the  power  of  the 
cardinal  was  borrowed  from  Home,  and  pertained  only  to  his  own 
person,  and  not  to  his  bishopric  ;  for  it  was  a  probable  case  that  his 
successor  would  not  be  a  cardinal,  but  that  his  (the  archbishop  of 
Glasgow's)  dignity  was  inseparable  from  his  office,  and  would  belong 
to  all  that  ever  should  be  bishops  of  Glasgow ; — in  fine,  and  whr-t 
was  most  offensive  of  all  to  the  cardinal, — that  he  (the  archbishop 


GEORGE    W1SHART. 


51 


of  Glasgow)  was  a  bishop,  when  the  other  was  only  Beaton,  before 
he  got  the  abby  of  Aberbrothwick.  These  sentiments  of  the  prelate 
of  Glasgow  being  spoken  without  reserve,  and  having  been  spread 
throughout  the  church,  had  made  such  a  variance  between  him  and 
the  primate,  "that  the  enmity  was  judged  mortal,  and  without  all 
hope  of  reconciliation."  But,  as  in  one  day,  on  an  occasion  some- 
what similar,  though  of  far  more  importance,  Pilate  and  Herod  were 
made  friends,  so,  in  the  eagerness  of  the  cardinal  to  procure  the 
condemnation  of  Wishart  from  the  most  exalted  dignitaries  of  the 
church,  he  laid  aside  his  resentment  against  the  archbishop  of  Glas- 
gow, and  wrote  to  him  first  of  all,  in  most  friendly  terms,  cravino- 
his  presence  and  assistance,  in  order  to  the  suppression  of  this  «reat 
enemy  of  the  church.  Nor  was  the  prelate  of  Glasgow  slow  in  his 
obedience.  As  if  glad  of  the  opportunity  of  commencing  again  a 
friendship  with  the  cardinal,  he  hastened  to  St  Andrew's  at  the  time 
appointed  ;  "sat  next  to  the  cardinal,"  says  Knox,  "  waited  and  sub- 
scribed next  in  rank,  and  lay  over  the  east  block-house  with  the  said 
cardinal,  till  the  martyr  of  God  was  consumed  with  fire." 

The  archbishop  of  Glasgow,  however,  on  his  arrival  at  St  Andrew's, 
being  a  man,  on  the  whole,  of  greater  caution  and  prudence,  sug- 
gested to  the  cardinal  the  propriety  of  an  application  to  the  governor, 
to  grant  a  commission  to  some  layman  of  rank,  appointing  him  to  be 
the  medium  of  executing  justice  upon  Wishart  that  the  odium  of 
putting  to  death  a  preacher  so  universally  beloved,  might  not  rest 
wholly  with  the  clergy. 

The  archbishop  of  Glasgow  now  made  no  farther  opposition,  and 
accordingly  the  cardinal  served  Wishart  with  a  summons  to  appear 
before  him  and  his  clergy,  in  the  abby  church,  on  the  last  day  of 
February  (which  was  the  next  day),  to  answer  for  his  seditious  and 
heretical  doctrines.  "  Nothing,"  says  Dr.  Cook,  "  can  be  conceived 
more  irritating,  or  more  adapted  to  render  oppression  doubly  grieving, 
than  a  regard  to  the  forms  of  justice,  when  there  is  a  firm  conviction, 
that  they  who  use  them  intend  their  violation."  Wishart  strongly 
felt  this  injustice ;  and  when,  by  the  order  of  the  cardinal,  he  was 
cited  to  appear  by  the  dean  of  St.  Andrew's,  he  took  this  form  for 
jest,  seeing  that  he  was  already  a  prisoner,  and  wholly  in  the  cardi- 
nal's power.  He  replied  to  the  citation,  "  The  cardinal  has  no  need 
to  summon  me,  for  I  am  already  in  his  power,  and  kept  fast  bound 
in  irons ;  so  that  he  can  compel  me  to  answer  when  he  pleases.  I 
am  not  unprovided  to  render  an  account  of  my  doctrine,  but  to  show 
at  once  what  men  ye  are,  it  is  well  done  to  adhere  to  your  forms  and 
constitutions. 

On  the  following  day  this  most  illegal  trial  took  place.  The 
cardinal  displayed  on  the  occasion  all  the  ensigns  of  his  authority, 
that,  by  the  grandeur  of  the  procession,  and  the  show  of  armed  men, 
he  might  make  an  impression  on  the  people.  The  place  of  assembly 
was  the  abbey-church  of  St.  Andrew's,  into  which  Wishart  was 
brought  by  the  captain  of  the  castle.  The  court  was  opened  by  a 
sermon  from  John  AVinram,  the  sub-prior  of  the  abbey,  a  man  of 
great  learning,  enlightened  mind,  and  a  secret  friend  to  the  reformed 

-I  '  -1  •  1  XT  1 

doctrines,  who  preached  by  appointment  of  the  cardinal.     lie  took 


52  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

for  his  text  the  13th  chapter  of  St.  Matthew's  Gospel,  and  discoursed, 
concerning  the  good  seed.  The  whole  sermon  was  on  the  nature  of 
heresy,  but  was  delivered  in  such  a  manner  as  applied  more  justly  to 
the  cardinal  and  his  colleagues,  than  to  the  accused.  His  discourse 
he  divided  into  four  parts.  The  first  was  a  short  declaration  of  the 
meaning  of  the  evangelist.  The  second  was  concerning  the  meaning 
of  the  good  seed,  which  he  declared  to  be  the  word  of  God,  and  hesesy 
the  had  seed;  and  he  defined  heresy  to  be  "a  false  opinion,  directly 
repugnant  to  the  word  of  God,  and  pertinaciously  defended."  After 
laying  down  some  rules  for  the  discovery  of  heresy,  which  could  only 
be  ascertained  by  the  scriptures,  he  said,  that,  as  the  touchstone  was 
made  use  of  for  distinguishing  gold  from  counterfeit  metals,  so  the 
proper  trial  of  heresy  was  the  word  of  God.  The  third  part  of  the 
discourse  was  concerning  the  causes  of  the  increase  of  heresy  within 
the  realm,  which,  without  hesitation,  he  ascribed  to  the  ignorance  of 
those  who  had  the  charge  of  men's  souls ;  who,  because  they  did  not 
themselves  understand  the  word  of  God,  were  unable  to  lead  back 
those  into  the  right  path,  who  went  astray ;  and,  in  defining  the 
character  of  those  who  ought  to  be  able  to  win  again  the  teachers  of 
heresy,  by  the  sword  of  the  Spirit,  which  is  the  word  of  God,  he 
supported  his  position  by  St  Paul's  charge  to  Timothy  : — "  A  bishop 
must  be  faultless,  as  becometh  the  minister  of  God,  not  stubborn  nor 
angry,  no  drunkard,  no  fighter,  not  given  to  filthy  lucre,  but  hos- 
pitable, one  that  loveth  charity,  sober-minded,  righteous,  holy, 
temperate,  and  such  as  cleaveth  unto  the  true  word  of  doctrine  ;  that 
he  may  prevail  with  wholesome  learning,  and  impugn  what  is  said 
against  him."  He  expressed  some  doubt  about  the  propriety  of 
punishing  heretics  in  the  world,  founding  his  opinions  on  the  words 
of  the  parable  on  the  wheat  and  the  tares,  "  Let  them  both  grow 
together  till  the  harvest."  The  conclusion  of  his  discourse,  however, 
was  inconsistent,  for  he  asserted  that  heresy  ought  to  be  opposed  by 
the  church  and  state,  and  that  those  who  were  guilty  of  it  might  be 
lawfully  put  to  death  by  the  civil  magistrate. 

It  may  be  readily  supposed,  that  the  cardinal,  who  was  not  devoid 
of  talent,  did  not  at  all  relish  Winram's  discourse,  and  had  he  been 
in  other  circumstances,  he  would  probably  have  called  him  to  an 
account  for  some  of  his  premises.  I3ut  at  that  time  he  had  affairs  of 
much  greater  importance  on  hand.  Accordingly  after  the  sermon, 
Winram  descended  from  the  pulpit,  and  was  succeeded  by  Wish  art 
himself,  whom  they  caused  to  ascend  there  that  he  might  hear  his 
accusation  and  articles.  Opposite  to  him,  on  an  eminence  erected 
for  the  purpose,  stood  a  priest  of  the  name  of  John  Lauder,  who 
acted  as  his  accuser,  and  who  addressed  him  with  such  coarseness" 
and  reproach,  as  would  have  disgraced  the  tyranny  of  a  more  barba- 
rous age.  The  mildness  and  humility  of  Wishart  presented  a  strik- 
ing contrast  to  the  furious  zeal  of  this  fanatical  priest.  He  fell  on 
his  knees,  and  offered  up  a  short  petition  to  heaven.  In  the  mean 
time  Lauder  went  from  one  accusation  to  another,  foaming  at  the 
mouth  with  rage,  and  even  spitting  in  Wishart's  face,  and  calling  out 
to  him,  "  Thou  runagate,  traitor,  thief,  what  answerest  thou  to  these 


GEORGE   WISHART.  53 

sayings,  which  we  have  duly  proved  by  sufficient  witnesses  against 
thee  ?" 

Wishart,  throughout  this  scene  of  persecution  and  abuse,  preserved 
all  his  characteristic  meekness  and  magnanimity.  He  calmly  made 
answer,  that  they  had  alleged  against  him,  as  a  Christian  man,  many 
abominable  sayings,  which  he  thought  abomination  not  only  to 
teach,  but  also  to  think  ;  and  he  besought  them  quietly  to  hear  him, 
that  they  might  the  more  equitably  judge  of  his  doctrine.  He  de- 
sired to  be  heard,  he  said,  for  three  causes.  First,  because,  through 
preaching  of  the  word  of  God,  his  glory  is  made  manifest ;  and  it  was 
reasonable  for  the  advancement  of  God's  glory,  that  they  should 
hear  him  teaching  the  pure  word  of  God,  without  any  dissimulation ; 
secondly,  because  their  own  well-being  originated  from  God's  word  ; 
for  by  it  he  worketh  all  things.  It  would  be  therefore  an  unright- 
eous thing,  if  they  should  stop  their  ears,  when  he  truly  preached 
the  word  of  God.  And,  thirdly,  because  their  allegations  set  forth 
many  pestilent,  blasphemous,  and  abominable  words,  not  coming  by 
the  inspiration  of  God,  but  from  the  devil,  to  the  great  hazard  of  his 
life.  It  would  be  just,  therefore,  and  reasonable,  that  they  knew 
what  his  words  and  doctrine  were,  which  he  had  ever  taught  since 
his  return  to  Scotland,  that  he  might  not  perish  unjustly,  to  the 
great  danger  of  his  accusers.  He  besought  them,  therefore,  to  hear 
him,  for  the  glory  of  God,  their  own  peace  of  mind,  and  the  safe- 
guard of  his  own  life,  while  he  recited  his  doctrine,  without  any 
colouring  or  dissimulation. 

Wishart  then  began  with  great  modesty  to  give  an  account  of  his 
sermons,  declaring  that  he  had  never  taught  any  doctrines  contrary 
to  the  ten  commandments,  the  apostles'  creed,  and  the  Lord's  prayer. 
First  and  chiefly,  he  said,  since  he  had  returned  to  Scotland,  lie  had 
taught  these  in  the  mother  tongue.  He  had,  moreover,  expounded 
the  Epistle  to  the  Romans  in  Dundee,  and  he  would  show  them 
faithfully  what  fashion  and  manner  he  used,  when  he  taught  without 
any  dread  of  human  authority.  As  Wishart  was  thus  proceeding, 
he  was  interrupted  by  Lauder,  who  again  exclaimed,  "  Thou  heretic, 
runagate,  traitor,  thief,  it  was  not  lawful  for  thee  to  preach ;  thou 
hast  taken  the  power  into  thine  own  hand,  without  any  authority 
from  the  church !  We  forethink  thou  hast  been  a  preacher  so  long." 
The  assembled  prelates  also  prohibited  him  from  discoursing,  saying, 
"If  we  give  him  liberty  to  preach,  he  is  so  crafty,  and  in  holy  Scrip- 
ture so  exercised,  that  he  will  persuade  the  people  to  his  opinion, 
and  raise  them  against  us."  "  They  willed  him,"  says  Spottiswoode, 
"  to  answer  simply,  yea  or  nay,  fearing,  if  liberty  was  given  him  to 
speak,  he  should  draw  some  of  the  hearers  to  his  mind." 

Being  thus  interrupted  with  the  utmost  violence,  and  finding  that 
it  was  impossible  for  him,  in  the  situation  in  which  he  was  placed, 
to  make  his  defence,  Wishart  at  once  appealed  to  more  competent 
and  unbiassed  judges.  Lauder,  his  accuser  and  most  virulent 
enemy,  took  this  opportunity  of  flattering  the  cardinal.  Triumph- 
antly enumerating  his  many  splendid  titles,  he  asked  the  martyr,  it 
he  who  was  archbishop  of  St.  Andrew's,  bishop  of  Mirepoix  in 
France,  chancellor  of  Scotland,  commendator  (or  abbot)  of  Aber- 


54  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

brothwick,  Legatus  natus,  legatus  a  latere,  and  the  second  person  in 
the  kingdom,  was  not  to  be  regarded  as  a  proper  judge?  "Wishart 
calmly  answered,  "  I  condemn  not  the  lord  cardinal,  neither  do  I 
refuse  him,  but  I  desire  the  word  of  God  to  be  my  judge,  and  some 
of  the  temporal  estate,  with  certain  of  your  lordships  here  present, 
because  I  am  my  lord  governor's  prisoner."  When  Wishart  had 
thus  spoken,  some  of  his  enemies  called  out,  "  such  man,  such 
judge,"  meaning  that  the  governor  and  others  of  his  friends  were 
heretics  like  himself. 

This  appeal  of  "Wishart  greatly  irritated  Beaton,  and  he  would 
have  immediately  condemned  him  without  any  farther  ceremony, 
had  he  not  been  reminded  that  it  was  proper  that  the  accusation 
should  be  again  read,  and  the  replies  heard  to  its  different  parts,  lest 
the  people  might  think  him  wrongfully  condemned.  "It  is  evident 
that  the  other  prelates,  aware  of  the  impression  which  the  death  of 
"Wishart  would  probably  leave,  were  anxious  to  avoid  all  irregularity 
in  their  proceedings,  and  although  they  had  failed  in  procuring  the 
sanction  of  the  civil  power,  they  persuaded  the  cardinal  to  hear 
"Wishart."*     Eighteen  articles  were    accordingly  exhibited  against 

*  The  following  are  the  articles  exhibited  against  the  martyr,  and  more  absurd  and  mis- 
represented calumnies  were  never  invented  against  any  man :  — 

"Art.  1. — Thou  false  hereticke.  runagate,  traytor,  and  thief,  deceiver  of  the  people,  de- 
spisest  the  church,  and  in  like  case  contemnes  my  lord  governour's  authority.  And  this 
we  know  of  surety,  that  when  thou  preachedst  iii  Dundie,  and  was  charged  by  my  lord 
governour's  authority  to  desist ;  neverthelesse  thou  wouldest  not  obey,  but  persevered  in 
the  same:  and  therefore  the  bishop  of  Breachen  cursed  thee,  and  delivered  thee  into  the 
devil's  hand,  and  gave  thee  then  commandment,  that  thou  shouldest  preach  no  more  ;  yet 
notwithstanding  thou  didst  continue  obstinately. 

"  Art.  2. — Thou  false  hereticke  didst  say,  that  a  priest  standing  at  the  altar  saying  masse, 
was  like  a  fox  wagging  his  taile  in  July. 

Answer. — "My  lords,  I  said  not  so.  These  were  my  sayings  ;  The  moving  of  the  body 
outward,  without  inward  moving  of  the  heart,  is  nought  else  but  the  playing  of  an  ape, 
and  not  the  true  serving  of  God,  for  God  is  a  secret  searcher  of  men's  hearts.  Therefore, 
who  will  truly  adore  and  honour  God,  he  must  in  spirit  and  verity  honour  him. — Then  the 
accuser  (Lauder)  stopped  his  mouth  with  another  article. 

"  Art.  ;i. — Thou  false  hereticke  preachest  against  the  sacraments,  saying,  that  there  are 
not  seven  sacraments. 

"Art  4. — Thou  false  hereticke  hast  openly  taught,  that  auricular  confession  is  not  a 
blessed  sacrament,  and  thou  sayest,  that  we  should  onely  confesse  us  to  God,  and  to  no 
priest. 

"Art.  5. — Thou  false  hereticke  didst  say  openly,  that  it  was  necessary  for  every  man  to 
know  and  understand  his  baptisme ;  which  is  contrary  to  general  councels,  and  the  estates 
of  holy  church. 

"Art.  6. — Thou  false  hereticke.  traytor,  and  thiefe,  thou  saidst,  that  the  sacrament  of 
the  altar  was  but  a  piece  of  bread  baken  upon  the  ashes,  and  no  other  thing  else  ;  and  all 
that  is  there  done,  is  but  a  superstitious  rite,  against  the  commandment  of  God. 

"Art.  7. — Thou  false  hereticke  didst  say,  that  extreme  unction  was  not  a  sacrament. 

Answer. — "My  lords,  forsooth  I  never  taught  of  extreme  unction  in  my  doctrine,  whe- 
ther it  was  a  sacrament  or  no. 

"  Art.  8. — Thou  false  hereticke  didst  say,  that  holy  water  is  not  so  good  as  wash,  and 
such  like.     Thou  contemnest  conjuring,  and  sayest,  that  holy  churches  cursing  availeth  not. 

"Art.  9. — Thou  lalse  heretic  and  runagate,  hast  said  that  every  man  is  a  priest;  and 
likewise  thou  sayest,  that  the  pope  hath  no  more  power  than  another  man. 

"Art.  10 — Thou  false  hereticke  saidst,  that  a  man  bad  no  free-will,  but  is  like  to  the 
Stoics,  which  say,  that  it  is  not  in  man's  will  to  do  any  thing,  but  that  all  desire  and  con- 
cupiscence cometh  of  God,  of  whatsoever  kinde  it  be  of. 

u  Art.  11. — Thou  false  hereticke  sayest,  it  is  as  lawfull  to  eat  flesh  upon  Friday,  as  on 
Sunday. 

"Art.  12. — Thou  false  hereticke  doest  say,  that  we  should  not  pray  unto  saints,  but  to 
God  onely,  say  whether  thou  hast  said  this  or  no,  say  shortly. 


GEORGE  WISHART.  55 

the  prisoner,  and  these  were  brought  against  him  in  such  a  manner 
as  to  affix  a  lasting  disgrace  on  those  who  compiled  them.  His 
opinions  were  most  grievously  misrepresented,  as  if  indeed  the  car- 
dinal had  resolved  on  his  destruction  at  all  hazards.  He  endeavour- 
ed in  vain  to  convey  to  his  persecutors  an  accurate  idea  of  them  ■ 
they  either  would  not,  or  could  not,  understand  him.  The  patience 
of  Beaton  had  been  long  ere  this  time  exhausted.  In  order  to  brino- 
the  trial  to  a  conclusion,  it  was  found  that  Wishart  maintained 
opinions  contrary  to  those  received  by  the  catholic  church  ;  and, 
because  he  obstinately  defended  them,  he  was  condemned  as  a 
heretic,  and  sentenced  to  die  at  the  stake  the  following  day. 

"  Art.  13. — Thou  false  hereticke  hast  preached  plainely,  that  there  is  no  purgatory,  and 
that  it  is  a  fained  thing,  for  any  man  after  this  life  to  be  punished  in  purgatory. 

"Art.  14. — Thou  false  hereticke  hast  taught  plainly  against  the  vows  of  monks,  friars, 
nuns,  and  priests,  saying,  that  whosoever  was  bound  to  such  like  vows,  they  vowed  them- 
selves to  the  state  of  damnation.  Moreover,  that  it  was  lawfull  for  priests  to  marry 
wives,  and  not  to  live  sole. 

•'Art.  15. — Thou  false  hereticke  and  runagate  sayest,  th%t  thou  wilt  not  obey  our  gene- 
rall  or  provinciall  counsells. 

"Art.  16. — Thou  hereticke  sayst,  that  it  is  vain  to  build  to  the  honour  of  God  costly 
churches,  seeing  that  God  remaineth  not  in  churches  made  by  men's  hands,  nor  yet  can 
God  be  in  little  space,  as  betwixt  the  priest's  hands. 

"  Art.  17. — Thou  false  hereticke  contemnest  fasting,  and  sayest  thou  shouldest  not  fast. 

Answer. — "  My  lords,  I  finde  that  fasting  is  commanded  in  the  scriptures,  therefore  I 
were  a  slanderer  of  the  gospel,  if  I  contemned  fasting.  And  not  so  onely,  but  I  have 
learned  by  experience,  that  fasting  is  good  for  the  health,  and  conservation  of  the  body. 
But  God  only  knoweth  who  fasteth  the  true  fast. 

"Art.  18. — Thou  false  hereticke  hast  preached  openly,  saying,  that  the  soules  of  men 
shall  sleepe  to  the  latter  day  of  judgment,  and  shall  not  obtaine  life  immortall  untill  the 
last  day. 

Answer. — "  God  full  of  mercy  and  goodnesse  forgive  them  that  say  such  things  of  me.  I 
wot,  and  know  surely  by  the  word  of  God,  that  he  who  hath  begun  to  have  the  faith  of 
Jesus  Christ,  and  to  believe  firmely  in  him,  I  know  surely,  I  say,  that  the  soule  of  that 
man  shall  never  sleepe,  but  ever  shall  live  an  immortall  life,  the  which  life  from  day  to 
day  is  renewed  in  grace,  and  augmented,  nor  yet  shall  ever  perish  or  have  an  end,  but 
shall  ever  live  immortall  with  Christ  the  head.  To  the  which  life  all  that  believe  in  him 
shall  come,  and  rest  in  eternall  glory.     Amen." 


56  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 


ADAM  WALLACE. 


Fob  four  years  after  the  death  of  Wishart,  the  political  troubles  in 
which  Scotland  was  involved,  served  to  suspend  the  rage  of  persecu- 
tion. A  peace,  however,  was  at  last  concluded,  and  the  year  1550 
terminated  the  war. 

Archbishop  Hamilton  tnen  commenced  his  persecuting  career  by 
apprehending  Adam  Wallace,  and  bringing  him  to  trial  and  execu- 
tion. Nothing  could  be  more  impolitic  or  more  infatuated  than  this 
procedure  of  the  primate.  Wallace,  who  is  always  described  by 
contemporary  historians  as  a  "simple  man,"  was  of  such  humble 
station  in  life,  as  to  have  secured  him  from  notice,  had  not  the  arch- 
bishop been  at  once  led  away  by  the  most  imprudent  rage  against 
the  Reformers.  The  death  of  Wallace,  in  fact,  could  serve  no  pur- 
pose at  all,  but  only  exasperate  to  a  greater  degree  the  minds  of  those 
who  held  the  doctrines  of  the  Reformation.  The  priests  seemed, 
indeed,  by  their  own  conduct,  to  be  fast  hastening  their  downfall ; 
so  true  it  is,  that  the  wicked  often  lay  snares  for  themselves,  and 
perish  by  means  of  their  own  devices.  But  simple  as  Wallace  was, 
his  simplicity  was  that  of  the  gospel ;  he  was  not  profoundly  learned 
in  the  wisdom  of  the  world,  but  he  was  well  instructed  in  the  gospel 
of  peace ;  and  as  a  martyr  fur  the  truth,  and  a  patient  and  heroic 
sufferer,  he  deserves  to  be  remembered  by  posterity  with  every  grate- 
ful recollection. 

Perhaps  his  humble  station  may  be  assigned  as  a  reason  why  we 
know  nothing  of  him,  till  about  the  time  of  his  martyrdom.  But 
whatever  was  "  the  humble  station"  of  Wallace,  it  is  certain  that  he 
and  his  wife,  whose  name  was  Beatrice  Livingston,  were  frequently 
in  company  with  the  lady  of  Ormiston,  and  that  he  acted  as  precep- 
tor to  that  lady's  children  during  the  absence  of  her  husband.  What 
formed  the  branches  of  instruction  we  are  not  informed,  but  the 
family  was  one  of  considerable  note  in  East  Lothian,  and  long  famed 
for  their  adherance  to  the  doctrines  of  the  Reformers.  It  will  be 
recollected  that  the  martyr  Wishart  was  apprehended  in  the  house  of 
Ormiston,  and  that  this  baron  was  one  of  the  martyr's  greatest 
friends ;  and  it  will  also  be  recollected,  that  he  was  himself  appre- 
hended on  that  occasion  along  with  Sir  John  Sandilands  of  Calder, 
and  committed  prisoner  to  the  castle  of  Edinburgh,  from  which  he 
made  his  escape  by  leaping  the  wall. 

Wallace  was  not  a  priest ;  and  the  remark  of  Keith  seems  in  all 
likelihood  to  be  true,  "  that  the  catechising"  of  the  lady  Ormiston's 


ADAM    WALLACE.  57 

children,  "  and  also  of  other  children  in  the  new  forms,"  the  reformed 
doctrines,  "  made  the  man  to  be  more  taken  notice  of  than  otherwise 
lie  would  have  been."  "Whether  this  be  the  case  or  not,  he  was 
apprehended  at  Winton  in  East  Lothian,  by  the  direction  of  the 
archbishop  of  St.  Andrew's,  and  brought  to  his  trial  in  the  church  of 
the  Black  Friars  at  Edinburgh. 

The  apprehension  of  this  inoffensive  man  seems  to  have  been 
viewed  as  a  great  matter  by  the  primate  and  his  friends  ;  at  least  if 
we  may  judge  from  the  personages  who  assembled  on  that  occasion.' 
"With  all  the  apparatus  of  rank  and  power,  a  scaffold  was  erected  in 
the  church,  and  seats  were  placed  thereon  for  the  reception  of  the 
assembly.  The  regent  himself  occupied  the  chief  seat ;  above  him 
at  his  back,  sat  Gavin  Hamilton  dean  of  Glasgow,  representing  the 
archbishop  of  that  see  ;  at  the  right  hand  of  the  regent  sat  his  natural 
brother,  the  archbishop  of  St.  Andrew's  ;  and  at  the  back  of  the 
primate,  stood  the  official  of  Lothian.  The  bishops  of  Dunblane  and 
Moray,  the  Abbot  of  Dunfermline,  who  seems  to  have  thrust  himself 
into  every  occasion  of  persecution,  the  abbot  of  Glenluce,  and  other 
churchmen  of  inferior  degree,  with  various  of  the  primate's  clergy, 
from  the  city  of  St.  Andrew's,  were  also  present.  There  were  also  in 
attendance  the  earl  of  Argyle  as  justice,  and  Sir  John  Campbell  of 
Lundy,  the  earl  of  Huntly,  lord  chancellor,  the  earl  of  Angus,  the 
bishop  of  Galloway,  the  prior  of  St.  Andrew's,  (afterwards)  earl  of 
Moray),  the  bishop  of  Orkney,  lord  Forbes,  John  "Win  ram  sub-prior 
of  St.  Andrew's,  and  behind  them  stood  the  whole  senate,  and  other 
inferior  officers,  the  clerk  of  the  register. 

Such  was  the  splendid  convention  in  the  church  of  the  Black 
Friars  at  Edinburgh,  which  met  for  the  trial  of  Adam  "Wallace.  In 
the  pulpit  appeared  John  Lauder,  the  fanatical  priest  who  abused 
"Wishart  at  his  trial,  and  who,  on  this  occasion,  acted  also  the 
part  of  accuser.  Arrayed  in  a  surplice  and  red  hood,  Lauder  stood 
forth  before  a  large  congregation,  some  of  whom  beheld  the  scene 
with  wonder,  and  others  with  contempt  and  indignation.  Lauder 
seems  to  have  been  plentifully  endowed  with  the  sanguinary  ideas 
of  his  late  master,  Beaton,  and  he  only  wanted  the  power  to  be  fully 
as  severe.  It  is  not  at  all  improbable,  that  he  gained  the  confidence 
of  his  superiors  in  the  church  by  his  zeal,  and  that  he  even  stimu- 
lated them  by  his  counsels.  His  situation  at  best  was  contemptible, 
as  being  the  tool  of  men  abhorred  for  their  cruelty,  and  everywhere 
unpopular  for  their  political  intrigues.  But  the  man  who  could 
revile  the  meek  and  pious  "Wishart,  who  could  exult  at  the  misfor- 
tunes of  him  whom  Providence  had  placed  in  his  power,  who  could 
address  the  language  of  foul-mouthed  scorn  and  reproach,  to  a  man 
whose  only  crime,  if  crime  it  be,  was  difference  of  opinion, — such  a 
man  was  capable  of  committing  any  act  of  cruelty,  and  of  over- 
colouring  any  charge  exhibited  against  a  prisoner,  in  order  to  further 
and  support  his  fabric  of  deceit. 

To  call  together  such  an  assembly  for  the  purpose  of  condemning 
a  man  of  humble  station  and  primitive  simplicity,  who  would  have 
never  been  heard  of  beyond  his  own  narrow  and  humble  circle,  was 
in  the  highest  degree  ridiculous  and  absurd.     But  the  primate  was 


58  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

not  a  bad  politician,  and  on  this  occasion  he  thought  proper  to 
exercise  some  of  his  political  foresight,  which  he  conceived  would 
tend  to  the  future  benefit  and  stability  of  the  church.  This  was  his 
first  outset  in  his  career  of  blood,  which  his  predecessor,  "  the  perse- 
cuting cardinal,"  as  Fox  appropriately  terms  Beaton,  had  so  carefully 
trod,  and  for  which  he  at  last  received  his  reward  ;  and  he  determined 
to  show  the  spectators  a  specimen  of  his  power  and  influence.  Sur- 
rounded by  some  of  the  great  men  of  the  kingdom,  supported  by  his 
brother,  the  weak  and  irresolute  regent,  and  the  earl  of  Huntly,  the 
lord  chancellor  of  the  kingdom,  and  by  numerous  sons  of  the  church, 
who,  by  their  pi-esence,  gave  their  hearty  concurrence  to  the  measure, 
he  sat  in  prelatical  dignity,  smiling  with  complacency  at  his  own 
power  and  exaltation,  and  at  the  blow  he  vainly  thought  he  was 
about  to  give  the  Reformation  by  the  death  of  Adam  Wallace.  The 
primate  had  resolved  to  strike  terror  at  once  into  the  hearts  of  the 
spectators,  and  to  declare  to  the  kingdom,  that,  supported  as  he  was 
by  the  civil  power,  and  with  the  regent  entirely  at  his  devotion,  he 
was  determined  to  strengthen  the  church,  and  to  crush  the  Reforma- 
tion. He  forgot  the  declaration  of  sacred  writ,  that  the  counsel  of 
God  shall  stand,  and  that  he  shall  do  all  his  pleasure. 

John  Winram,  sub-prior  of  St.  Andrew's,  was  among  the  eccle- 
siastics ;  and,  to  a  mind  like  his,  enlightened  by  truth,  and  secretly 
attached  to  the  reformed  doctrines,  this  must  have  appeared  a  scene 
of  ridiculous  farce  and  cruelty.  He  was  already  convinced  that  the 
catholic  church  was  tottering  to  its  base,  and  he  not  unlikely  thought, 
that  the  primate  before  him  would  be  the  last  whose  nomination 
would  be  confirmed  by  his  holiness  of  Rome.  Reasoning  from  cause 
to  effect,  this  seemed  to  be  the  real  state  of  the  case  ;  nor  did  Winram 
the  less  rejoice  on  that  account.  This  worthy  priest,  whose  excel- 
lence Wis  hart  himself  acknowledged,  and  whose  orthodoxy  Knox 
had  complimented,  detested  those  exhibitions  of  cruelty,  and  secretly 
wished  for  the  overthrow  of  all  the  strongholds  of  superstition. 
Moderate  himself  in  his  measures,  he  was  for  proceeding  by  fair  and 
honest  argument;  and  he  rightly  thought  the  cause  to  be  indeed 
pitiable,  which  could  not  stand  a  calm  and  candid  investigation.  In 
this  case  he  must  have  beheld  with  abhorrence  the  primate's  proceed- 
ings, and  he  doubtless  rejoiced,  that,  otherwise  than  by  his  presence, 
he  took  no  active  part  in  the  trial. 

The  conduct  o?  Winram,  however,  it  must  be  confessed,  does  not 
at  all  appear  to  be  open  and  consistent.  He  was  long  deeply  sensi- 
ble of  the  errors  of  his  church,  and  yet  we  find  him  remaining  in  the 
church,  and  not  only  present  at  the  trial  of  Wallace,  but  also  at  that 
of  Walter  Mill,  which  took  place  eight  years  afterwards.  When  a 
man  is  convinced  that  the  church  of  which  he  is  a  member  has  made 
a  most  lamentable  declension, — that  her  doctrines  are  not  only  dan- 
gerous but  damnable, — that  not  only  her  profession  but  her  practice 
is  unscriptural — that  she  is  not  only  deluded  herself,  but  tries  to 
delude  others, — and  when  he  sees  that  she  obstinately  sets  her  face, 
as  it  were,  against  all  reformation,  and  not  only  maintains  but  exults 
in  her  errors,  it  is  his  duty  as  a  man,  a  Christian,  a  professor  of  the 
truth,  a  lover  of  his  own  soul  and  the  souls  of  others,  to  separate 


ADAM   WALLACE.  59 

from  such  a  corrupt  society,  and  not  to  give  place  by  subjection,  no, 
not  for  an  hour,  lest  the  gospel  of  Christ  become  a  reproach  to  the 
scorner.  It  is  every  man's  duty  to  examine  for  himself  the  standards 
and  doctrines  of  every  Christian  society,  and  to  unite  himself  to  that 
which  lie  conceives  the  most  scriptural,  and  the  purest  in  doctrine 
and  discipline  ;  but  it  is  not  his  duty  to  remain  in  a  society  which 
can  be  proved  to  have  departed  from  its  original  practice,  and,  above 
all,  from  the  great  authority  of  the  church,  the  scriptures  of  truth, 
more  especially  if  he  sees  men  in  that  society,  who,  deaf  to  every 
expostulation,  ever  and  anon  vindicate  and  defend  its  errors,  and 
attempt  to  gloss  them  over  and  reconcile  them  by  sophistical  reason- 
ings ;  and  when  he  also  well  knows,  that  all  his  own  attempts  at 
reformation  will  be  unavailing,  and  treated  with  ridicule  or  severity. 
And  more  especially  is  it  his  duty  to  separate  from  a  corrupt  Chris- 
tian society,  when  he  beholds  it  not  only  determined  to  support  its 
errors,  but  actually  employing  the  civil  power,  to  punish,  by  the 
heaviest  penalties,  those  who  take  the  sacred  and  birth-right  liberty 
of  thinking  for  themselves.  But  to  what  length  soever  these 
remarks  may  apply  in  our  own  day,  let  us  not  be  too  rash  in  con- 
demning the  conduct  of  Winram,  and  of  others  in  his  times,  who 
were  placed  in  the  like  circumstances.  While  we  venerate  those  illus- 
trious men,  who  at  the  dawn  of  the  Reformation  enlisted  under  the 
banners  of  truth,  let  us  not  load  with  unqualified  censure,  or  deprive 
of  all  praise,  those  who,  less  enlightened,  or  from  nature  more  timid, 
were  tardy  in  fighting  the  battles  of  the  Lord.  The  Saviour  himself 
rejected  not  such  disciples.  Nicodemus,  who  "  came  by  night  to 
Jesus,"  and  Joseph  of  Arimathea,  who  was  his  disciple  "  secretly  for 
fear  of  the  Jews,"  afterwards  declared  their  faith  in  their  Master,  by 
embalming  and  interring  his  dead  body,  when  all  the  other  disciple- 
"  had  forsaken  him  and  fled."  Numbers  of  the  Scottish  clergy, 
friendly  to  the  Reformation,  contrived  to  retain  their  situations,  by  a 
concealment  of  their  sentiments.  Among  these,  besides  the  learned 
and  moderate  Winram,  were  Adam  Heriot,  a  friar  of  the  Abbey  of 
St.  Andrew's,  John  Carsewell,  rector  of  Kilmartin,  and  John  Spottis 
woode,  parson  of  Calder.  And  the  services  which  those  men  and 
others  afterwards  rendered  the  Reformation,  were  ample  equivalents 
for  their  tardiness  in  embracing  that  cause,  which  emphatically 
brought  "  liberty  to  the  captive,  and  the  opening  of  the  prison  doors 
to  them  that  were  bound." 

It  appears  to  us,  that  there  never  was  a  greater  satire  upon  justice, 
than  the  pretence  made  by  the  Romish  church  of  trying  heretics. 
Already  condemned  by  the  canon  laws,  which  expressly  declare  that 
heretics  shall  be  punished  with  death,  how  absurd  was  it  for  church- 
men to  pretend  to  give  men  a  fair  trial,  whom  they  had  previously 
condemned  without  ceremony  ?  We  do  not  here  allude  at  all  to  the 
Inquisition,  nor  to  the  forms  of  trial  j^ursued  in  that  villanous  and 
bloody  tribunal,  which,  did  we  lack  other  proofs,  would  at  once 
verify  our  assertions,  by  a  host  of  arguments,  from  its  well-known 
history  ;  but  we  refer  simply  to  those  individual  trials  which  took 
place  in  Scotland,  and  in  other  countries,  where  churchmen  coolly 
condemned  their  prisoners,  and  delivered  them  over  to  the  secular 


60  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

power,  without  any  ceremony  at  all.  And  let  it  be  remarked,  that 
almost  all  those  prisoners  were  men  who  had  been  long  marked  out 
by  the  prelates — whom  they  had  long  pursued — and  whose  death  they 
had  already  determined  before  their  apprehension  ;  and  was  it  not 
in  the  highest  degree  ridiculous,  and  against  all  equity,  that  those 
very  prelates  who  had  long  before  resolved  on  the  death  of  the 
heretic,  should,  prejudiced  as  they  were,  sit  as  judges  over  him  ? 
Was  there  mercy  to  be  expected  from  such  judges  ?  Was  there  even 
the  slightest  chance  that  the  opinions  of  the  prisoner  would  be  inves- 
tigated, or  even  that  he  would  get  a  hearing  at  all?  We  hesitate 
not  to  challenge  any  one  to  produce,  from  the  annals  of  the  catholic 
church  in  this  or  any  country,  a  single  case  in  which  the  prisoner 
was  fairly  and  equitably  tried,  or  in  which  he  was  not  condemned 
by  the  prelates  in  their  own  minds,  before  he  was  apprehended. 
There  is  scarcely  a  single  instance  in  which  the  sentence  was  miti- 
gated, except  when  the  intercession  was  most  powerful,  and  even  the 
cases  are  exceedingly  rare.  We  say  again,  it  was  a  mere  mockery, 
a  satire  on  justice,  to  pretend  to  try  men  fairly  and  honourably, 
wdiose  death  had  already  been  determined,  both  by  private  resent- 
ment, and  outrageous  and  fanatical  zeal  for  the  church. 

These  remarks  are  abundantly  verified  in  the  case  of  the  simple 
but  upright  Adam  Wallace.  Hamilton  had  previously  determined 
the  death  of  the  humble  martyr ;  he  resolved  to  begin  with  him  as 
an  example,  thinking  that,  as  the  life  of  this  amiable  man  was  of  no 
great  consequence,  his  punishment  would  prove  a  salutary  check  to 
those  who  professed  the  reformed  doctrines.  No  prelate  in  Scotland 
ever  showred  a  greater  wTant  of  feeling,  Beaton  excepted,  than  did 
Hamilton  on  this  occasion.  He  knew  well  that  Wallace  was  notable 
to  answer  the  sophisms  and  scurrility  of  Lauder,  who,  when  he 
treated  George  Wishart  with  such  fanatical  abuse,  a  gentleman,  of 
an  ancient  family,  and  a  man  of  learning,  would  to  a  greater  degree 
vilify  the  "simple  man,"  whom  the  rash  primate  had  caused  to  be 
apprehended.  But  having  met,  as  they  all  did,  with  their  resolution 
previously  formed  to  condemn  him,  what  could  be  more  unworthy 
of  a  man  of  the  primate's  birth  and  station,  of  his  character  as  a 
man,  and  a  Christian  bishop,  than  the  line  of  conduct  which  he 
pursued  ? 

It  would  seem  that,  on  this  occasion,  the  lords  spiritual  and  tem- 
poral, and  the  right  reverend  fathers,  had  some  other  business  to 
manage  before  they  proceeded  to  the  trial  of  Wallace.  Sir  John 
Ker,  a  priest,  and  prebendary  of  St.  Giles'  church  in  Edinburgh, 
was  cited  before  them  to  answer  charges  brought  against  him.  He 
was  accused,  convicted,  and  condemned,  for  issuing  a  false  sentence 
of  divorce,  whereby  a  separation  took  place  between  a  man  and  his 
lawful  wife,  and  this  too  in  the  name  of  the  dean  of  Restalrig,  and 
certain  other  judges  nominated  by  the  pope.  Ker  admitted  his 
crime,  but  alleged  that  he  never  intended  to  do  anything  against  the 
laws  of  the  realm.  Sentence  of  banishment  was  passed  against  him, 
and  he  was  doomed  to  lose  his  right  hand,  if  he  was  ever  afterwards 
found  in  Scotland;  he 'was  also  deprived  of  his  benefices,  and  they 
were  declared  vacant. 


ADAM   WALLACE.  61 

The  case  of  the  prebendary  of  St.  Giles'  church  had  no  sooner  been 
disposed  of,  than  the  worthy  fathers  proceeded  to  the  trial  of  Wal- 
lace. The  poor  man  was  brought  into  the  church,  and  placed  befure  his 
ecclesiastical  judges.  He  cast  his  eyes  around,  but  it  was  not  the 
empty  gaze  or  the  vacant  stare.  He  probably  felt  his  own  personal 
insignificance  when  compared  with  the  dignified  convention  befure 
him,  and  he  wondered  why  there  should  be  such  an  assemblage  of 
temporal  and  ecclesiastical  power  to  condemn  him.  There  was,  in 
fact,  a  striking  contrast  between  the  persecutors  and  the  persecuted. 
The  former,  proud,  haughty,  yet  not  devoid  of  splendid  talents  ;  the 
latter,  poor,  humble,  not  learned  ;  "  but  zealous  in  godliness  and 
uprightness  of  life."  He  looked  around,  and  before  him  was  the 
great  and  noble,  behind  him  was  the  large  congregation.  He  could 
not  fail  to  perceive,  that  all  this  display  of  justice  by  the  archbishop 
was  a  mere  mockery,  and  that  the  primate  only  wished  to  impose  on 
the  people  by  the  dignity  of  the  assembly,  and  the  great  power  of 
his  friends. 

Wallace  was  placed  opposite  to  and  confronted  with  Lauder,  who 
was  the  person  filling  the  office  of  public  prosecutor  for  his  superior 
of  St.  Andrew's.  The  prisoner's  appearance  was  humble  and  simple 
in  the  extreme.  His  name  was  first  demanded  by  Lauder,  to  whom 
he  replied,  "  Adam  "Wallace."  "Thou  hast  another  name,"  said  the 
accuser.  "  Yea,"  he  replied,  "  I  am  commonly  called  Feane." 
"  Where  wast  thou  born  ?"  "  Near  Fayle,  in  the  district  of  Kyle." 
"  Then,"  said  Lauder,  "  I  repent  that  such  a  poor  man  as  thou  art, 
should  put  those  noble  lords  to  so  great  inconvenience  this  day  by 
your  vain  speaking."  "  I  must  speak,"  replied  Wallace,  "  as  God 
giveth  me  grace,  and  I  believe  I  have  said  no  evil  to  hurt  any  man." 
w*  Would  to  God,"  said  the  fanatical  priest,  "  you  had  never  spoken  ; 
but  you  are  brought  forth  for  such  horrible  crimes  of  heresy  as  were 
never  before  heard  or  thought  of  in  this  kingdom  ;  and  these  shall 
be  proved  in  such  a  manner  as  you  shall  not  be  able  to  deny  them. 
Indeed,  I  doubt  whether  they  should  be  heard,  lest  they  prove 
ruinous  to  weak  minds,  but  I  will  not  say  any  more ;  thou  shalt  hear 
the  heinous  charges  laid  against  thee." 

Lauder  accordingly  proceeded  to  read  the  indictment. — "  Adam 
Wallace,  alias  Feane,"  said  he,  "  thou  art  openly  delated  and  accused 
for  holding,  teaching,  and  preaching  the  abominable  blasphemies 
and  heresies  underwritten  : — 1.  Thou  hast  said  and  taught,  that  the 
bread  and  wine  on  the  altar,  after  the  words  of  consecration,  are  not 
the  body  and  blood  of  Jesus  Christ.  2.  Thou  saidst  likewise,  and 
didst  teach  openly,  that  the  mass  is  idolatry,  and  abominable  in  the 
sight  of  God.  3.  Thou  hast  openly  usurped  the  office  of  a  priest, 
having  no  calling  thereto.  4.  Thou  didst  impiously  baptize  one  of 
thy  own  children.  5.  Thou  hast  openly  and  impiously  said  and 
taught,  that  there  is  no  purgatory.  6*.  Thou  hast  openly  maintained, 
that  prayers  made  to  the  saints  and  for  the  dead  are  superstitious. 
Thou  false  heretic,  what  answerest  thou  to  these  charges  against 
thee  ?" 

Wallace  heard  them  again  read  over  one  by  one,  as  was  the 
custom.     When  the  first  charge  was  read,  he  turned  to  the  regent 


62  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

and  the  other  nobles,  and  said,  "  My  lords,  I  never  said  nor  taught 
anything  but  what  I  found  written  in  this  book,"  (and  he  produced 
forthwith  a  Bible  in  the  English,  French,  and  Dutch  languages,) 
"  which  is  the  word  of  God  ;  and,  if  you  be  content  to  judge  me  by 
the  word  of  God,  here  it  is,  and  what  I  have  said  wrong,  for  that  I 
shall  be  content  to  suffer  punishment,  for  never  said  I  anything 
concerning  this  accusation,  but  what  I  found  in  this  book." 

This  of  course  was  an  appeal  wrhich  would  not  be  well  relished  by 
the  reverend  fathers,  who  never  once  thought  of  appealing  to  the 
law  and  the  testimony,  knowing  well  that  but  few  of  their  doctrines 
were  to  be  found  there.  "  What  didst  thou  say  ?"  cried  Lauder  in 
an  angry  voice.  "  I  said,"  replied  "Wallace  meekly,  "  that  after  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  had  eaten  the  paschal  lamb  in  his  last  supper  with 
Ms  apostles,  and  had  fulfilled  the  ceremonies  of  the  old  law,  he 
instituted  a  new  sacrament,  in  remembrance  of  his  death,  which  was 
then  at  hand.  He  took  bread,  and  blessed  it,  and  gave  it  to  his 
disciples,  saying,  Take  ye,  eat  ye,  this  is  my  body,  which  shall  be 
broken  and  given  for  you.  And  likewise  the  cup  he  blessed,  and 
bade  them  drink  all  thereof,  for  that  was  the  cup  of  the  New 
Testament  which  should  be  shed  for  the  remission  of  sins  ;  and  as 
oft,  said  our  Lord,  as  ye  do  this,  ye  do  it  in  remembrance  of  me." 

The  archbishop  of  St.  Andrew's,  with  the  official  of  Lothian,  the 
dean  of  Glasgow,  and  the  other  prelates,  in  the  plentitude  of  their 
wisdom,  could  make  no  reasonable  objection  to  this  statement,  and 
they  replied,  "We  know  this  wrell  enough."  The  earl  of  Huntly, 
however,  who  probably  did  not  relish  the  idea  of  being  detained  by 
a  polemical  discussion,  for  which  he  cared  but  little,  said  to  Wallace, 
"  Thou  answeredst  not  that  which  is  charged  against  thee  ;  say  either 
yea  or  nay."  To  this  he  again  replied,  that  he  desired  the  word  of 
God  to  be  his  judge,  for  he  had  said  and  taught  nothing  but  what 
that  word  authorized  him  to  do  ;  and  that  word,  he  wisely  said, 
ought  to  be  judge  not  only  to  him,  but  to  allthe  world. 

The  earl  of  Huntley  again  interfered.  "  Hast  thou  not,"  he  said, 
"  a  judge  good  enough  in  the  person  of  the  archbishop,  and  thinkest 
thou  that  he  knows  not  God  and  his  word  ?  Answer  those  things 
which  are  spoken  against  thee."  The  simple  martyr  wTas  not,  how- 
ever, to  be  so _  easily  borne  down.  He  declared,  that  the  bishops 
could  not  be  his  judges,  because  they  were  open  enemies  to  the  doc- 
trines he  professed  ;  and,  as  for  the  lord  governor,  he  doubted 
whether  he  had  the  knowledge  to  discern  lies  from  truth,  and  the 
inventions  of  men  from  the  worship  of  God.  The  judge  that  he 
desired,  he  again  declared,  was  the  book  of  God,  and  if  he  could  be 
convicted  of  having  spoken  or  done  any  thing  contrary  to  that  sacred 
standard,  he  did  nut  refuse  to  die  ;  but  if  he  was  found  innocent,  as 
having _  spoken  nothing  contrary  to  that  book,  then  he  desired  the 
protection  of  the  governor  and  the  nobility  against  the  tyranny  of 
malicious  men. 

If  he  expected  mercy  from  such  judges,  however,  he  was  com- 
pletely  mistaken  :  and  this  appeal  fell  like  water  to  the  ground. 
The  prelates  saw  at  the  same  time  that  they  had  a  man  of  peculiar 
disposition  to  mp'-age,  and  they  resolved  to"take  him  in  particularon 


ADAM   WALLACE.  63 

his  ideas  of  the  sacrament.  Lauder  was  accordingly  instructed  to 
address  him.  "  Thou  sayest,"  said  the  accuser,  "  and  has  taught, 
that  the  bread  and  wine  in  the  sacrament  of  the  altar,  after  the 
words  of  the  consecration,  are  not  the  body  and  blood  of  our  Saviour 
Jesus  Christ." 

"  I  never  said  more  than  the  Scriptures  say,"  replied  Wallace, 
"  nor  yet  more  than  I  have  said  before.  For  I  know  well  by  St. 
Paul,  when  he  says,  "Whosoever  eateth  of  this  bread,  and  drinketh 
of  this  cup,  unworthily,  receiveth  to  himself  damnation.  And, 
therefore,  when  I  taught,  which  was  seldom,  and  only  to  them  who 
desired  me,  I  said,  that  if  the  sacrament  of  the  altar  were  truly 
ministered,  and  used  as  the  Son  of  God  did  intend  it,  where  that  was 
dune,  God  himself  was  there,  by  that  divine  power  by  which  he  is  in 
every  place,  and  his  presence  over  all." 

The  bishop  of  Orkney  here  asked  him,  "  Believest  thou  not,  once 
for  all,  that  the  bread  and  wine  in  the  sacrament  of  the  altar,  after 
the  words  of  the  consecration,  become  the  very  body  and  blood  of 
God,  flesh,  blood,  and  bone  ?" 

This  direct  query,  asserting  the  abominable  doctrine  of  transub- 
stantiation, — a  doctrine  than  which  there  never  was  a  greater  insult 
on  human  reason  in  requiring  to  believe  it, — was  answered  compre- 
hensively by  the  humble  Wallace.  He  knew  not  well,  he  said, 
what  that  word  consecration  meant.  He  was  not  profound  in  Latin, 
but  he  believed  that  the  Son  of  God  was  conceived  by  the  Holy 
Ghost,  born  of  the  Virgin  Mary,  and  had  a  natural  body,  with 
hands,  feet,  and  other  members ;  that,  in  the  same  body,  he  acted  in 
the  world,  preached  and  taught,  suffered  death  under  Pontius  Pilate, 
was  crucified,  dead,  and  buried,  and  by  his  almighty  power  he 
raised  up  that  body  on  the  third  day  : — that  the  said  body  ascended 
into  heaven,  and  now  sitteth  at  the  right  hand  of  God  the  Father, 
which  shall  come  again  to  judge  the  quick  and  the  dead.  And  that 
this  natural  body  cannot  be  in  two  places  at  once,  our  Saviour 
showed  well  himself,  for  the  which  everlasting  thanks  be  to  his  holy 
name ;  for,  when  the  woman  poured  the  ointment  upon  him,  and  his 
disciples  grudged  thereat,  he  said,  "  The  poor  ye  have  always  with 
you,  but  me  ye  have  not  always  ;"  meaning  his  natural  body.  And 
also  at  the  ascension  of  the  Saviour,  he  said  to  his  disciples,  who, 
from  their  love  to  him,  would  ever  have  had  him  to  remain  with 
them  in  the  body,  "  It  is  needful  for  you  that  I  pass  away,  for  if  I 
pass  not  away,  the  Comforter,  the  Holy  Ghost,  shall  not  come  to 
you  (meaning  that  his  natural  body  behoved  to  be  taken  from 
them) ;  but  be  ye  stout  and  of  good  cheer,  for  I  am  with  you  alway, 
even  to  the  end  of  the  world."  And  to  conclude  :  that  the  eating 
of  his  very  flesh  profiteth  nothing,  may  be  known  from  his  own 
words,  recorded  in  the  sixth  chapter  of  St.  John's  gospel,  where, 
after  he  had  said,  "Except  ye  eat  my  flesh  and  drink  my  blood,  ye 
shall  not  have  life  in  you  ;"  and  his  disciples  murmuring,  because 
of  their  fleshly  lusts,  he  adds,  "  AVhat  will  ye  think  when  ye  see  the 
Son  of  Man  ascend  to  the  place  from  which  he  came?  It  is  the 
spirit  that  quickeneth,  for  the  flesh  profiteth  nothing." 

The  reverend  fathers  heard  this  address  with  astonishment.     The 


64  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

plain  and  practical  demonstration  was,  however,  lost  npon  them  ; 
and  only  tended  to  confirm  them  the  more  in  their  opinion  to  put 
the  prisoner  to  death.  "  It  is  an  horrible  heresy,"  cried  the  bishop 
of  Orkney.  "Wallace  again  attempted  to  speak,  and  desired  the  lord 
governor  to  judge  whether  he  had  spoken  agreeably  to  the  Scrip- 
tures ;  but  he  was  interrupted.  Lauder  exclaimed,  "  Ad  secun- 
dum" (to  the  second  article),  and  "Nunc  ad  secundam"  was  echoed 
by  the  archbishop,  whose  patience  was  by  this  time  well  nigh  ex- 
hausted. 

Wallace  was  required  now  to  pay  attention  to  the  second  article, 
which  was  concerning  the  mass.  To  this  he  replied,  that  he  had 
read  the  Bible  in  three  languages,  and,  as  far  as  he  understood  these 
languages,  he  never  read  the  word  mass  in  them  all.  The  thing, 
he  said,  which  was  in  the  greatest  estimation  with  men,  was  often 
abomination  in  the  sight  of  God  ;  and  as  the  mass  is  held  in  high 
estimation,  and  is  not  founded  on  the  Scriptures,  so  he  said  it  is 
idolatry,  and  abominable  in  the  sight  of  God.  He  offered  to  prove 
his  assertions,  and  if  he  failed,  he  would  confess  his  errors,  and  sub- 
mit himself  to  lawful  punishment,  otherwise  to  punish  him  would 
be  unjust.  This  challenge,  however,  was  not  accepted  by  the 
prelates.  "  Ad  tertiam"  exclaimed  the  archbishop,  while  the  pre- 
lates all  cried,  "  Heresy,  heresy,  let  him  be  condemned." 

He  was  next  charged  writh  assuming  the  office  of  a  preacher, 
without  being  lawfully  called  to  the  same  ;  and  to  this  he  answered, 
That  he  never  judged  himself  worthy  of  so  excellent  a  vocation 
as  is  the  calling  of  a  preacher,  nor  did  he  ever  presume  to  preach  ; 
only  he  admitted,  that  in  some  private  places  he  did  read  portions 
of  the  Scriptures  at  times,  and  that  he  made  short  comments  thereon 
to  those  who  would  hear  him.  He  was  quickly  told  by  Lauder,  that 
he  ought  not  to  have  meddled  with  the  Scriptures ;  but  he  answered, 
that  he  esteemed  it  the  duty  of  every  man  to  seek  the  knowledge 
of  God's  word,  and  the  assurance  of  his  own  salvation,  which  was 
not  to  be  found  but  in  the  Scriptures.  A  bystander  asked,  What 
would  be  left  for  the  bishops  and  priests  to  do,  if  every  man  should 
be  a  babbler  in  the  Bible  ?  To  this  person  Wallace  replied,  "  It 
becomes  you  to  speak  more  reverently  of  God,  and  of  his  holy 
word ;  and  if  the  judge  did  right,  he  would  punish  you  for  your 
blasphemy.  But  as  to  your  question,  I  say,  that  although  you  and 
five  thousand  would  read  the  Bible,  and  confess  together  upon  it, 
yet  we  leave  more  to  the  bishops  than  either  they  can  or  will 
perform  ;  for  we  leave  to  them  the  preaching  of  the  gospel  of  Christ, 
and  the  feeding  of  his  flock,  whom  he  hath  redeemed  by  his  own 
blood,  which  is  a  burden  heavy  enough ;  neither  do  Ave  them  any 
wrong  in  working  out  our  own  salvation,  as  far  as  we  are  able." 

As  to  the  next  charge,  viz.,  that  of  baptizing  his  own  child,  he 
answered,  that  it  was  as  lawful  for  him  to  do  so,  when  he  could  not 
get  a  minister  to  do  it,  as  it  was  for  Abraham  to  circumcise  Ishmael 
and  the  rest  of  his  family. 

Lauder  now  finally  addressed  Wallace.  "  Thou  hast  preached," 
he  said,  "  and  openly  taught  divers  and  sundry  other  great  errors 
and  abominable  heresies  against  all  the  seven  sacraments,  which  for 


ADAM   WALLACE.  q$ 

shortness  of  time  I  omit  and  pass  over.  "Whether  dost  thou  grant 
the  aforesaid  articles  or  no,  as  thou  shalt  hear  them  again  ?"  He 
then  read  over  the  various  articles  exhibited  against  him,  and  asked 
him  whether  he  granted  or  denied  them. 

The  answer  of  "Wallace  was  simple,  pious,  and  unaffected.  "  I 
have  before  given  my  answers,"  said  he,  "  and  I  have  said  nothing 
contrary  to  the  holy  word  of  God  ;  and  if  I  have  done  so,  may  God 
judge  me,  and  my  own  conscience  be  my  accuser.  If  I  am  wrong, 
I  would  wish  to  remain  till  the  time  in  which  I  shall  be  better 
instructed  by  the  holy  word.  But  if  you  condemn  me,  my  lords, 
for  holding  fast  the  revelation  of  God,  my  innocent  blood  will  be 
required  at  your  hands,  and  you  shall  be  brought  before  the  judg- 
ment seat  of  Christ,  who  is  mighty  to  defend  my  innocent  cause, 
before  wThom  you  shall  not  deny  it,  nor  yet  be  able  to  resist  his  ter- 
rible wrath  ;  to  whom  I  refer  the  vengeance,  as  it  is  written,  '  Yen- 
geance  is  mine,  and  I  will  repay  it,  saith  the  Lord.' " 

But  his  death  was  resolved  on,  and  his  appeal  was  in  vain.  Cast 
in  stern  moulding,  the  hearts  of  his  judges  felt  no  pity,  but  thought 
they  did  God  service  by  the  death  of  this  amiable  man.  He  was 
condemned  by  Lauder,  as  an  obstinate  heretic,  and  delivered  over 
to  the  secular  power,  with  the  approbation  of  all  the  prelates,  and 
the  regent  of  the  kingdom.  Sir  John  Campbell  of  Lundy,  justice- 
deputy,  condemned  him  to  die  at  the  stake,  and  he  was  consigned 
to  the  custody  of  the  provost  of  Edinburgh,  to  be  burnt  on  the 
Castle-hill  the  following  day.  The  assembly  now  broke  up,  and 
"Wallace  was  conducted  to  prison  for  the  night,  and  bound  fast  with 
irons  round  about  his  legs  and  neck. 

Thus  ended  the  trial  of  Adam  "Wallace,  in  the  church  of  the 
Black  Friars  at  Edinburgh,  the  first  victim  to  Hamilton's  cruelty 
and  outrageous  zeal  for  the  church.  The  dignitaries  who  assembled 
on  this  occasion  were  men  of  the  greatest  influence  in  the  kingdom, 
whom  Hamilton  had  convened  by  the  authority  of  his  brother  the 
regent,  that  he  might  make  a  vain  disj:>lay,  and  strike  terror  into  the 
minds  of  the  Reformers.  "With  the  exception  of  "Winram,  and  the 
prior  of  St.  Andrew's,  they  all  heard  the  sentence  with  the  utmost 
callousness  ;  nor  did  even  a  sigh  of  pity  escape  them  at  the  wretched 
fate  of  the  unfortunate  man.  Dead  to  every  feeling  of  sympathy, 
they  viewed  their  proceedings  with  the  utmost  complacency,  and 
they  left  the  church  of  the  Black  Friars  in  mutual  congratulations. 

It  was  not  so,  however,  with  the  beholders.  Struck  with  horror  at 
the  cruelty  of  the  sentence,  and  exasperated  at  this  exhibition  of 
tyranny,  they  rightly  thought  that  they  were  again  to  experience  the 
iron  domination  of  cardinal  Beaton,  and  they  feared  the  result. 
They  concealed  their  resentment ;  but  they  were  the  more  convinced 
of  the  injustice  of  their  rulers.  Persecution,  in  every  case,  ought  to 
be  avoided  for  religious  differences ;  but  when  that  persecution  extends 
to  the  deprivation  of  life,  by  a  cruel  and  lingering  death,  or  indeed 
by  any  kind  of  punishment,  much  more  ought  it  to  be  execrated,  by 
every  lover  of  truth,  of  freedom,  and  of  his  country.  Great  is  truth, 
and  it  shall  prevail ;  but  they  who  attempt  to  establish  their  power  by 
intolerance,  and  their  opinions  by  the  sword  of  the  civil  magistrate, 
5 


66  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

will  be  eventually  disappointed  in  their  expectations,  and  find  them- 
selves miserably  mistaken. 

Shackled  with  irons,  as  some  vile  malefactor,  and  consigned  to  a 
dungeon  in  the  prison  of  Edinburgh,  lay  Adam  "Wallace,  the  night 
after  his  trial — another  victim  to  popish  tyranny  and  rage.  Tempted, 
but  not  forsaken — cast  down,  but  not  destroyed — like  the  persecuted 
servants  of  the  Most  High  in  the  days  of  old,  he  looked  to  heaven 
while  overwhelmed  with  his  sufferings,  and  found  there  those  conso- 
lations which  the  world  can  neither  give  nor  take  away.  He  had 
sounded  in  the  ears  of  his  persecutors  the  denunciation  of  heaven, 
and  well  did  he  know  it  would  be  fulfilled :  "  Yengeance  is  mine, 
and  I  will  repay  it,  saith  the  Lord." 

A  priest  of  the  name  of  Hugh  Terry  had  the  charge  of  "Wallace 
for  the  night ;  and  he,  in  like  manner,  adding  insult  to  cruelty,  sent 
two  gray  "friars  to  instuct  him  ;  "Wallace  refused  their  instructions, 
and  they  quickly  departed.  Some  time  after  the  departure  of  the 
gray  friars,  two  black  friars,  an  English  friar,  and  a  priest  of  the 
name  of  Abercromby,  were  sent  to  him  but  the  martyr  refused  them 
all,  the  English  friar  excepted.  "With  him  he  would  gladly  have 
conversed,  and  declared  his  faith  in  the  sacred  Scriptures :  but  the 
friar  answered,  that  he  had  no  commission  to  enter  into  disputation 
with  him,  and  he  and  his  companions  took  their  leave. 

The  priests,  however,  were  determined  if  possible  to  reclaim  him, 
and  they  seem  to  have  been  indefatigable  in  their  exertions.  The 
dean  of  Itestalrig  visited  him  shortly  after  the  friars  had  departed,  a 
man  of  great  learning,  and  even  well  instructed  in  the  Scriptures. 
He  gave  the  martyr  Christian  consolation,  but  exhorted  him  to  believe 
in  the  reality  of  the  body  of  Christ  in  the  sacrament  after  the  conse- 
cration. "Wallace  would  not  be  persuaded.  He  would  assent  to 
nothing  but  what  the  Scriptures  taught,  nor  would  he  believe  what 
he  well  knew  was  abominable  to  God.  The  dean,  seeing  his  exhort- 
ations were  of  no  avail,  soon  left  him,  grieving  also  that  he  found 
him  so  obstinately  persisting  in  his  opinions. 

"Wallace  spent  the  awful  night  preceding  his  execution  in  exercises 
of  fervent  piety  and  devotion.  He  had  committed  almost  all  the 
Psalms  to  memory,  and  he  was  continually  engaged  in  praise  and 
prayer.  He  had  been  in  the  practice  of  carrying  his  Bible  with  him 
wherever  he  went ;  but  his  persecutors,  after  his  condemnation,  took 
it  from  him,  and  destroyed  it.  Terry,  his  fanatical  jailor,  behaved 
to  him  with  the  most  barbarous  violence.  Thinking  that  he  still 
concealed  some  books  about  him  which  contained  heretical  doctrine, 
he  entered  his  cell,  and  searched  his  person.  He  found  some 
short  addresses  written  by  professors  of  the  reformed  doctrines. 
These  Terry  took  from  him,  bestowing  on  him  the  most  unbecoming 
and  abusing  epithets,  and  even  tempting  him  by  his  provocations. 
Such  was  the  inhuman  conduct  of  this  priest,  who  obtruded  himself 
on  the  privacy  of  his  prisoner,  and  imbittered  the  last  hours  of  his 
life  by  indecent  upbraidings.  Such  conduct  deserves  execration  ;  it 
is  worse  than  savage  ;  it  is  like  the  act  of  a  madman.  Wallace  was 
denied  the  last  consolation,  and  even  in  a  degree  hindered  from 


WALTER   MILL.  67 

making  his  peace  with  heaven,  of  which  Terry  thought,  by  the  act 
of  his  sending  priests  to  instruct  him,  he  stood  so  much  in  need. 

Next  morning,  preparations  were  made  for  the  execution  of  the 
sentence,  which  was  to  take  place  on  the  Castle-hill  in  the  afternoon. 
The  whole  affair  as  we  have  already  said,  was  given  in  charge  to  the 
provost  of  Edinburgh,  who  seems,  in  the  issue,  to  have  been  fully  as 
persecuting  in  spirit  as  his  superiors.  During  the  day,  however, 
Wallace's  judges  left  the  city — the  regent,  with  his  brother  the  arch- 
bishop, to  their  respective  residences  ;  and  the  bishops  and  dignita- 
ries of  the  church  to  their  several  places.  Their  prisoner  was  now 
in  the  hands  of  the  civil  power ;  and,  having  the  authority  of  the 
regent  for  the  sentence,  the  provost  of  Edinburgh  was  accountable 
for  him.  Their  presence  indeed  was  of  little  avail.  The  prelates 
departed  in  triumph.  They  had  left  behind  them  a  monument  of 
their  power,  which,  they  vainly  believed,  would  be  salutary  to  the 
people,  and  increase  the  stability  of  the  church. 

The  dean  of  Restalrig  visited  Wallace  once  more  on  the  morning 
of  this  day,  in  the  hope  that  he  would  find  him  more  pliable.  But 
in  this  he  was  disappointed.  It  was  in  vain  that  the  dean  discoursed 
to  him  about  false  doctrine  and  the  danger  of  his  salvation  ;  it  was  in 
vain  that  he  even  held  out  to  him  hopes  that  his  sentence  would  be 
mitigated  if  he  would  recant.  Wallace  answered  him  again,  that  he 
would  say  nothing  concerning  his  belief  but  what  the  Scriptures  tes- 
tified ;  nor  would  he  be  persuaded  of  the  contrary,  even  though  an 
angel  from  heaven  should  attempt  to  persuade  him.  Nevertheless 
he  felt  grateful  to  the  dean,  and  thanked  him  for  the  Christian 
advices  he  had  given  him  to  preserve  his  fortitude,  and  he  only 
prayed  that  his  eyes  might  be  opened  to  behold  the  light  of  the 

-+h. 


WALTER   MILL. 


Walter  Mill  was  born  about  the  year  1476,  of  parents  who  were 
in  reputable  circumstances.  He  received  his  education  at  the  uni- 
versity of  Aberdeen,  recently  founded  by  bishop  Elphingstone.  The 
nation  at  that  time  remained  secure  in  its  devotion  to  the  church  of 
Rome,  being  agitated  by  no  heresies,  and  the  prelates  like  the  Israel- 
ites of  old,  "doing  every  one  of  them  that  which  was  right  in  his 
own  eyes."  The  opinions  of  Luther  had  not  found  their  way  into 
Scotland,  and  accordingly  Mill  was  educated   most  rigidly  in  the 


68  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

popish  religion.     At  the  age  appointed  by  the  canon  law,  he  received 
orders  ;  but  he  was  not  connected  with  any  particular  monastery. 

He  was  shortly  afterwards  appointed  officiating  priest  of  Lunan, 
in  the  shire  of  Angus,  or  as  it  is  now  called,  Forfar.  In  what 
manner  he  first  discharged  his  clerical  functions  does  not  appear ; 
but  very  probably  he  was  like  the  rest  of  his  brethren,  who  were  not 
"righteous  overmuch."  Be  this  as  it  may,  it  is  certain  that,  about 
the  time  of  the  martyrdom  of  Patrick  Hamilton,  he  was  led  to  an 
examination  of  the  opinions  for  which  that  noble  youth  suffered,  an£ 
in  common  with  many  others,  this  examination  ended  in  conviction 
of  the  truth. 

Mill  had  no  opportunities  of  conversing  with  any  of  the  principal 
reformers ;  but  he  carefully  studied  the  Scriptures,  and  these  soon 
opened  his  eyes  to  a  conviction  of  his  errors.  With  all  that  candour 
and  openness  which  mark  an  upright  mind,  he  saw  it  was  his  duty 
to  preach  the  doctrines  he  now  believed,  or  subject  himself  to  the 
charge  of  not  being  a  faithful  minister  of  the  New  Testament.  He 
accordingly  left  off  celebrating  mass,  believing  it  to  be  gross  idolatiy, 
and  devoted  himself  wholly  to  preaching,  and  the  instruction  of  his 
hearers. 

This  conduct  was  too  flagrant  to  escape  notice  in  those  days,  and 
accordingly  Mill  was  delated  to  the  archbishop  of  St.  Andrew's,  as 
preaching  heretical  doctrines.  This  was  in  the  year  1538.  James 
Beaton,  the  cardinal's  uncle,  at  that  time  filled  the  primacy ;  and 
having  the  cardinal  for  his  adviser,  who,  in  fact  actually  governed 
the  see,  a  citation  was  sent  to  Mill,  requiring  his  appearance  at  St. 
Andrew's,  to  answer  certain  charges  laid  against  him.  The  fate  of 
Patrick  Hamilton,  however,  and  others,  was  before  his  eyes  ;  and 
he  thought  it  most  advisable  to  escape  the  flames,  and  consult  his 
safety  by  flight. 

Mill  retreated  to  the  Continent,  and  at  last  took  refuge  for  a  while 
in  Germany,  where,  by  associating  with  Zuinglius,  Oecolampadius, 
and  others,  he  was  more  fully  instructed  in  the  doctrines  of  the  Kefor- 
mation.  While  in  Germany  he  occasionally  preached,  and  at  length 
completely  separated  himself  from  the  Komish  priesthood  by  entering 
into  the  marriage  state.  But  he  did  not  conceive  himself  separated 
from  the  ministry  of  the  New  Testament.  He  felt  his  mind  glowing 
with  inconceivable  ardour,  to  make  known  to  his  countrymen  the 
blessings  of  that  gospel  which  he  had  felt  so  efficacious  to  his  own 
soul. 

This  feeling  is  natural  to  the  man  who  has  known  that  God  is 
gracious.  He  cannot  remain  in  cowardly  ease,  while  he  sees  others- 
perishing  for  lack  of  knowledge  ;  and  knowing  well  the  infinite  value 
of  even  one  immortal  soul, — knowing  well  that  there  is  joy  in  heaven 
over  even  one  sinner  that  repenteth, — above  all,  knowing  that  they 
who  win  souls  are  wise,  and  they  who  are  the  instruments  of  turning 
many  to  righteousness  shall  shine  as  the  stars  for  ever  and  ever, — he 
feels  the  influence  of  redeeming  love  on  his  soul,  and  he  burns  writh 
holy  ardour  in  the  sacred  cause.  This  is  not  fanaticism,  or  religious 
insanity,  as  it  is  called  by  the  world.  Is  not  such  a  man  a  believer 
in  the  sacred  Scriptures  ?    Most  assuredly  ;  and  he  therefore  knows 


WALTER   MILL. 


69 


that  the  strongholds  of  sin  must  be  pulled  down, — that  there  must  be 
war  waged  with  spiritual  wickednesses  in  high  places, — that  the  man 
of  sin  must  be  broken  in  pieces.  How,  then,  are  these  things  to  be 
accomplished?  By  miracles?  No,  verily:  their  age  hath  forever 
passed  away.  By  wondrous  interpositions  from  heaven  ?  No,  verily  : 
no  more  of  these  shall  be  seen  till  the  latter  days.  But  by  human 
means  doth  God  now  execute  whatsoever  comes  to  pass, — means 
which  he  hath  predestinated  as  component  parts  of  the  event 
itself. 

With  this  feeling,  therefore,  did  Mill  return  to  his  native  land, 
about  the  year  1556.  He  kept  himself  at  first  in  retirement ;  but 
still  he  felt  it  his  duty  to  instruct  many  secretly  in  the  knowledge  of 
God  and  to  lift  up  his  voice  against  the  vices  of  the  age.  But  this 
could  not  long  escape  notice,  and  as  he  made  himself  much  more 
conspicuous  by  bolder  steps,  and  by  proclaiming  truths  which  were 
not  at  all  relished  by  the  clergy,  they  began  to  turn  their  attention 
towards  him.  He  was  informed,  however,  of  the  intentions  of  the 
clergy,  and  he  thought  it  most  advisable  to  change  his  residence.  "We 
are  not  informed  whether  his  wife  came  along  with  him  from  Ger- 
many, or  whether  she  died  before  he  left  that  country  ;  the  latter  is 
most  probably  the  case. 

This  state  of  things  continued  for  some  time,  until  the  year  1559, 
when  archbishop  Hamilton  was  exasperated  at  his  failure  with  the 
protestant  nobles  to  make  them  dismiss  their  preachers.  Knowing 
the  circumstances  of  the  queen-regent,  that  she  found  it  her  interest, 
though  a  devoted  catholic,  to  flatter  the  Reformers,  and  knowing  that 
he  himself  was  utterly  unable  to  proceed  by  force  against  nobles  of 
the  greatest  influence,  the  primate  left  himself  transported  beyond 
all  the  bounds  of  moderation.  The  indecent  violence  he  displayed 
was  that  of  a  man  lost  to  all  sense  of  virtue ;  and  yet  he  knew  not 
what  to  do.  His  enemies  the  preachers  were  retained  in  the  castles 
of  the  nobility,  and  to  attack  them  was  to  attack  the  owners  them- 
selves. He  saw  it  was  needless  to  persecute  the  people,  for,  first, 
that  was  out  of  his  power  ;  secondly,  they  had  begun  to  be  as  cunning 
as  himself;  and,  lastly,  he  held  them  in  too  great  contempt.  The 
primate  was  actually  at  a  loss  what  to  do,  or  how  to  gratify  his 
malignity. 

Hamilton  was  no  stranger  to  Mill's  conduct ;  yet,  had  he  got  other 
opportunities  of  gratifying  his  rage,  in  all  probability  the  extreme  old 
age  of  the  martyr,  now  in  his  eighty-second  year,  and  his  feebleness, 
would  have  shielded  him  from  the  primate's  hostility.  But  this  was 
not  to  be  the  case.  Some  one  informed  him  that  this  aged  priest 
was  at  that  time  in  Dysart,  and  of  him  our  primate  at  once  deter- 
mined to  make  an  example.  The  old  process  set  on  foot  by  cardinal 
Beaton  was  revived  against  Mill,  and,  after  a  vigilant  search  for  him, 
he  was  at  last  apprehended,  at  the  instance  of  the  archbishop,  by  Sir 
George  Strachan  and  Sir  Hugh  Torry,  in  the  town  of  Dysart  in  Fife. 
He  was  immediately  carried  to  the  city  of  St  Andrew's,  and  committed 
a  close  prisoner  there. 

As  the  primate  conceived  that  his  public  recantation  might  be  of 
as  much  benefit  to  the  church  as  his  death,  he  was  indefatigable  at 


70  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

first  in  endeavouring  to  persuade  him.  The  priests  therefore  beset 
him,  and  at  first  threatened  him  with  the  most  horrible  tortures  if  he 
would  not  recant ;  but  finding  these  unavailing,  and  that  the  con- 
stancy of  the  martyr  was  not  to  be  shaken  by  such  means,  they  at 
length  tried  flattery,  promising  him  a  residence  in  the  abby  of  Dun- 
fermline for  life,  if  he  would  sign  his  recantation.  This  measure  was 
attended  with  little  better  success,  and  accordingly  it  was  determined 
to  proceed  against  him  according  to  the  laws  of  the  church. 

The  martyr  knew  well  his  fate ;  but  he  preserved  a  marvellous 
constancy,  lie  knew  in  whom  he  had  believed,  and  his  faith  sup- 
ported him  under  every  trial.  Let  us  proceed,  then,  to  delineate  the 
last  moments  of  a  man,  "  out  of  whose  ashes,"  says  Fox,  in  his  simple 
manner,  "  sprang  thousands  of  his  religion  and  opinions  in  Scotland, 
who  altogether  chose  rather  to  die  than  to  be  any  longer  over-trodden 
by  the  tyrannie  of  the  foresayed  cruell  and  ignorant  bischops,  abbots, 
monks,  and  friars,  and  so  began  the  congregation  of  Scotland  to 
debate  the  true  religion  of  Christ  against  the  Frenchmen  and  the 
papists,  who  sought  alwaies  to  depresse  and  keepe  downe  the  same  ; 
for  it  began  soone  after  the  martyrdome  of  Walter  Mille,  of  which 
the  form  hereafter  followeth." 

With  secret  complacency  did  archbishop  Hamilton  contemplate 
the  effect  of  the  execution  of  Mill.  He  imagined  he  saw  the  protes- 
tant  preachers  mute  with  consternation,  the  friends  of  the  Reforma- 
tion trembling  for  their  safety,  and  the  church  and  his  own  power 
acquiring  fresh  stability.  But  he  was  soon  convinced  of  the  falsity 
of  his  speculations ;  and  he  had  the  mortification  to  know,  that,  had 
he  been  more  moderate,  he  might,  humanly  speaking,  have  longer 
retained  his  power,  and  not  rendered  himself  so  obnoxious  to  the 
people  as  to  hasten  his  own  destruction. 

Mill  having  resolutely  refused  to  recant,  an  assembly  of  the  clergy 
was  accordingly  summoned  to  proceed  against  him.  This  assembly 
was  composed  of  various  dignitaries.  The  archbishop  presided  in  per- 
son, and  beside  him  were  seated  the  bishops  of  Moray,  Brechin,  Caith- 
ness, &c. ;  the  abbots  of  Dunfermline,  Lindores,  Cupar ;  various  doc- 
tors of  theology  in  the  university  ;  John  Grierson,  black  friar  ;  John 
Winram,  sub-prior  of  the  abbey  ;  William  Cranston,  sub-prior  of  the 
old  college,  and  others  connected  with  the  city.  Mill  was  ordered  to 
be  taken  from  prison,  and  brought  before  them. 

The  prelates  assembled  in  the  metropolitan  church,  and  there  was 
the  martyr  brought  to  his  trial,  on  the  20th  day  of  April,  1559.  His 
appearance  being  that  of  a  poor  and  feeble  old  man,  he  excited  in  the 
minds  of  the  spectators  universal  commiseration  ;  and  so  helpless 
did  he  appear,  that  it  was  doubted  by  many  whether  he  would  be 
able  to  make  his  defence.  He  was  commanded  to  get  into  a  pulpit 
prepared  for  the  occasion,  but  he  was  so  infirm  as  to  require  assist- 
ance. He  looked  around  him,  nothing  dismayed  at  the  assembly, 
and  then  sunk  on  his  knees,  offering  up  his  fervent  prayers  to  the 
God  of  all  consolation. 

A  priest,  named  Sir  Andrew  Oliphant,  soon  commanded  him  with 
little  ceremony  to  rise  and  answer  to  the  charges  laid  against  him. 
The  martyr  obeyed  ;  but  he  spoke  in  a  voice  which  astonished  the 


WALTER    MILL.  71 

"beholders,  and  dismayed  his  accusers.  "  Sir  Walter  Mill,"  cried 
Oliphant,  "  arise,  give  answers  to  the  articles ;  for  you  keep  my  lord 
the  archbishop  here  too  long."  Mill  beheld  him  with  a  smile  of  pity. 
"  We  ought,  to  obey  God,"  replied  he,  "  rather  than  man.  I  serve 
one  more  powerful,  even  the  Almighty  God  ;  and  whereas  you  are 
wont  to  call  me  Sir  Walter,  call  me  not  so  now\  I  have  been  too 
long  one  of  the  pope's  knights. — Now,  say  what  thou  pleasest." 

The  examination,  which  is  exceedingly  curious,  we  shall  quote 
from  Fox,  who  says  he  received  it  ex  testimoriiis  et  Uteris  e  Scotia 
petitis.  It  affords  a  specimen  of  Mill's  natural  brevity  and  acuteness 
of  remark;  while,  at  the  same  time,  it  shows  the  injustice  of  the 
priests  in  bringing  men  to  trial  with  whom  they  never  fairly  argued. 

It  was  conducted  by  Oliphant,  who  began  his  interrogations  with 
the  following  question  : 

"  What  thinkest  thou  of  priests'  marriage  ?" 

"I  hold  it  a  blessed  band,"  replied  Mill,  "for  Christ  himselfe 
maintained  it,  and  approved  the  same,  and  also  made  it  free  to  all 
men  ;  but  you  thinke  it  not  free  to  you  ;  ye  abhore  it,  and  in  the 
mean  tyme,  take  other  men's  wives  and  daughters,  and  will  not  keepe 
the  band  that  God  hath  made.  Yee  vow  chastitie,  and  break  the 
same.  Sainte  Paul  had  rather  marrie  than  burne  ;  the  which  I  have 
done,  for  God  never  forbade  marriage,  to  any  man,  of  what  state  or 
degree  soever  he  be." 

"  Thou  sayest,"  continued  Oliphant,  "  there  bee  not  seven  sacra- 
ments V 

"  Give  me  the  Lord's  Supper  and  Baptisme,  and  take  you  the  reste, 
and  part  them  among  you,  for  if  there  bee  seven,  why  have  you 
omitted  one  of  them,  to  wit,  marriage,  and  give  yourselves  to  slan- 
derous and  ungodly  whoredom  V 

"  Thou  art  against  the  blessed  sacrament  of  the  altar,  and  saiest, 
that  the  masse  is  wrong,  and  is  idolatrie  ?" 

"  A  lord  or  a  king,""  replied  Mill,  "  sendeth  and  calleth  manie  to 
a  dinner,  and  when  "the  dinner  is  in  readines,  hee  causeth  to  ring  the 
bell,  and  the  men  come  to  the  hall,  and  site  down,  to  be  partakers  of 
the  dinner,  but  the  lord,  turninge  his  backe  upon  them,  eateth  all 
himselfe,  and  so  do  yee." 

"  Thou  deniest  the  sacrament  of  the  altar  to  be  the  very  bodie  and 
blood  of  Christ  ?" 

"  The  Scripture  of  God  is  not  to  be  taken  carnallie  but  spirituallie, 
and  standeth  in  fayth  onlie;  and  as  for  the  masse  it  is  wrong,  for 
Christ  was  once  offered  on  the  crosse  for  man's  trespasse,  and  will 
never  be  offered  againe,  for  then  he  ended  all  sacrifice." 

•'  Thou  deniest  the  office  of  a  bishop  ?" 

"  I  affirme  that  they  whom  yee  call  bishops  do  no  bishop's  workes, 
nor  use  the  office  of  a  bishop,  as  Paul  biddeth,  writing  to  Timothy, 
but  live  after  their  own  sensuall  pleasure,  and  take  no  care  of  the 
flocke,  nor  yet  regard  they  the  word  of  God,  but  desire  to  be  honoured, 
and  called  my  lords." 

«  Thou  speakest  against  pilgrimage,  and  callest  it  a  pilgrimage  to 
whoredorne  ?"  , 

"  I  affirm  and  say,  that  it  is  not  commanded  in  the  Scriptures,  and 


72  SCOTS  WORTHIES. 

that  there  is  no  greater  whoredome  in  any  place  than  at  your  pilgrim- 
ages, except  it  bee  in  common  brothels." 

"Thou  preach  est  secretlie  and  privatelie  in  houses,  and  openlie  in 
the  fields  ?" 

"  Yea,  man,  and  on  the  sea  also,  sayling  in  a  ship." 

"Wilt  thou  not  recant  thy  erroneous  opinions  %  And  if  thou  wilt 
not,  I  will  pronounce  sentence  against  thee." 

"  I  am  accused  for  my  life,  and  therefore,  as  Christ  said  to  Judas, 
Quod  facis,  fac  cithis.  Yee  shall  know  that  I  will  not  recant  the 
truth  :  for  I  am  corn,  I  am  no  chaffe  :  I  will  not  be  blowne  away 
with  the  winde,  nor  burst  with  the  flaile.     But  I  will  abide  both." 

Thus  ended  the  examination,  and  it  may  be  easily  conceived  how 
these  answers  would  aggravate  the  martyr's  offence  in  the  eyes  of 
his  persecutors.  It  is  to  be  remarked,  that  they  do  not  attempt  to 
argue  with  him,  or  endeavour  to  set  him  right  as  to  his  erroneous 
opinions  ;  on  the  contrary,  they  go  from  one  article  to  another,  with- 
out making  the  smallest  remark  on  any  one  point.  This,  however, 
is  the  nature  of  Roman  Catholicism,  which  cannot  bear  an  investiga- 
tion by  the  standard  of  truth. 

Fox  informs  us,  that  his  persecutors  rehearsed  those  things  on  pur- 
pose, "  together  with  other  light  trifles,  to  augment  their  small  accu- 
sations." The  patience  of  the  reverend  prelates  was  now  exhausted, 
and  Oliphant  was  commanded  to  pronounce  sentence  against  the 
aged  martyr,  delivering  him  over  to  the  secular  power  to  suffer  death 
as  an  obstinate  heretic. 

The  boldness  and  fervent  piety  of  Mills,  however,  together  with 
his  venerable  appearance,  excited  all  the  sympathetic  feelings  of  the 
beholders.  The  whole  city  of  St.  Andrew's  was  unanimous  in  his 
favour,  and  to  so  great  a  degree  did  this  feeling  prevail,  that  the 
archbishop  could  not  get  a  civil  judge  to  condemn  him.  The  steward 
of  his  regality,  and  provost  of  the  city,  called  Patrick  Learmont, 
much  to  his  honour,  refused  to  lend  his  countenance  to  the  procedure, 
and,  to  avoid  the  odium  of  the  transaction,  precipitately  left  the  city. 
Even  the  archbishop's  chamberlain  would  not  consent  to  condemn 
him,  "  and  the  whole  towne  was  so  offended  with  his  unjust  con- 
demnation, that  the  bishop's  servants  could  not  get  for  their  money 
so  much  as  one  cord  to  tie  him  to  the  stake,  or  a  tarre  barrell  to 
burne  him,  but  were  constrained  to  cut  the  cords  of  their  master's 
owne  pavilion  to  serve  their  turn."* 

The  prelates  were  now  put  to  a  stand,  and  they  knew  not  what  to 
do.  The  archbishop,  however,  was  resolved  on  his  death,  and  at 
length  he  most  illegally  prevailed  by  bribery  on  a  domestic  of  his 
own,  named  Alexander  Sommerville,  to  act  as  a  temporal  judge. 
The  stake  was  prepared  on  the  very  day  of  his  condemnation  ;  aud 
by  this  worthless  domestic  of  Hamilton,  the  venerable  martyr  was 
led  forth  to  receive  the  crown  of  glory. 

*  Fox,  vol.  ii.  fol.  edit.  1631,  p.  626;    Spottiswoode,  p.  96. 


JAMES   STUART,   EARL  OF    MORAY.  73 


JAMES  STUART,  EARL  OF  MORAY. 


This  nobleman  was  the  illegitimate  son  of  James  V.,  king  of  Scot- 
land, by  a  lady  of  a  noble  and  ancient  family,  Margaret  Erskine, 
daughter  of  John,  fifth  earl  of  Mar,  and  fourth  Lord  Erskine  of  that 
surname. 

James  V.  had  six  natural  children.  His  sons  he  intended  for  the 
church,  and  accordingly  he  enriched  his  coffers  by  Conferring  on 
them  wealthy  benefices  as  they  became  vacant,  and  by  this  means 
becoming  entitled  to  their  revenues  while  the  possessors  of  them 
were  under  age.  The  priory  of  St.  Andrew's  at  this  time  vacant, 
was  assigned  to  this  son,  then  only  three  years  of  age.  This  present- 
ation entitled  James  to  receive  the  revenues.  It  was  almost  as 
wealthy  as  the  primacy,  and  it  was  the  next  in  dignity.  The  priors 
of  St.  Andrew's  were  entitled  to  wear  splendid  robes  and  ecclesias- 
tical ornaments  on  solemn  occasions,  and  to  precede  all  other  digni- 
taries of  equal  rank. 

The  history  of  the  prior's  juvenile  years,  and  the  manner  of  his 
education,  are  unknown  ;  even  the  exact  time  and  place  of  his  birth 
are  not  recorded.  It  has  been  lately  discovered,  on  the  authority  of 
bishop  Leslie,  that  he  was  born  in  1532,  or,  according  to  our  compu- 
tation, 1533.  It  may  be  remarked,  however,  that  he  at  an  early  age 
manifested  those  talents  for  which  the  house  of  Stuart  was  distin- 
guished. As  soon  as  he  became  of  age,  he  felt  that  the  idleness  and 
monotony  of  the  ecclesiastical  life  did  not  suit  his  inclinations,  and 
he  looked  with  dislike  on  a  profession  which  doomed  him  to  inglori- 
ous ease. 

In  April,  1548,  Scotland  was  invaded  by  lord  Grey  de  Wilton,  on 
which  occasion  Haddington  was  taken  and  fortified,  and  the  adjacent 
country  laid  waste.  At  the  same  time,  lord  Clinton,  the  English 
admiral,  sailed  into  the  estuary  of  the  Forth  with  a  fleet,  and  made 
a  descent  on  the  coast  of  Fife.  On  this  occasion  happened  the  first 
adventure  of  the  prior,  who  was  now  sixteen  years  of  age.  He  was 
then  residing  in  Fife,  probably  near  St.  Andrew's,  and  as  he  felt  a 
repugnance  towards  the  ecclesiastical  profession,  he  resolved  to 
embrace  the  opportunity  of  displaying  his  valour.  The  English, 
under  Clinton,  had  advanced  a  considerable  way  into  the  country, 
having  met  with  no  opposition;  but  a  few  devoted  individuals, 
under  the  young  prior,  laid  an  ambuscade  for  them  on  their  return, 
into  which  they  fell ;  and,  after  a  considerable  slaughter,  they 
regained  their  boats  with  great  difficulty.     This  was  the  prior's  first 


74  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

exploit,  in  which  he  displayed  no  small  personal  courage  and  know- 
ledge of  military  tactics. 

The  young  queen  about  this  time  went  to  the  French  dominions, 
accompanied  by  a  numerous  retinue ;  her  brother  the  prior,  who  was 
then  in  his  seventeenth  year,  also  joined  her  suite.  He  is  said  to 
have  remained  in  France  for  some  time.  But  even  at  this  early  age, 
his  abilities  were  peculiarly  manifested,  and  his  enemies  have  paid 
him  an  unwitting  compliment.  It  has  been  asserted  that  about  this 
time  he  entered  into  an  engagement  of  a  secret  nature  with  the 
English  government  to  promote  a  conspiracy,  yet  the  charge  has 
never  been  proved  by  any  satisfactory  evidence,  and  there  are  no 
authentic  documents  on  the  subject.  It  is  uncertain  how  long  he 
remained  in  France.  He  went  thither  with  Mary  in  1548  ;  we  find 
him  in  Scotland  in  1549  ;  and  again  at  Paris  in  1552.  The  proba- 
bility is,  that  he  made  several  journeys  to  that  country;  at  all 
events,  the  circumstance  of  his  having  been  in  England  at  that 
period,  and  the  hospitality  with  which  he  was  received  by  the 
English  sovereign,  are  the  sole  sources  of  this  feeble  calumny.  A 
youth  of  seventeen  years  of  age,  entering  into  a  conspiracy  as  the 
agent  of  a  foreign  government,  while  at  the  same  time  he  was  with- 
out influence  at  home,  unknown,  and  disregarded,  is  too  ridiculous 
to  be  supposed  for  a  moment. 

As  the  prior  grew  up,  his  antipathy  towards  the  ecclesiastical 
profession  increased,  and  he  seems  to  have  regarded  his  priory 
merely  as  a  temporal  inheritance,  the  principal  concerns  of  it  being 
managed  by  the  sub  prior,  the  celebrated  John  Winram.  He  paid 
no  attention  to  the  synods  of  the  clergy,  in  which  he  held  no  incon- 
siderable place ;  and  he  is  said  still  farther  to  have  manifested  his 
dislike  to  the  life  of  a  priest,  by  his  entertaining  thoughts  of  a  matri- 
monial alliance.  The  heiress  of  Bucban  was  the  lady  chosen,  and 
there  is  a  curious  document  extant — a  mutual  contract  entered  into 
by  the  relations  of  both  parties,  that  the  prior  or  one  of  his  brothers, 
should  fulfil  the  intended  marriage  when  the  lady  was  twelve  years 
of  age. 

In  the  intrigues  which  took  place  between  the  party  of  the  queen- 
mother  and  that  of  the  regent,  to  deprive  him  of  his  office,  the  prior 
seems  to  have  taken  no  concern.  It  is  not  unlikely  that  he  was  in 
France  during  this  period,  for  it  would  appear  that  he  became  recon- 
ciled to  the  French  whom  he  at  first  thought  proper  to  dislike  :  and 
his  near  relationship  to  the  royal  family  gave  him  considerable 
patronage  in  all  their  concerns.  In  addition  to  the  wealthy  priory 
of  St.  Andrew's,  he  acquired  the  priory  of  Pittenweem,  and  several 
other  benefices,  both  at  home  and  abroad.  He  accepted  of  the  rich 
priory  of  Mascon  in  France,  in  commendam,  with  a  dispensation  to 
hold  three  benefices,  notwithstanding  his  illegitimacy  :  and  for  these 
favours  he  took  an  oath  of  fealty  to  pope  Paul  III.  in  1544. 

It  appears  from  the  act  of  council  1555,  that  a  fort  was  com- 
manded to  be  built  at  Kelso,  with  the  view,  perhaps,  of  forming  a 
line  of  strength  along  the  boundaries  of  the  Scottish  kingdom.  For 
this  purpose,  a  tax  of  £20,000  Scots  (about  £1600  Sterling)  was 
imposed,  one  half  of  which  was  to  be  levied  from  the  church.    The 


JAMES   STUART,  EARL  OF   MORAY.  75 

prior  superintended  the  fort ;  and  in  July,  1557,  with  a  force  collected 
chiefly  from  Mid  Lothian,  and  with  a  few  pieces  of  artillery,  he 
made  a  sudden  irruption  into  England,  accompanied  by  his  brother, 
lord  Robert  Stuart,  abbot  of  Ilolyrood-house,  afterwards  earl  of 
Orkney,  and  lord  Home.  But  they  as  suddenly  returned,  without 
performing  any  considerable  achievement,  or  occasioning  any  mate- 
rial damage. 

The  prior,  to  be  relieved  from  all  the  peculiar  restraints  attached 
to  the  clerical  profession,  as  soon  as  the  marriage  of  Mary  with  the 
dauphin  was  celebrated,  solicited  Mary  for  the  earldom  of  Moray. 
The  last  earl,  a  natural  son  of  James  IV.,  by  a  daughter  of  lord 
Kennedy,  had  died  at  the  castle  of  Tarnaway,  on  the  12th  of  June, 
1551,  and  from  the  nature  of  the  Scottish  law,  the  earldom  had 
reverted  to  the  crown.  Its  administration  was  conferred  on  the  earl 
of  Huntly,  who  had  succeeded  cardinal  Beaton,  in  the  office  of  lord 
high  chancellor.  Huntly  was  one  of  the  most  powerful  of  the  north- 
ern chiefs,  and  the  earldom  was  consigned  to  his  charge,  by  a  charter 
dated  13th  February,  1518-9.  He  was,  however,  deprived  some 
time  after  of  the  earldom  ;  but  for  what  cause  cannot  be  ascertained. 
On  the  prior's  application,  Mary,  by  the  advice  of  her  mother, 
refused  the  demand,  advised  him  rather  to  continue  in  the  church, 
and  offered  him  a  bishopric  either  in  France  or  Scotland.  He 
rejected  the  proposal,  and,  offended  at  the  officiousness  of  the  queen 
regent,  from  this,  it  is  said,  though  without  evidence,  proceeded  his 
future  opposition  to  her  government. 

As  soon  as  the  marriage  of  the  queen  with  the  dauphin  was  cele- 
brated, the  French  court  evinced  their  perfidious  intentions,  by 
making  demands  of  a  most  extraordinary  nature.  They  had  first 
allured  the  queen  to  sign  certain  documents,  in  their  nature  subver- 
sive of  Scottish  independence,  and  after  the  rejoicings  were  ended, 
the  commissioners  were  requested  by  the  chancellor  of  France  tc 
deliver  to  the  dauphin  the  regalia  of  Scotland,  that  the  prince  might 
be  crowned  king  of  that  nation.  The  ambassadors  replied,  that  they 
had  received  no  commands  from  the  parliament  respecting  these 
matters. 

The  firm  but  respectful  answer  of  the  prior  and  his  colleagues,  dis- 
covered to  the  French  that  they  would  consent  to  nothing  wliich 
might  tend  to  produce  any  alteration  in  the  order  of  succession  to  the 
crown.  They  were  speedily  dismissed  from  the  court,  and  they  pre-, 
pared  to  embark  for  Scotland,  with  the  pleasing  idea  that  they  had 
not  sacrificed  their  country's  independence.  But,  before  they 
embarked,  four  of  the  commissioners,  and  many  of  their  retinue, 
suddenly  died,  and  it  is  currently  reported,  that  the  French  had 
revenged  themselves  by  administering  poison  to  them.  The  suspicion 
was  the  stronger,  as  there  was  at  that  time  no  pestilential  distemper 
raging  in  the  country  ;  "  and  even  Mezeray,  the  French  historian," 
says  Keith,  "  seems  to  assent  to  the  suspicion  of  poison,  by  the  con- 
trivance of  the  duke  of  Guise  and  his  brother,  lest  these  commis- 
sioners should  put  a  bar  to  their  intended  measures  against  this 
kingdom."  The  prior  of  St.  Andrew's,  it  is  said,  also  tasted  of  the 
same  potion,  and  escaped  deatli  only  from  his  vigorous  constitution. 


76  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

But  the  baneful  effects  produced  a  complaint  to  which  he  ever  after- 
wards was  subject.  Lindsay  of  Pitscottie  says,  "  that  the  physicians 
hung  up  the  prior  by  the  heels,  to  let  the  poison  drop  out  of  him." 

The  remaining  deputies  arrived  safely  at  Montrose,  and  they  imme- 
diately proceeded  to  Edinburgh,  where  a  parliament  was  summoned 
on  the  29th  September,  1558,  and  there  were  assembled  seven  bishops, 
sixteen  abbots,  thirteen  earls,  fifteen  lords,  two  masters,  and  ten  for 
the  boroughs.  Notwithstanding  the  caution  and  reluctance  displayed 
by  the  Scottish  deputies,  the  French  faction,  under  the  influence  of 
the  queen-regent,  ventured  to  move  the  demand  in  parliament.  The 
duke  of  Chatelherault  was  the  next  heir  to  the  crown,  failing  Mary 
and  her  issue.  The  dauphin's  right  being  thus  incomplete,  the 
French  court  made  a  formal  demand,  in  the  name  of  the  dauphin,  for 
the  crown  matrimonial,  or  rather  a  right  to  the  revenues  of  the  queen 
while  she  lived,  and  after  her  decease.  The  parliament  refused,  and 
expressly  limited  his  right  during  the  queen's  life.  The  duke  of 
Chatelherault  protested  in  form  against  the  whole  procedure  ;  but  he, 
as  the  leader  of  a  party,  was  too  feeble  and  irresolute  to  withstand 
the  influence  of  the  queen  regent,  who  had  supplanted  him  in  the 
government.  That  crafty  princess  so  managed  the  whole  affair,  as  to 
make  the  French  demands  seem  of  little  consequence.  The  parlia- 
ment at  once  consented  to  this  dangerous  encroachment  of  power ; 
and  the  prior  of  St.  Andrew's  and  the  earl  of  Argyle  were  deputed 
to  represent  the  nation,  and  to  invest  the  dauphin  with  the  matrimo- 
nial crown.  The  protestants  had  favoured  the  measure,  to  oppose  the 
archbishop  of  St.  Andrew's  and  his  party  ;  while  the  dexterous  man- 
agement of  the  queen-regent  gave  her  an  influence  in  the  parliament 
which  she  would  not  otherwise  have  possessed. 

The  queen-regent  had  succeeded  in  her  plans  to  the  utmost  of  her 
wishes,  and  she  had  now  no  motives  to  interest  her  in  the  protest- 
ants, who  had  cordially  joined  her  in  Mary's  marriage,  in  opposition 
to  the  designs  of  Chatelherault  and  the  Hamilton  party.  The  prior 
and  Argyle,  though  they  were  deputed  to  invest  the  dauphin  with 
the  crown-matrimonial,  never  went  on  their  embassy. 

The  Reformation  had  made  a  rapid  progress  in  Scotland  after  the 
murder  of  cardinal  Beaton,  and  the  more  frequent  intercourse  with 
England  tended  very  much  to  its  extension.  The  reformers  were 
everywhere  opposed  by  the  church  and  by  the  state ;  and  the  queen- 
regent  now  endeavoured  to  destroy  a  party  whose  friendship  she  had 
carefully  cultivated,  till  she  had  accomplished  her  secret  purposes. 
The  reformers  formed  an  association,  which  is  known  in  history  by 
the  name  of  the  Congregation.  They  firmly  remonstrated  against 
the  tyranny  and  oppression  of  the  clergy  ;  the  abuses  of  the  church, 
the  whole  fabric  of  superstition.  Matters  were  approaching  to  a 
crisis,  and  the  nation  was  divided  into  two  great  parties,  between 
which  there  was  nothing  but  open  warfare. 

It  was  at  Perth  the  queen-regent  feared  the  hazard  of  a  battle  with 
men  whose  religious  fervour  made  them  superior  to  fear.  She  had 
recourse  to  negotiation.  The  prior  was  in  her  army,  and,  though  he 
had  not  forgotten  her  officiousness  when  he  was  refused  the  earldom 
of  Moray,  and  was  disposed  to  favour  a  cause  for  which  he  had  dis- 


JAMES    STUART,    EARL   OF   MORAY  77 

covered  an  early  predilection,  lie  continued  with  her,  probably  from 
scrupulous  notions  of  allegiance,  and  in  the  hope  that  he  might  be 
able  to  serve  his  friends  by  moderate  counsel.  lie  was  sent,  along 
with  the  earl  of  Argyle  and  lord  Semple,  to  inquire  whether  the  con- 
federates intended  actually  to  rebel.  The  reforming  lords  returned 
an  unsatisfactory  answer.  The  queen  then  summoned  them  to  sur- 
render and  disperse  under  pain  of  treason.  They  replied  to  the 
Lyon-herald,  that  they  had  convened  to  deliver  the  town  from  the 
tyranny  of  the  regent ;  but  if  she  would  permit  them  the  free  exer- 
cise of  their  religion,  they  and  all  their  followers  would  instantly 
depart  at  her  command.  Another  conference  was  held  ;  and,  in  the 
meantime,  Glencairn  arrived,  having  marched  his  army  day  and 
night  through  the  most  rugged  and  almost  impassable  defiles,  and 
having  with  great  sagacity  eluded  various  detachments  of  the  royal 
troops  sent  out  to  intercept  him.  The  regent  soon  got  notice  of  his 
approach.  She  had  now  to  contend  with  7000  men,  animated  by  the 
most,  powerful  religious  enthusiasm,  and  whose  attack  she  feared 
would  be  irresistible.  She  knew  well,  that  if  she  hazarded  a  battle, 
and  was  defeated,  her  power  and  the  church  would  receive  a  deadly 
blow.  Again  the  prior,  Argyle,  and  the  abbot  of  Kilwinning,  were 
sent  to  negotiate.  They  were  met  by  Glencairn,  Erskine  of  Dun, 
John  Knox,  and  John  Willox,  another  preacher.  Knox  bitterly 
reproached  the  prior  and  his  friends  for  not  joining  the  congregation  ; 
accusing  them  of  infidelity  because  they  took  no  part  with  them, 
when  it  was  well  known  that  they  countenanced  their  proceedings. 
This  they  acknowledged  to  be  true ;  but  they  said  that  they  had 
promised  to  the  regent  to  attempt  a  reconciliation,  and  they  would 
not  falsify  their  honour  ;  adding,  however,  that  if  the  regent  kept  not 
the  proposed  treaty,  they  would  desert  her  without  fail.  An  agree- 
ment was  made,  she  was  put  in  possession  of  the  town,  and  the  con- 
federates dispersed,  after  having  been  edified  by  a  sermon  from 
Knox,  of  no  ordinary  length  and  vehemence.  Although,  however, 
he  was  pacific  in  the  midst  of  his  rhetoric,  he  procured  a  new  asso- 
ciating bond  to  be  drawn  out  before  their  dispersion,  as  he  was 
assured,  he  said,  that  no  part  of  the  queen's  promise  would  be  long 
kept.  This  bond  is  known  in  history  by  the  name  of  the  "  second 
covenant,"  and  was  solemnly  signed  by  the  prior  and  Argyle,  though 
they  still  remained  with  the  queen,  by  Glencairn,  lord  Boyd,  lord 
Ochiltree,  and  Matthew  Campbell,  in  the  name  of  the  whole  confed- 
erates. 

Knox's  assertions  were  too  soon  verified.  In  two  days  all  the 
regent's  promises  were  broken.  She  entered  the  town,  garrisoned  it 
with  French  soldiers,  and  fined  or  banished  the  inhabitants.  The 
civil  authorities  were  deposed  and  others  elected  friendly  to  the 
church.  Then  for  the  first  time  she  was  deserted  by  the  prior.  He 
immediately  joined  the  congregation,  to  whom  he  was  no  small 
acquisition.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  the  increase  of  the  congrega- 
tion had  the  usual  character  of  popular  commotion.  Forgetting  all 
moderation  to  those  who  believed  not  as  themselves,  they  marched  in 
triumph  through  Fife,  committing  excesses  which,  though  the  reac- 


78  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

tion  of  the  tyranny  they  had  endured,  disgraced  the  sacred  cause  in 
which  they  were  associated. 

On  the  11th  of  June,  1560,  the  regent  died.  Her  death,  which 
was  peaceful  and  affecting,  made  little  impression  on  either  party. 
After  her  decease,  a  temporary  government  was  settled.  In  August, 
1560,  the  celebrated  parliament  met  which  established  the  Reforma- 
tion, and  in  it  the  prior  was  appointed  one  of  the  lords  of  the 
Articles. 

He  was  one  of  the  chief  actors  in  the  war  carried  on  between  the 
confederated  reformers  and  the  queen-regent.  But  while  he  and  his 
friends  were  employed  in  strengthening  their  cause — while  they  were 
still  in  suspense,  dreading  unforeseen  distractions  and  calamities, 
filled  with  alarm  (notwithstanding  their  exultation  in  the  overthrow 
of  popery  and  the  countenance  of  Elizabeth)  that  the  popish  party 
were  not  altogether  annihilated,  and  that  their  resources  could  not 
save  them  from  domestic  strife,  or  the  attacks  of  their  powerful 
enemies — in  consequence  of  the  death  of  Francis  I.  of  France,  other 
political  objects  were  developed  :  the  tie  which  united  France  and 
Scotland  was  now  completely  broken. 

No  sooner  was  the  death  of  Francis,  Mary's  husband,  known  in 
Scotland,  than  a  council  of  the  nobility  was  appointed  to  be  held  at 
Edinburgh,  on  the  15th  of  January,  1561.  The  council  met,  accord- 
ing to  appointment ;  they  were  all,  of  course,  protestants,  who,  in  the 
parliament  of  the  former  year,  had  achieved  the  downfall  of  the 
popish  hierarchy.  After  some  deliberation,  lord  James  Stuart,  prior 
of  St.  Andrew's,  the  queen's  brother,  was  commissioned  to  repair  to 
France,  and  to  persuade  the  queen  to  return  to  her  own  kingdom. 
The  prior  complied,  but  he  was  particularly  cautioned  by  the 
reformers  as  to  his  negociations  on  the  catholic  worship.  They 
enjoined  him,  after  he  had  condoled  with  his  sister,  to  declare  to  her, 
that  the  performance  of  the  mass  could  not  be  tolerated  in  the  king- 
dom, either  in  public  or  in  private  ;  and  they  took  care  to  make  him 
sensible,  that  if  he  did  consent,  he  would  betray  the  cause  of  God, 
and  expose  religion  to  the  utmost  danger.  The  prior,  however, 
although  he  was  zealous  enough  in  the  cause  of  the  Reformation,  was 
by  no  means  inclined  to  act  so  honestly,  as  to  offend  his  sovereign  by 
presuming  to  dictate  to  her.  His  reply  to  this  injunction  was  short 
but  expressive.  "  I  shall  never  consent,"  said  he,  "  that  mass  shall 
be  performed  in  public ;  but  if  the  queen  wishes  to  have  it  done  in 
her  own  apartment,  who  will  dare  to  prohibit  her?" 

The  answer  of  the  prior  was  perfectly  consistent  with  the  indis- 
putable right  of  every  human  being  to  worship  God  according  to  the 
dictates  of  conscience.  But  as  the  exercise  of  any  office  in  a  state, 
supposes  certain  duties  to  be  performed,  and  failing  in  performance, 
an  individual  is  not  eligible  for  such  office  :  it  therefore  became 
necessary,  as  the  ruler  of  a  reformed  nation,  and  for  the  protection 
of  the  rights  of  her  subjects,  that  the  queen  should  cease  to  make 
profession  of  the  ancient  faith.  It  was  indeed  a  most  unpropitious 
prospect  held  out  to  Mary,  on  her  return  to  her  native  land  ;  and 
Knox  and  his  friends  seem  not  to  have  relished  the  answer  of  the 
prior.     In  the  ir>"  <jin  of  his  "  Historie,"  the  reader  is  told  to  "  note 


JAMES  STUART,  EARL  OF  MORAY.  79 

the  liberality  of  the  earle  Murray,"  and  to  "  note  this  diligently  ;"' 
and  the  reformer,  after  narrating  the  circumstance,  abruptly  says, 
"  The  danger  was  shown,  and  so  he  [the  prior]  departed." 

The  papists,  likewise,  as  if  not  to  be  outdone  by  their  enemies  in 
professions  of  loyalty  to  their  sovereign,  despatched  an  able  commis- 
sioner to  France.  The  celebrated  and  learned  John  Leslie,  the  his- 
torian, and  afterwards  bishop  of  Ross,  was  appointed  to  represent 
Mary's  catholic  subjects  ;  to  assure  her  of  their  respect  and  loyal 
affection,  and  to  warn  her  against  the  prior's  insinuating  manners,  as 
his  sole  intention,  according  to  their  political  foresight,  was  to  seize 
the  government. 

Both  these  ambassadors  left  Scotland  at  the  same  time,  and  took 
different  routes.  Leslie,  who  was  vicar-general  and  official  of  Aber- 
deen, sailed  directly  from  that  city:  the  prior,  with  a  retinue  uncom- 
monly numerous,  departed  from  Edinburgh,  with  the  intention  to 
proceed  through  England,  and  accomplish  the  journey  by  land. 
Having  some  business,  either  of  a  public  or  a  private  nature,  to 
transact  at  the  English  court,  he  was  honourably  received  and  enter- 
tained by  Elizabeth  ;  and  of  this  circumstance,  as  we  shall  presently 
see,  his  enemies'  have  unfairly  taken  advantage.  Both  ambassadors, 
however,  wishing  to  get  the  start  of  each  other,  made  all  possible 
despatch  ;  but  Leslie,  who  was  a  man  of  prudence  and  address,  hav- 
ing anticipated  the  prior,  arrived  the  day  before  his  opponent ;  and, 
finding  Mary  at  Vitry,  in  Champagne,  there  tendered  to  her  his 
homage.  Mary  received  the  ecclesiastic  with  dignity  and  respect, 
and  Leslie  immediately  unfolded  to  her  the  nature  of  his  embassy. 
He  explained  to  the  queen  in  glowing  language  the  secret  ambition 
of  the  prior  her  natural  brother,  that  his  great  object  was  to  seize 
the  crown, — he  warned  her  against  his  insidious  eloquence  and 
deceitful  proposals,  because  he  had  resolved  to  dissuade  her  from 
bringing  French  soldiers  into  Scotland,  by  which  he  would  be 
enabled  to  strike  a  fatal  and  irrecoverable  blow  against  the  catholic 
religion  :  he  declared  to  her,  that  the  prior  supported  the  opinions 
of  the  protestants,  not  because  he  cared  for  them,  but  because  he 
could  render  the  protestants  subservient  to  his  ambition, — that  the 
whole  of  the  prior's  conduct  was  merely  political, — that  he  wished, 
from  motives  of  policy,  to  extirpate  the  Roman  Catholic  religion  out 
of  the  kingdom,  as  to  it  he  had  uniformly  displayed  the  most  invet- 
erate hostility, — that  his  only  desire  was  to  rise  to  power  and  mag- 
nificence, and  that  his  ambitious  eyes  wTere  already  fixed  on  the 
crown  and  sceptre, — and  he  (Leslie)  therefore  advised  the  queen  to 
procure  the  prior's  confinement  in  France,  as  consistent  with  her 
own  security,  until  she  had  re-established  the  ancient  order  of  church 
and  state  in  her  kingdom  ;  but  if  she  was  averse  to  this  measure,  he 
advised  her  to  comply  with  the  advice  of  her  loyal  friends,  and  not 
to  trust  herself  among  the  reformers,  especially  among  thu.-e  with 
whom  the  late  rebellion  had  originated,  but  to  land  in  the  north  of 
Scotland,  where  she  would  find  an  army  of  twenty  thousand  men, 
with  the  earl  of  Huntly  and  other  noblemen  at  their  head,  ready  to 
escort  her  to  Edinburgh. 

The  prior  arrived  the  following  day,  and  was  introduced  to  his 


80  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

sister  at  St.  Dizier  in  the  neighborhood  of  Yitry.  He  was  soon 
informed  of  the  conversation  between  her  and  Leslie,  bnt  he  had  suf- 
ficient command  over  himself  to  treat  it  with  neglect.  He  knew 
well  that  many  had  attempted  to  prejudice  Mary's  mind  towards 
him,  and  though  he  had  good  cause  to  be  exasperated  at  Leslie's 
advice  to  put  him  in  confinement,  he  nevertheless  conducted  himself 
with  his  wonted  prudence.  Mary  received  her  brother  with  the 
utmost  apparent  kindness  ;  and,  though  he  had  lost  her  favour  during 
the  life  of  her  husband  for  his  conduct  in  the  reformed  cause,  she 
felt  it  prudent  to  show  no  appearance  of  resentment.  Though  the 
prior  took  no  notice  of  Leslie's  counsels,  yet  they  prompted  him  to 
act  with  more  decision.  He  informed  her,  that  nothing  was  more 
ardently  desired  by  her  subjects,  than  her  return  to  her  own  kingdom 
— that  she  needed  no  foreign  aid  ;  for  she  would  find  the  nation 
willing  and  obedient — that  she  would  be  supported  on  her  throne  by 
the  best  defence,  the  affections  of  her  subjects,  who,  he  well  knew, 
would  receive  her  in  the  most  affectionate  manner — that  the  great 
object  she  ought  to  have  in  view  was  the  national  welfare,  and  the 
preservation  of  that  tranquillity  which  had  so  lately  been  restored. 
He  also  informed  her,  that  a  standing  army  and  foreign  troops  were 
utterly  obnoxious  to  the  genius  and  disposition  of  the  nation — that 
"  these  expedients,  at  all  times  dangerous,  would,  in  the  present  situ- 
ation of  affairs,  excite  the  most  dangerous  commotions — that  it  was 
by  far  more  prudent  to  confide  in  the  generosity  of  her  people ;  and 
he  therefore  entreated  her  to  revisit  them  without  guards  and  with- 
out soldiers,  and  he  became  solemnly  bound  to  secure  to  her  their 
obedience."  Mary  heard  the  prior  throughout  with  the  utmost  atten- 
tion ;  and  trusting  to  his  apparent  sincerity,  she  tenderly  embraced 
him,  and  committed  herself  to  his  counsels. 

Pleased  with  the  prior,  and  feeling  towards  him  the  affection  of  a 
sister,  the  young  and  enthusiastic  Mary  confided  in  his  professions, 
conscious  of  the  rectitude  of  her  own  mind ;  and  happy  indeed 
would  it  have  been  for  her,  had  she  suffered  herself  to  have  been 
implicitly  guided  by  his  counsels  in  after  life.  She  displayed  all  the 
affection  which  the  prior  could  wish,  nor  were  his  professions  of 
regard  and  attachment  wanting  in  return.  Accompanying  her  to 
Joinville,  he  cultivated  still  farther  her  kindness  and  favour,  and  he 
again  renewed  his  application  for  the  earldom  of  Moray,  which  had 
lain  dormant  since  the  death  of  the  last  earl,  a  son  of  James  IV., 
and  which  had  been  previously  refused  him  during  the  life  of  the 
queen-regent,  who  feared  his  ambition,  and  dreaded  his  talents  and 
address.  Mary  either  gave  him  her  promise,  or  told  him  that  it 
would  be  considered  on  her  arrival  in  Scotland.  Nevertheless,  he 
was  gratified  by  her  flattering  reception,  and  he  now  began  to  enter- 
tain thoughts  of  returning  home,  that  he  might  prepare  the  nation 
to  receive  their  sovereign. 

The  prior  attended  the  queen,  in  the  preparations  for  her  voyage, 
to  Joinville,  a  seat  belonging  to  the  house  of  Guise,  and  after 
remaining  there  a  short  time,  he  returned  home,  taking  his  route 
through  England.  He  was  undoubtedly  unpopular  in  Paris  ;  for  the 
catholics  had  not  forgotten  his  opposition  to  the  regent,  and  the  con- 


JAMES    STUART,    EARL   OF   MORAY.  81 

spicuotis  part  he  had  sustained  in  the  destruction  of  the  Romish 
hierarchy  in  Scotland. 

The  prior  left  Mary  before  her  embarkation,  and  proceeded  home 
through  England,  with  the  intention,  as  Knox  has  it,  of  preparing 
Mary's  subjects  to  receive  her  with  affection.     While  in  England, 
the  prior  saw  Elizabeth  and  her  ministers;  and  this  has  given  occa- 
sion to  his  enemies  to  vilify  him  without  measure.     We  are  gravely 
told  by  many  historians,  that  the  anxiety  of  Elizabeth  to  intercept 
Mary  originated  in  the  advice  of  the  prior  and  Mai tl and  of  Lething- 
ton, — that  the   English   fleet  was  sent  out  by  their  advice,   "  for 
James  the  bastard,"   says   Stranguage,   "  very  lately   returned  by 
England,  had  secretly  advised  queen  Elizabeth  to  take  Mary  by 
the  way,  if  she  (Elizabeth)  had  a   desire   to   provide   for  her  reli- 
gion   and    her    own   security ;   and    Lethington,   being  glad   that 
D'Ossel   was  detained  in  England,  persuaded   it   also."     Camden, 
too,  writes  in  the  same  strain,  as  do  various  other  authors  ;  and  truly, 
were  it  possible  to  believe  that  the  prior  suggested  this  scheme,  "  he 
would  deservedly  be  regarded  as  having  been  one  of  the  basest  and 
most  unprincipled  of  men."     But  it  must  be  remarked  that  there  is 
not  the  least  shadow  of  even  circumstantial  evidence  to  support  the 
charge ;    and,  without  evidence   of  the   most  satisfactory   and   un- 
doubted nature,  it  would  be  absurd  and  ridiculous  to  believe  it. 
Goodall,  indeed,  dogmatically  and  firmly  asserts  it ;  but  so  superfi- 
cial and  irrelevant  are  his  authorities  and  observations,  and  to  so 
great  a  degree  does  he  carry  his  hatred  towards  the  prior,  in  order 
to  establish  his  own  extravagant  hypothesis,  that  all  his  assertions 
must  go  for  nothing.     The  truth  is,  even  granting  that  the  prior  was 
crafty  and  ambitious,  which  he  undoubtedly  was,  notwithstanding  his 
patriotism,  he  had  at  this  time  no  motive  to  induce  him  to  such  a 
procedure,  or  thus  to  have  acted  the  part  of  a  vile  and  unnatural 
traitor.     He  had  just  been  in  France,  and  had  conferred  with  the 
queen  his  sister, — he  had  made  the  most  solemn  declarations  of 
loyalty,  and  had  been  received  with  the  utmost  favour, — he  had  the 
assurance  that  Mary  would  be  guided  by  his  counsels,  and  even  that 
he  would  be  raised  to  the  helm  of  government ;  it  was  not,  in  truth, 
his  interest  that  Mary  should  be   intercepted,  as  all  his  hopes  and 
projects  would  have  been  annihilated, — the  country  would  have  been 
rent  by  factions, — and  the  humble  and  solitary  voice  of  the  prior, 
aided  though  he  might  have  been  even  by  all  the  zealous  rhetoric 
of  the  reformers,  would  have  been  put  to  silence  by  the  more  power- 
ful and  adventurous  nobles,  with  the  turbulent  Chatelherault  and  the 
powerful  house  of  Hamilton  at  their  head.     His  ambition,  indeed, 
could  not  have  been  gratified  in  anyway.     It  is  insinuated  that  he 
aspired  to  the  crown,  and  that  this  was  the  motive  which  induced 
him  thus  to  counsel  Elizabeth.     But,  granting  this  for  a  moment, 
what  follows  ?     Either  the  prior  must  have  been  a  fool  or  a  miserable 
politician,  with  neither  of  which  characters  his  enemies  have  charged 
him.     He  could  not  obtain  the  crown  during  the  life  of  his  sister, 
even  though  she  had  been  closely  confined  by  Elizabeth  ;  the  right 
of  succession  could  not  be  altered,  especially  when  Mary  had  done 
nothing  to  cause  such  an  act ;  nor  could  Elizabeth  inflict  death  on 
6 


82  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

Mary,  when  the  only  thing  alleged  against  the  Scottish  qneen  was 
her  refusal  to  ratify  the  treaty  of  Edinburgh.  It  is  evident,  we 
think,  from  the  whole  aspect  of  the  times,  that  the  interception  of 
the  queen  would  have  completely  ruined  the  prior's  interest,  and 
that  his  enemies  have  merely  laid  hold  of  the  fact  of  his  passing 
through  England  on  his  return  home,  to  fasten  on  him  the  whole 
odium  of  Elizabeth's  procedure. 

In  her  zeal  for  the  due  administration  of  the  laws,  Mary  advanced 
the  .prior  to  be  lord-lieutenant  and  chief  justiciary.  The  borders 
were  in  a  state  of  turbulence,  and  thither  the  prior  directed  an  expe- 
dition in  person.  Two  criminal  courts  were  held  by  him,  the  one 
at  Jedburgh,  the  other  at  Dumfries,  and  the  military  retainers  from 
no  less  than  eleven  counties  were  commanded  to  attend  him  at  the 
former  town,  and  to  remain  there  for  twenty  days.  The  borders,  in 
those  days,  were  infested  by  armed  banditti,  who  committed  the 
most  lawless  depredations,  and  whom  success  had  made  insolent 
and  intolerable.  Far  removed  from  the  insolence  of  the  two  courts, 
dwelling  on  the  debateable  ground,  which  had  been  the  scene  of 
many  a  strife  of  death  in  preceding  ages,  the  inhabitants  associated 
together  in  feudal  dependencies,  under  leaders  ferocious,  barbarous, 
and  ungovernable.  Attacking  their  enemies  when  they  pleased, 
they  subsisted  entirely  by  rapine  and  robbery ;  nor  did  they  ever 
retreat  from  the  objects  of  their  attack  without  leaving  terrible 
marks  of  their  inroads  and  devastations.  To  restrain  such  free- 
booters was  a  matter  of  no  small  importance  ;  more  especially  as, 
from  their  knowledge  of  the  country,  they  could  retreat  to  the  fast- 
nesses, and  at  least  for  a  time  elude  the  vigilance  of  justice.  The 
military  skill  of  the  prior  was  profound,  his  courage  in  high  esteem, 
and  the  prudence  which  he  had  uniformly  displayed  in  all  his  war- 
like operations,  had  ensured  to  him  a  boundless  popularity.  In 
order  that  he  might  be  assisted  against  the  border  banditti,  a  strong 
military  force  was  ordered  to  attend  him,  raised  from  the  above 
number  of  counties  ;  for  as  yet  the  advantages  of  a  standing  army 
were  unknown.  In  this  expedition  his  success  corresponded  to  his 
abilities,  and  his  administration  of  justice  was  most  severe.  He 
destroyed  many  of  the  strongholds  of  the  freebooters ;  he  executed 
twenty  of  the  most  notorious  offenders,  and  sent  fifty  more  to  the 
capital,  to  undergo  the  punishments  of  the  law.  At  Kelso,  he  had 
a  conference  with  the  English  wardens,  lord  Grey  and  Sir  John 
Foster;  and  they  mutually  made  some  salutary  regulations  for  the 
preservation  of  the  public  tranquillity. 

The  prior  was  doubtless  the  great  leader  of  the  reformers,  and  his 
presence  and  influence  were  powerful  checks  to  the  fallen  ecclesias- 
tics. The  distinguished  share  which  he  had  taken  in  the  wars  of  the 
congregation,  and  the  opposition  which  he  had  shown  to  the  arbi- 
trary encroachments  of  the  civil  government,  early  distinguished  him 
as  a  popular  leader,  and  he  had  secured  the  universal  applause  of 
the  people.  It  has  been  said,  or  insinuated,  on  the  authority  of 
various  partial  historians,  that  his  commission  to  quell  the  border 
tumults  was  appointed  by  the  queen,  in  the  hope  that  he  might  there 
fall  a  sacrifice  to  his  bravery  ;  but  no  part  of  Mary's  conduct  just! 


JAMES    STUART,  EARL  OF  MORAY".  33. 

fies  such  an  insinuation.  It  is,  however,  certain,  that,  though  the 
queen  had  no  object  to  serve  by  such  a  design,  as  the  very  man 
would  have  been  destroyed  in  whom  she  placed  the  greatest  confi- 
dence ;  yet  the  prior's  virulent  enemies,  the  catholics,  would  have 
heartily  rejoiced  had  such  a  calamity  befallen  him.  This  is  evident 
from  the  tact,  that  his  absence  on  his  commission  afforded  some 
encouragement  to  the  ecclesiastics.  His  presence  about  the  queen's 
person  had  retarded  them  in  their  insidious  designs  ;  but  no  sooner 
was  it  known  that  their  enemy  was  on  the  borders,  than  the  arch- 
bishop of  St.  Andrew's,  the  bishops  of  Caithness  and  Dunblane,  with 
other  zealous  adherents  of  the  catholic  faction,  hastened  to  Edin- 
burgh. Leslie,  bishop  of  Ross,  was  already  there,  and  he  was  the 
well-known  agent  of  the  French  interest ;  he  had  advertised  his 
ecclesiastical  brethren  of  the  favourable  opportunity,  which  he 
better  knew,  because  he  had  been  recently  elected  one  of  the  new 
council.  The  greatest  hopes  of  the  prelates  were  placed  in  Mary's 
known  attachment  to  the  popish  superstition  ;  yet  they  feared,  from 
her  connexion  with  the  protestants,  and  from  the  influence  which 
the  prior  had  over  her  mind,  that  she  might  at  least  be  induced  to 
give  up  the  celebration  of  that  indispensable  part  of  the  popish 
ritual,  the  mass.  But  though  the  prior  was  absent,  he  did  not  want 
an  indefatigable  auxiliary  and  substitute  to  watch  over  the  interests 
of  the  Reformation.  Knox  had  entertained  suspicions  of  the  queen 
from  her  arrival,  which  had  been  farther  confirmed  by  the  audience 
she  condescended  to  give  him  when  he  delivered  his  opinion  "  that 
her  conversion  was  hopeless," — and  it  was  his  constant  theme  to 
declaim  against  her  motives  and  actions.  As  his  influence  was 
almost  unbounded,  his  success  was  equal  to  that  influence.  Preaching 
against  idolatry  was  his  forte  ;  and  by  his  rhetoric  the  people  began 
seriously  to  doubt  whether  they  ought  to  pay  allegiance  to  a  princess 
whom  they  conceived  to  be  an  idolater;  and  the  more  obscure 
preachers,  imitating  the  example  of  their  leader,  circulated  his 
sentiments  and  phraseology  over  the  kingdom,  and  excited  the 
popular  distrust  and  dissatisfaction.  Those  symptoms  escaped  not 
the  penetrating  eye  of  Randolph,  the  English  resident.  He  thus 
writes  to  secretary  Cecil : — "  It  is  now  called  in  question  whether 
the  princess,  being  an  idolater,  may  be  obeyed  in  all  civil  and  jjolitic 
actions.  I  think  marvellously  of  the  wisdom  of  God,  that  gave  this 
unruly,  inconstant,  and  cumbersome  people  no  more  substance  and 
power  than  they  have ;  for  then  they  would  run  wild." 

The  prior  had  now  acquired  an  almost  unprecedented  degree  of 
popularity.  Entitled  to  the  respect  and  friendship  of  the  queen,  on 
account  of  his  eminent  abilities,  and  to  her  gratitude  for  his  public 
services  and  the  salutary  tendencies  of  his  counsels,  and  having  dis- 
charged his  duty  on  the  borders  with  the  utmost  applause  and  dili- 
gence, as  lord-lieutenant,  Mary  began  to  think  of  rewarding  him  on 
his  resignation  of  that  office,  and  of  conferring  on  him  a  distinguish- 
ing mark  of  her  favour.  Accordingly,  as  he  had  alwaj's  manifested 
a  repugnance  to  the  ecclesiastical  life,  he  was  promoted  to  the  dig- 
nity and  earldom  of  Mar. 

About  this  period,  also,  the  prior  formed  a  matrimonial  alliance, 


84  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

and  he  was  publicly  married  in  the  church  of  St.  Giles,  to  lady 
Agnes  Keith,  a  daughter  of  the  earl  marischall.  "We  are  told  by  Knox 
in  his  history,  that  after  the  ceremony  was  performed  (of  course  in  the 
reformed  manner),  he  was  addressed  by  the  preacher  to  the  following 
effect : — "  Sir,  the  church  of  God  hath  received  comfort  by  you  and 
by  your  labour,  unto  this  day ;  if  you  prove  more  faint  therein 
afterwards,  it  will  be  said  that  your  wife  hath  changed  your  nature." 
The  fears  of  the  preachers  were  almost  realized  on  this  occasion;  for 
the  marriage  was  celebrated  with  such  a  splendour  and  magni- 
ficence, as  aroused  all  their  religious  apprehensions.  They  actually 
dreaded  that  some  avenging  judgment  or  calamity  would  afflict  the 
land.  The  utmost  clamour  was  raised  against  the  prior's  riotous 
feasting  and  banquets  ;  but  their  bitterness  was  still  greater  towards 
the  masquerades,  with  which  he  amused  his  friends,  as  being  till 
that  time  unknown  in  Scotland  ;  and,  as  they  seemed  to  the 
preachers  to  encourage  gallantry  and  licentiousness,  against  them* 
the  severest  language  of  indignation  was  directed. 

The  well-known  talents  of  the  prior,  now  earl  of  Mar ;  the  in- 
fluence he  possessed  in  the  state,  as  the  confidential  minister  of  the 
queen ;  the  honours  which  he  ,had  received,  and  his  general  con- 
duct, had  drawn  upon  him  a  framber  of  enemies — men  who  beheld 
his  exaltation  with  the  utmost  suspicion,  and  who  secretly  deter- 
mined to  effect  his  ruin.  The  age  was  distinguished  by  its  turbu- 
lence, aggravated  by  fierce  disputes  about  religion ;  and,  as  the 
feudal  system  at  that  time  prevailed  to  the  utmost  extent,  the  here- 
ditary animosities,  which  had  been  long  fostered  among  the  most 
powerful  families,  operated  from  the  chief  to  the  most  insignificant 
of  his  retainers,  and  ever  and  anon  broke  out  with  violence,  as 
circumstances  seemed  favourable.  The  Scottish  nobility  were  gene- 
rally ambitious,  factious,  and  fickle ;  and  by  them  the  earl  of  Mar 
was  beheld  with  secret  hatred.  And  so  savage  and  barbarous  was 
the  age — an  age  in  which  every  man  almost  did  that  which  was 
right  in  his  own  eyes — that  even  the  nobles,  who,  from  their  station, 
ought  to  have  disdained  such  dastardly  revenge,  were  so  far  hurried 
along  by  their  violent  passions,  as  without  scruple  to  despatch  their 
enemies  by  the  dagger,  when  an  opportunity  of  assassination  was 
afforded. 

The  most  formidable  of  Mar's  enemies,  and  the  most  desperate, 
was  the  earl  of  Huntly.  This  powerful  chieftain  had  a  most  exten- 
sive influence  in  the  Highlands, — his  followers  were  savage,  and. 
like  himself,  adventurous  and  daring.  Already  had  Huntly  signal- 
ized himself  by  various  achievements,  and  his  untameable  spiriv 
pervaded  all  his  dependents.  In  fact,  they  seem  to  have  been 
a  kind  of  recognized  banditti,  subsisting  wholly  by  warfare,  attacks 
on  their  neighbours,  and  predatory  incursions  into  the  territories  of 
those  who  had  been  so  unfortunate  as  to  incur  the  displeasure  of 
their  chief. 

The  earl  of  Mar,  while  he  was  prior,  and  the  earl  of  Huntly,  had 
been  rivals  for  power ;  and  during  this  contention,  mutual  disgusts 
had  arisen  between  them.  They  were  not  less  opposed  to  each 
other  in  politics  than  in  religion.    Mar  was  the  avowed  leader  and 


„^xviES    STUART,   EARL  OF   MORAY.  85 

supporter  of  the  reformers  ;  Huntly  was  the  head  of  their  enemies, 
the  papists.  It  will  be  recollected,  that,  on  the  death  of  Francis — 
when  Mary,  seeing  she  could  not  support  her  influence  in  France  as 
a  dowager,  had  resolved  to  revisit  her  native  kingdom — Leslie, 
afterwards  bishop  of  Ross,  had  been  appointed  by  the  Scottish 
catholics  as  their  representative ;  while  the  prior  appeared  in  his 
own  person  on  the  part  of  the  protestants.  The  counsel  of  the  prior 
was  preferred,  and  hence  began  Huntly's  jealousy  and  disstisfaction. 
He  and  his  faction  had  offered  to  support  Mary  with  20,000  men,  if 
she  would  land  among  them;  but  his  offer  was  rejected.  He  had 
advised  her  to  detain  the  prior  in  France  as  a  prisoner,  as  his 
influence  and  talents  were  dangerous  to  the  state ;  and  this  advice 
was  not  only  disregarded,  but  he  had  the  mortification  to  see  his 
rival  caressed  and  honoured.  Even  after  Mary's  arrival,  he  had 
proffered  his  services  to  establish  the  ancient  church  ;  and  he 
had  conversed  with  her  bigoted  uncles  on  the  subject,  yet  he  was 
disregarded.  At  the  royal  palace  he  was  treated  only  with  civility ; 
and,  although  he  was  chancellor,  he  possessed  neither  influence  nor 
confidence.  Every  thing  was,  in  his  opinion,  engrossed  by  his 
rival ;  disdain  and  contempt,  he  clearly  foresaw,  were  all  he  could 
expect  as  long  as  the  earl  of  Mar  prevailed.  These  neglects  and 
mortifications  were  too  great  for  a  man  such  as  Huntly — of  illus- 
trious birth,  boundless  ambition,  vast  wealth,  and  powerful  resources. 
But  he  was  to  feel  other  humiliations,  at  once  destructive  of  all  his 
authority,  his  consequence,  and,  in  his  opinion,  of  his  very  family 
and  name. 

The  prior,  as  we  have  just  observed,  had  been  rewarded  with  the 
dignity  of  earl  of  Mar,  on  account  of  his  conduct  in  his  border 
expedition.  With  this  dignity,  however,  he  was  far  from  being 
content.  Lord  Erskine,  with  whom  he  was  most  intimately  con- 
nected by  his  mother,  claimed  the  territory  of  Mar  as  his  own 
peculiar  property  ;  and  the  prior's  favourite  object  had  been  the 
earldom  of  Moray.  Erskine  advanced  his  claim,  and  though  there 
was  no  authority  for  his  immediate  right — for  he  acquired  not  the 
property  till  some  years  afterwards — his  claim  was  received.  The 
prior  resigned  that  earldom  to  his  mother's  house ;  and,  not  many 
months  after  his  first  advancement  as  earl  of  Mar,  the  queen 
gratified  the  wish  which  he  had  never  lost  sight  of,  by  conferring 
on  him  the  earldom  of  Moray.  As  by  this  title  he  is  best  known 
in  history,  we  henceforth,  of  course,  designate  him  as  the  earl  of 
Moray. 

We  have  said  that  Moray  had  a  number  of  enemies.  His  pro- 
ceedings, his  encouragement  of  the  Reformation,  and  his  talents, 
had  made  him  so  obnoxious,  that  repeated  conspiracies  were  formed 
to  assassinate  him.  The  licentious  Bothwell  and  the  earl  of  Arran 
had  resolved,  as  we  shall  presently  see,  to  murder  Moray  the  very 
first  opportunity,  on  account  of  some  personal  injuries  either  real  or 
imaginary.  Bothwell  undertook  to  pepetrate  this  villany,  while 
Moray  was  with  the  queen  at  Falkland ;  and  it  would  have  been 
executed,  had  not  the  earl  of  Arran,  detesting  such  a  deed,  sent 
a  letter  privately  to  Moray,  discovering   the  whole  conspiracy,  and 


86  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

thus  he  escaped  the  meditated  evil.  Bothwell  fled  from  justice  into 
France.  Moray's  elevation,  however,  now  made  him  more  envied, 
and  his  enemies  secretly  resolved  to  destroy  a  man  before  whom 
they  felt  awe  and  humiliation. 

Huntly  beheld,  with  the  most  impatient  indignation,  the  advance- 
ment of  his  dreaded  and  detested  rival ;  and  he  at  last  reasoned  him- 
self into  the  belief,  that  a  design  had  been  entered  into  at  court, 
under  the  auspices  of  Moray,  to  effect  his  own  ruin,  and  utterly  to 
annihilate  his  family.  This  idea  was  farther  strengthened  from  his 
peculiar  circumstances.  The  estates  of  Mar  and  Moray  had  been 
assigned  to  him,  not  as  his  own  right,  but  merely  in  trust ;  he  had 
possessed  them  for  some  time,  and  though  he  had  not  the  slightest 
legal  claim,  he  had  always  considered  them  as  his  own  property. 
With  maddening  rage  he  beheld  them  torn  from  him  to  aggrandize 
his  hated  rival;  he  complained,  but  he  was  disregarded.  Fearing 
the  influence  of  his  enemy  in  his  own  country,  he  felt  these  humi- 
liations as  the  most  decisive  blows  to  all  his  greatness.  He  now  no 
longer  disguised  his  intentions,  but  in  defiance  of  the  queen's  pro- 
clamation, openly  took  arms  ;  and  instead  of  yielding  those  places 
of  strength,  which  Mary  required  him  to  surrender,  his  followers 
dispersed,  or  cut  in  pieces,  the  parties  which  she  despatched  to  take 
possession  of  them  ;  and  he  himself  advancing  with  a  considerable 
body  of  men  towards  Aberdeen,  to  which  place  the  queen  was  now 
returned,  filled  her  small  court  with  consternation.  Mora}7  had  only 
a  handful  of  men  in  whom  he  could  confide.  In  order  to  form  the 
appearance  of  an  army,  he  was  obliged  to  call  in  the  assistance  of 
the  neighbouring  barons ;  but  as  most  of  these  either  favoured 
Huntly's  designs,  or  stood  in  awTe  of  his  power,  from  them  no  cordial 
or  effectual  service  could  be  expected. 

With  these  troops,  however,  Moray,  who  could  gain  nothing  by 
delay,  marched  briskly  towards  the  enemy.  He  found  them  at 
Corrichie,  posted  to  great  advantage ;  he  commanded  his  northern 
associates  instantly  to  begin  the  attack  ;  but  on  the  first  motion  of 
the  enemy,  they  treacherously  turned  their  backs  ;  and  Huntly's  fol- 
lowers, throwing  aside  their  spears,  and  breaking  their  ranks,  drew 
their  swords,  and  rushed  forward  to  the  pursuit.  It  was  then  that 
Moray  gave  proof  both  of  steady  courage  and  of  prudent  conduct. 
He  stood  immoveable  on  a  rising  ground,  with  the  small  but  trusty 
body  of  his  adherents,  who,  presenting  their  spears  to  the  enemy, 
received  them  with  a  determined  resolution  which  they  little  ex- 
pected. Before  they  recovered  from  the  confusion  occasioned  by 
this  unforeseen  resistance,  Moray's  northern  troops,  who  had  fled  so 
shamefully  in  the  beginning  of  the  action,  willing  to  regain  their 
credit  with  the  victorious  party,  fell  upon  them  and  completed  the 
rout.  Huntly  himself,  who  was  extremely  corpulent,  was  trodden 
to  death  in  the  pursuit.  His  sons,  Sir  John  and  Adam  Gordon, 
were  taken  prisoners.  Moray  marched  his  victorious  troops  back  to 
Aberdeen,  u  where,"  says  Buchanan,  "  he  had  appointed  a  minister 
of  the  gospel  to  wait  for  his  return,  and  gave  thanks  to  the  God 
of  battles,  who,  out  of  his  infinite  mercy,  beyond  all  men's  expecta- 


JAMES    STUART,    EARL   OF    MORAY.  87 

tion,  and  without  any  strength  or  wisdom  of  his  own,  had  delivered 
him  and  his  men  from  such  imminent  danger." 

Moray  proceeded  immediately  to  the  queen  to  inform  her  of  his 
victory ;  but  she  received  the  tidings  without  any  joyful  emotion. 
Perhaps  a  consciousness  of  the  rivalship  of  Moray  and  Huntlv — 
sympathy  for  the  misfortunes  of  the  latter,  and  an  idea  that  she  had 
proceeded  rashly,  and  given  way  too  easily  to  Moray's  representa- 
tions, operated  upon  her,  and  raised  some  sorrow  for  the  destruction 
of  an  illustrious  house,  and  for  a  nobleman  who  was,  notwithstand- 
ing his  faults,  loyal  to  her,  and  attached  to  her  religion. 

Moray  was  now  in  the  most  desirable  situation.  By  his  influence 
and  dexterity,  all  his  rivals  had  been  removed.  Mary's  affection 
towards  him  was  sincere  ;  she  was  guided  by  his  counsels,  and  he  in 
.return  rendered  her  salutary  advice.  Indeed,  the  aspect  of  the 
country  had  been  totally  changed  through  Moray's  influence.  Peace 
was  now  restored  ;  the  laws  were  efficient ;  commerce  and  the  arts 
flourished  ;  learning  was  encouraged  ;  the  protestants  were  allowed 
to  assemble  without  molestation,  and  their  preachers  were  openly 
countenanced  by  the  state.  Freed  at  length  from  those  turbulent 
factions  which  had  so  long  harassed  them,  though  these  were  too 
soon  again  to  distract  the  country,  a  momentary  repose  was  enjoyed; 
men  felt  the  blessings  of  civilization  and  happiness.  The  people,  in 
general,  were  contented  and  happy  ;  Moray's  conduct  was  viewed 
with  every  respect  and  indulgence  ;  he  was  deservedly  popular,  and 
his  administration  was  salutary  and  useful.  Of  profound  and  versa- 
tile talents,  he  equally  knew  how  to  govern  in  war  and  peace  ;  and 
alike  great  in  the  cabinet  and  in  the  field,  he  had  the  good  of  his 
country  at  heart,  even  though  he  made  many  of  his  public  acts  sub- 
servient to  his  ambition.  In  a  word,  during  this  momentary  respite 
from  the  ebullitions  of  factious  passion,  the  ancient  maxim  seemed 
to  be  verified,  that  the  people  can  only  be  called  happy  who  are 
under  the  administration  of  a  sage. 

In  May,  1563,  an  act  of  indemnity  was  passed,  in  which  it  was 
declared  that  the  earl  of  Moray,  and  the  other  leaders  of  the  protest- 
ants, should  not  be  molested,  or  called  to  account,  for  the  outrages, 
tumults,  and  other  achievements,  carried  on  by  the  congregation, 
between  the  years  1558  and  1561,  under  Moray's  auspices,  when  he 
was  only  prior  of  St.  Andrew's,  and  in  arms  against  the  authority  of 
the  queen-regent.  This  was  a  necessary  procedure,  as  it  was  pro- 
bable that  their  conduct  might  be  reviewed  in  some  after  period, 
should  an  opportunity  offer.  About  this  time,  it  is  said,  he  made  a 
singular  proposal  to  the  queen.  He  advised  her  to  entail  the  right 
of  succession  to  the  crown,  on  four  families  of  the  name  of  Stuart ; 
and  it  is  also  said,  that  the  queen  deliberated  with  her  council  on 
the  measure,  but  that  they  gave  it  as  their  opinion  that  she  could  not 
alter  the  legal  succession.  It  is  evident,  that  if  the  counsel  of  Moray 
was  such,  it  goes  far  at  this  time  to  prove  his  patriotism,  as  he  could 
have  little  hope  of  being  first  named,  if,  indeed,  named  at  all. 

It  is  necessary  to  notice  some  important  transactions  which  occur- 
red about  this  time.  The  beauty  and  accomplishments  of  Mary 
were  universally  known ;  and  many  of  the  European  princes  ardently 


SS  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

sighed  to  share  her  crown.  With  a  kingdom  as  her  dowry,  joined 
to  her  external  accomplishments,  she  attracted  the  admiration  of 
numerous  suitors. 

Mary  herself  was  not  averse  to  marriage.  She  had  remained  a 
widow  for  a  sufficient  period,  and  had  honored  the  memory  of  her 
husband  by  her  exemplary  conduct.  But  she  felt  that  without  a 
vigorous  government  she  could  have  little  peace  or  security.  Her 
ministers  were  continually  engaging  in  plots  and  family  animosities; 
the  nobles  were  fierce  and  haughty  ;  the  protestant  clergy  her 
avowed  opponents  ;  and  the  people,  in  general,  animated  by  their 
own  peculiar  opinions.  Young,  beautiful,  and  amiable,  among  a 
people  of  a  different  religion,  she  felt  herself  without  friends,  solitary 
and  unprotected. 

It  was  in  the  year  1565,  that  lord  Darnley,  son  of  the  earl  of 
Lennox,  arrived  in  Scotland,  and  was  introduced  to  Mary  at  the 
castle  of  "Wemyss,  in  the  county  of  Fife.  The  first  interview  made 
a  favourable  impression  on  the  queen.  At  that  time,  in  the  vigour 
of  manhood,  his  stature  was  tall  and  graceful,  his  countenance  beau- 
tiful and  regular.  "  In  beauty  and  gracefulness  of  person,"  says 
Dr.  Robertson,  "  he  surpassed  all  his  contemporaries ;  he  excelled 
eminentlj'  in  all  those  arts  which  add  ease  and  elegance  to  external 
form,  and  which  enable  it  not  only  to  dazzle  but  to  please."  Mary 
was  in  the  buoyancy  of  youthful  vivacity ;  her  beauty  shed  a 
radiance  around  the  circle  in  which  she  moved ;  every  amusement 
was  produced  to  please  "  the  new  arrived  ;"  banquets,  masks,  and 
dancing  were  celebrated ;  and  love  stole  into  her  heart.  She  had 
been  distracted  by  intrigues  and  jarring  interests  ;  now  she  resigned 
herself  to  the  potency  of  those  gentle  feelings  which  elevate  the 
mind  amid  its  corroding  cares.  The  cuurtiers  observed  the  sove- 
reign's conduct ;  her  feelings  escaped  not  their  penetrating  eyes. 
They  saw  that  Darnley  was  beloved ;  that  the  memory  of  all  the 
queen's  former  suitors  was  effaced  ;  and  some  of  them,  especially 
Morton  and  Glencairn,  did  not  disguise  their  sentiments  of  dislike 
to  the  rumoured  alliance.  The  opposition  of  the  former,  however, 
resulted  from  his  personal  interest  being  endangered.  lie  had 
claimed  the  earldom  of  Angus,  to  which  the  now  restored  countess 
of  Lennox  also  alleged  her  right. 

Foreseeing  what  would  be  the  consequence  of  the  queen's  marriage 
with  Darnley,  Moray  set  himself  resolutely  to  oppose  it ;  but  finding 
little  attention  paid  to  what  he  urged  on  the  subject  in  the  conven- 
tion of  estates,  he  chose  rather  to  absent  himself  for  some  time  ;  and 
accordingly  retired  to  the  border,  where  he  remained  until  that  event 
was  consummated. 

After  the  murder  of  Kizzio,  Moray  returned.  Mary  having  heard 
of  his  arrival,  knowing  well  his  power,  his  talents,  and  his  capacity 
to  serve  her,  and  as  it  appeared  to  her  that  he  had  no  connexion 
with  the  murder,  perceived  the  importance  of  attaching  him  to  her 
interest.  Her  natural  regard  for  him  also  returned,  and  she  felt  in- 
clined to  bestow  on  him  a  sister's  affection. 

Accordingly,  as  the  queen's  accouchement  was  hastening  on, 
Moray  resolved  to  take  advantage  of  every  circumstance,  and  to- 


JAMES    STUART,  EARL  OF    MORAY.  89 

effect  the  return  of  Morton,  Letlrington,  and  their  associates.  He 
began  openly  to  plead  for  their  recall ;  and  his  conduct  alarmed  the 
bishop  of  Ross  and  the  earl  of  Huntly.  They  proceeded  forthwith 
to  the  queen,  informed  her  of  the  facts,  and  enforced  on  her  the 
necessity  of  committing  such  a  dangerous  man  to  prison  ;  but  she 
refused  to  listen  to  their  remonstrance,  and  suffered  it  to  pass  unno- 
ticed, save  by  instructing  Sir  James  Melville  to  observe  Moray's 
conduct  and  that  of  his  party  with  the  utmost  vigilance.  The  deli- 
very of  the  queen  now  approached  ;  and  letters  were  sent  to  all  the 
nobility,  desiring  them  to  resort  to  the  capital,  and  to  reside  near  her 
person.  Mary  herself  proceeded  to  the  castle  of  Edinburgh,  in 
which  the  king,  Moray,  Argyle,  and  other  nobles,  at  this  juncture 
resided.  On  the  19th  of  June,  1566,  she  was  delivered  of  a  prince, 
afterwards  James  VI.  This  important  event  was  hailed  with  every 
sign  of  enthusiasm  and  joy.  A  messenger  was  immediately  dis- 
patched to  London,  to  communicate  the  tidings  to  Elizabeth.  She 
was  at  a  ball  in  Greenwich  when  she  received  the  information; 
instantly  she  threw  herself  into  a  chair  in  the  utmost  agony  and 
sorrow;  and  for  some  time  she  appeared  almost  without  animation. 
At  length  she  burst  into  tears,  and  exclaimed,  "  Alas  !  Mary  of 
Scotland  is  the  mother  of  a  fair  son,  while  I  am  a  solitary  and  joy- 
less maiden." 

The  deeply  tragical  incidents  which  succeeded,  disgusted  him 
more  and  more  at  the  court.  With  these  the  public  are  well 
acquainted.  The  murder  of  Darnley,  and  Mary's  after  marriage 
with  the  assassin  of  her  husband,  has  occasioned  too  much  specula- 
tion of  late  years,  not  to  be  known  to  every  one  in  the  least  acquainted 
with  Scottish  history.  Moray  now  found  it  impossible  to  live  at  a 
court  where  his  implacable  enemy  was  so  highly  honoured.  Both- 
well  insulted  him  openly.  He,  therefore,  asked  leave  of  the  queen 
to  travel  abroad  ;  and  she,  being  willing  to  get  rid  of  him  at  all 
events,  granted  his  desire,  upon  his  promising  not  to  make  any  stay 
in  England.  He  went  to  France,  and  remained  there  till  he  heard 
that  she  was  in  custody  at  Lochleven,  and  that  Both  well  had  fled  to 
Denmark.     He  then  returned  home. 

On  the  29th  of  July,  1567,  James  VI.  was  crowned,  king  of  Scot- 
land at  Stirling.  The  papers  which  the  queen  had  signed  were  read, 
and  her  resignation  was  received  by  the  assembled  nobles  in  the 
name  of  the  three  estates.  Morton,  bending  his  body,  and  laying 
his  hand  on  the  scriptures,  took  the  coronation  oath  for  the  infant 
king.  John  Knox  preached  the  inauguration  sermon,  and  the  prince 
was  then  anointed  king  of  Scotland  by  Adam  Bothwell,  bishop  of 
Orkney, — a  ceremony  which  Knox  and  his  friends  declaimed 
against  as  a  Jewish  ceremony.  That  prelate  then  delivered  to  him 
the  sword  and  sceptre,  and.  finally  placed  on  his  head  the  royal 
crown. 

On  the  22d  day  of  August,  1567,  Moray  was  solemnly  invested 
with  the  regency,  in  presence  of  the  principal  nobles,  some  of  the 
bishops,  and  other  church  dignitaries.  The  good  effect  of  Moray's 
accession  to  the  regency  were  quickly  felt.  The  party  forming  for 
the  queen  wTas  weak,  irresolute,  and  disunited ;  and  no  sooner  was 


90  SCOTS  WORTHIES. 

the  government  of  the  kingdom  in  the  hands  of  a  man  so  remark- 
able both  for  his  abilities  and  popularity,  than  the  nobles,  of  whom 
it  was  composed,  lost  all  hopes  of  gaining  ground,  and  began  to  treat 
separately  with  the  regent.  So  many  of  them  were  brought  to 
acknowledge  the  king's  authority,  that  scarce  any  appearance  of 
opposition  to  the  established  government  was  left  in  the  kingdom. 
The  regent  was  no  less  successful  in  his  attempts  to  get  into  his 
hands  the  places  of  strength  in  the  kingdom.  By  liberal  bribes  and 
gifts  from  his  own  ecclesiastical  property,  Sir  James  Balfour  deli- 
vered to  him  the  castle  of  Edinburgh.  Falkland,  the  fortalice  of  the 
Bass,  and  other  castles,  were  surrendered  without  opposition.  The 
castle  of  Dunbar,  Bothwell's  famous  stronghold,  was  summoned ; 
and,  marching  in  person,  with  four  large  cannon,  six  smaller  pieces, 
and  a  great  store  of  military  equipments,  it  capitulated  on  his 
approach.  The  town  of  Haddington,  in  his  way,  had  given  signs  of 
turbulence  ;  but  he  compelled  the  inhabitants  to  obedience.  The 
town  of  Dumfries  also  was  obliged  to  submit.  Then  marching 
towards  the  borders,  and  arriving  secretly  and  suddenly  in  Hawick, 
he  sallied  out,  and  attacked  the  border  marauders  when  they  least 
expected  him,  seizing  thirty-four  of  them,  part  of  whom  were  hanged 
and  part  drowned.  In  another  part  of  the  border,  he  seized  fifteen 
more ;  five,  however,  got  their  liberty,  upon  the  delivery  of  hostages  ; 
and  ten  were  brought  to  Edinburgh,  and  there  laid  in  irons.  He 
quickly  restored  order,  and  the  exercise  of  the  laws. 

It  must  not  be  forgotten,  and,  indeed  it  will  be  evident  from  what 
we  have  alread}r  recorded,  that  the  state  of  the  country  on  Moray's 
elevation  was  most  unfavourable.  The  people  were  in  a  state  of 
transition  from  the  superstitions  and  traditions  of  their  fathers, — the 
nation  was  excited, — the  laws  were  often  defeated  in  their  execution, 
— -justice  frequently  disregarded, — every  petty  baron  or  chief  reigned 
absolute  in  his  own  domains.  Civil  wars,  too,  had  distracted  the 
public  mind — had  retarded  the  progress  of  civilization,  and  had 
engendered  that  restless  spirit  which  was  destined  to  be  transmitted 
to  the  succeeding  century,  and  to  involve  the  country  in  strife  and 
bloodshed. 

,On  the  15th  of  December,  the  parliament  assembled.  The  regent 
rode  to  it  in  great  solemnity ;  Argyle  carried  the  sword,  Huntly  the 
sceptre,  and  Angus  the  crown.  The  nation  was  now  tranquil 
through  Moray's  endeavours ;  and  there  was  no  interruption  to 
public  business ;  but  he  could  not  be  said  to  be  properly  the  regent 
until  he  was  confirmed  by  parliament,  nor  did  resistance  to  him 
without  this  sanction  imply  high  treason.  This,  of  course,  was  soon 
obtained.  Many  wise  and  salutary  laws  were  enacted,  which  evinced 
that  the  regent  had  the  welfare  of  his  country  at  heart.  The  parlia- 
ment granted  everything  the  confederates  could  demand,  either  for 
the  safety  of  their  own  persons,  or  the  security  of  that  form  of  govern- 
ment which  they  had  established  in  the  kingdom.  Mary's  resigna- 
tion of  the  crown  was  accepted,  and  declared  to  be  valid.  The 
king's  authority  and  Moray's  election  were  recognized  and  con- 
firmed. The  imprisonment  of  the  queen,  and  all  the  other  pro- 
teed  ings  of  the  confederates  were  pronounced  lawful.     The  letters 


JAMES    STUART,   EARL  OF    MORAY.  91 

which  Mary  had  written  to  Bothwell  were  produced,  and  she  was 
declared  to  be  accessory  to  the  murder  of  the  king.  At  the  same 
time,  all  the  acts  of  the  parliament  of  the  year  1560,  in  favour  of  the 
protestant  religion,  were  publicly  ratified  ;  new  statutes  to  the  tame 
purpose  were  enacted ;  and  nothing  that  could  contribute  to  root  out 
the  remains  of  popery,  or  to  encourage  the  growth  of  the  reforma- 
tion, was  neglected. 

The  regent  now  pursued  the  murderers  of  the  king.  This  surely 
is  a  proof  of  his  innocence.  Several  were  taken  and  executed. 
Intercessions  were  made  for  Mary's  liberation  by  some  foreign  states  ; 
but  the  regent  publicly  averred  what  was  the  fact,  that  the  queen 
was  not  his  prisoner ;  he  was  amenable  to  the  parliament,  who  had 
ratified  her  imprisonment. 

But  while  the  regent  was  thus  vigorously  administering  the  busi- 
ness of  the  state,  composing  internal  commotions,  and  promoting  the 
happiness  of  his  country,  the  affairs  of  Mary  took  a  different  turn. 
She  had  still  numerous  friends, — Moray  had  numerous  enemies. 
The  length  and  rigour  of  Mary's  sufferings  began  to  move  many  to 
commiserate  her  case.  All  who  leaned  to  the  ancient  religion, 
dreaded  the  effects  of  Moray's  zeal.  And  he,  though  his  abilities 
were  great,  did  not  possess  the  talents  requisite  for  soothing;  the  rage 
or  removing  the  jealousies  of  the  different  factions.  His  virtues 
were  severe,  and  his  deportment  to  his  equals,  especially  after  his 
elevation  to  the  regency,  distant  and  haughty.  The  house  of  Hamil- 
ton were  in  secret  his  implacable  foes,  fearing  that  their  right  of 
succession  to  the  crown  was  in  jeopardy.  Murray  of  Tullibardine 
was  in  secret  his  determined  enemy.  Maitland  of  Lethington,  who 
was  famed  for  his  instability,  and  for  his  care  of  his  own  interest,  waf 
now  turning  his  crafty  thoughts  towards  the  queen.  Lord  Fleming 
still  commanded  Dumbarton  castle  in  the  name  of  his  sovereign 
The  catholics,  headed  by  the  primate  of  St.  Andrew's,  were  exaspe 
rated  to  a  man  against  Moray.  Frequent  meetings  were  held  by  tin 
queen's  friends  to  contrive  her  restoration. 

Such   was  the   favorable  disposition  of  the  nation   towards   th( 
queen,  when  she  recovered  her  liberty,  in  a  manner  no  less  surpris 
ing  to   her  friends,   than   unexpected  by   her   enemies.      Several 
attempts  had  been  made  to  procure  her  an  opportunity  of  escaping 
which  some  unforeseen  accident  or  the  vigilance  of  her  keepers,  hao 
hitherto  disappointed.      At  last  Mary  employed  all  her  art  to  gain 
George  Douglas,  her  keeper's  brother,  a  youth  of  eighteen.    _  As  hei 
manners  was  naturally  affable  and  insinuating,  she  treated  him  with 
the  most  flattering  distinction  ;  she  even  allowed  him  to  entertain 
the  most  ambitious  hopes,  by  letting  fall  some  expressions,  as  if  she 
would  choose  him  for  her  husband.     At  his  age,  and  in  such  cir- 
cumstances, it  was  scarcely  possible  to  resist  such  a  temptation.     He 
yielded,  and  drew  others  into  the  plot. 

On  the  2d  of  May,  1568,  whilst  the  lady  of  Lochleven  and  his  eldest 
brother  were  at  supper,  George  Douglas  contrived  to  gain  possession 
of  tife  keys  of  the  castle,  which  were  usually  deposited  in  his  grand- 
mother's bedroom,  after  the  gates  were  locked.  The  queen  and  her 
attendants  were  in  readiness  ;  her  youthful  deliverer  conducted  her  out 


92  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

of  prison ;  a  boat  was  prepared  ;  and,  locking  the  castle  gates  behind 
him  to  prevent  pursuit,  he  took  the  keys  with  him.  The  night  was 
clear  and  serene ;  scarcely  a  breath  of  wind  ruffled  the  waters  ;  the 
moon  shone  bright  in  the  heavens,  and  shed  her  silvery  tints  on  the 
surface  of  the  dark  blue  lake.  Getting  into  the  boat,  the  ad- 
venturers flew  across  the  watery  expanse ;  but  the  plashing  of  the 
oars  roused  the  inmates  of  the  castle,  and  an  alarm  was  instantly 
given.  "  Treason  !  treason  !"  was  loudly  exclaimed  when  the  flight 
of  the  queen  was  discovered,  and  several  fire  arms  were  discharged 
after  the  fugitives.*  They  landed,  however,  in  safety,  on  the  oppo- 
site shore,  where  the  queen  was  received  by  Lord  Seaton,  and  a 
chosen  troop  of  horsemen  in  complete  armour.  Mary  again  felt  her- 
self to  be  a  queen ;  immediately  she  mounted,  and  long  before  break 
of  day  she  and  her  trusty  adherents  had  crossed  the  Forth,  and 
ended  their  hasty  and  dangerous  journey  before  the  gates  of  Niddrie 
castle,  in  West  Lothian,  which  belonged  to  Lord  Seaton.  After  the 
repose  of  a  few  hours,  she  proceeded  to  Hamilton ;  her  friends  ad- 
vising her  to  enter  Dumbarton  castle,  then  commanded  by  her 
adherent  lord  Fleming. 

No  sooner  was  Mary's  escape  known,  than  her  friends  resorted  to 
her  from  all  quarters.  In  a  few  days,  her  court  was  filled  with  a 
great  and  splendid  train  of  nobles,  accompanied  by  such  numbers 
of  followers  as  formed  an  army  above  six  thousand  strong.  Her 
resignation  of  the  crown  was  declared  to  be  null  and  void;  the 
nobles  subscribed  a  bond  in  her  favour  ;  and  the  inauguration  of  the 
king  and  the  regency  of  Moray  were  pronounced  treasonable  acts 
and  usurpation. 

Moray  was  holding  a  court  of  justice  in  Glasgow  when  he  received 
tidings  of  the  queen's  escape.  Astonished  at  the  intelligence,  he 
nevertheless  prepared  calmly  to  meet  the  threatened  dangers.  His 
own  adherents  were  seized  with  consternation — he  beheld  some  of 
them  go  over  to  the  queen, — others  betook  themselves  to  private 
places.  He  was  advised  to  proceed  to  Stirling,  and  there  fortify 
himself;  but  he  rejected  the  advice  ;  and,  after  mature  deliberation, 
determined  to  remain  in  Glasgow.  His  usual  vigour  and  prudence 
did  not  forsake  him,  and  his  proceedings  at  once  displayed  his  reso- 
lution. 

In  the  midst  of  the  regent's  active  measures  to  discomfit  his 
enemies,  and  to  animate  his  followers,  he  received  a  message  from 
Mary,  requiring  his  instant  demission  of  the  regency,  and  submission 
to  her  authority,  with  the  promise  of  a  fall  pardon  if  he  rendered  a 
compliance.  He  seemed  to  hesitate  ;  he  returned  no  definite  answer, 
but  wished  to  gain  time,  as  if  he  would  latterly  enter  into  negotiation. 
In  the  mean  time  he  was  busy  in  collecting  troops  ;  and  when  a  new 
message  reached  him,  he  was  found  determined  to  disjmte  the 
government  with  the  queen. 

A  battle,  therefore  was  to  decide  the  hopes  of  Mary  and  her 
brother.     The  former  wished  not,  indeed,  this  last  alternative ;  she 

*  The  keys  of  the  castle  were  thrown  into  the  lake,  but  they  were  found  in  1S05,  after 
having  lain  concealed  since  the  above  memorable  event,  near  two  centuries  and  a  half,  and 
are  now  at  Kinross  House. 


JAMES    STUART,  EARL   OF  MORAY.  93 

feared  the  regent's  military  talents ;  she  knew  well  that  his  officers 
were  all  men  of  distinguished  bravery ;  and  one  unfortunate  en^a^e- 
ment  might  plunge  her  into  irretrievable  ruin.  But  the  Hamiltons, 
who  had  all  joined  her  standard,  overruled  her  objections.  As  her 
army  was  more  numerous  than  the  regent's,  they  therefore  thought  it 
impossible  to  be  defeated  ;  and  the  primate  of  St.  Andrew's  calculat- 
ing on  victory,  had  already  in  imagination  placed  himself  at  the 
head  of  affairs,  and  planned  a  visionary  marriage  between  the  queen 
and  a  son  of  his  brother  Chatelherault. 

The  regent  had  mustered  an  army,  and  he  now  prepared  with  the 
utmost  deliberation  to  decide  his  fate.  His  only  hope  lay  in  an 
early  encounter.  For  this  purpose  he  marched  his  troops  from  Glas- 
gow, after  reviewing  them  on  the  common  called  the  Green.  Mary 
began  her  march  on  the  13th  of  May  from  Hamilton  to  enter  Dum- 
barton castle,  which  the  regent  had  not  been  able  to  wrest  out  of  the 
hands  of  lord  Fleming,  the  governor ;  but  if  the  enemy  should 
endeavour  to  intercept  her  march,  she  resolved  not  to  decline  an 
engagement.  In  Mary's  situation,  no  resolution  could  be  more  im- 
prudent. The  regent  came  up  to  her  army,  and  determined  to  dis- 
pute her  progress.  Perceiving  his  enemies  to  be  in  motion,  when 
near  the  famous  village  of  Langside,  about  two  miles  from  Glasgow, 
although  he  was  farther  distant  from  it,  by  a  great  exertion  he  was 
successful  in  gaining  an  eminence  which  he  perceived  them  anxious 
to  attain.  The  regent,  fortunately  for  himself,  secured  the  eminence 
by  a  body  of  chosen  troops. 

The  contending  armies  were  very  different  in  point  of  numbers. 
The  queen  mustered  6000  fighting  men,  with  a  considerable  number 
of  the  nobility.  Moray's  army  consisted  only  of  3000,  "  but  formid- 
able for  his  own  military  talents,  and  those  of  Morton,  Kirkcaldy  of 
Grange,  and  others,  who  had  been  trained  from  their  youth  in  foreign 
and  domestic  wars."  Moray  and  Morton,  indeed,  were  known  to  be 
the  best  generals  in  Scotland  ;  no  one  ever  saw  Lindsay  or  Ruthven 
retreat:  and  Kirkcaldy  of  Grange  was  pronounced  by  the  constable 
Montmorency  the  first  soldier  in  Europe.  Such  were  the  leaders, 
and  such  the  force  against  whom  the  queen  had  to  contend. 

Both  armies  drew  up  in  the  order  of  battle,  and  displayed  the 
royal  banners  :  they  were  also  severally  provided  with  two  pieces  of 
cannon,  which,  however,  were  of  little  use.  The  queen's  troops 
were  ranged  by  Argyle  in  two  columns,  the  main  body  under  his  own 
command  ;  Arbroath  commanded  the  van ;  Cassilis,  the  right  wing  ; 
lord  Claud  Hamilton,  the  left.  The  regent  followed  the  same  order 
in  the  disposition  of  his  troops ;  his  right  wing  was  commanded  by 
Morton,  and  under  him  Home,  Lindsay,  Lethington,  and  others  ;  the 
left  wing  by  his  relative  the  earl  of  Mar.  Glencairn,  Monteith,  and 
their  followers,  with  some  harquebussiers,  were  stationed  in  the  vil- 
lage, and  behind  the  hedges  on  the  high  road.  Kirkcaldy  of  Grange 
had  taken  possession  of  the  hill  on  the  previous  night. 

A  rush  on  the  part  of  the  queen's  troops  announced  the  com- 
mencement of  the  action.  "  For  God  and  the  queen,"  was  resounded 
throughout  her  army ;  while  the  regent's  warriors  loudly  replied, 
"  For  God  and  the  king."     The  queen's  cavalry  put  those  of  the 


94  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

regent  to  flight,  but  in  return  they  were  Sorely  galled  by  his  archers. 
Her  main  body  marched  gallantly  into  the  plain,  under  a  severe  fire 
from  the  regent's  musketeers,  who  were  stationed  behind  the  bushes. 
The  regent  hastened  to  meet  the  queen's  troops  with  his  first  division, 
and  a  desperate  encounter  ensued  sword  in  hand.  His  soldiers  were 
almost  losing  ground,  when  his  second  division  came  to  his  support. 
Kirkcaldy  of  Grange  then  decided  the  fate  of  the  day ;  and  the 
battle,  which  continued  for  an  hour  and  a  half,  ended  in  a  total 
defeat  of  the  queen's  army ;  who,  jDanic-struck  and  sorely  pressed  by 
that  gallant  soldier,  fled  from  the  field  in  the  utmost  consternation. 
The  regent's  victory  was  coiuplete.  Three  hundred  of  the  queen's 
army  fell ;  while  he  lost  only  one  of  his  own  men,  and  none  of  any 
distinction  were  wounded,  except  lords  Hume  and  Ochiltree.  He 
humanely  restrained  the  fury  of  his  victorious  soldiers  in  the  pursuit, 
Tby  riding  up  and  down  the  field,  and  calling  upon  them  to  spare 
their  countrymen.  Many  persons  of  distinction  were  made  prisoners. 
The  regent  then  returned  to  Glasgow,  and  there  offered  public  thanks 
to  God  for  this  happy  deliverance  from  popery  and  papists,  who  had 
thus  threatened  to  overturn  the  work  of  reformation  in  the  land. 

The  unfortunate  Mary  awaited  the  issue  of  the  engagement  at  a 
little  distance.  With  the  utmost  anguish  she  beheld  the  overthrow 
of  her  gallant  army  ;  she  was  dismayed  by  the  apprehensions  of 
captivity  and  death.  She  could  not  venture  to  Dumbarton,  as  she 
might  fall  into  the  regent's  hands  by  the  way.  Lord  Herries,  a 
faithful  adherent,  accompanied  her  in  her  flight  towards  Galloway, 
and  she  rested  not  till  she  reached  the  abbey  of  Dunrennan,  near 
Kircudbright,  almost  seventy  miles  distant  from  the  fatal  field  of 
Langside.  Here  she  resolved,  in  a  rash  and  unhappy  moment,  to 
retreat  to  England.  The  primate  and  lord  Herries  on  their  knees 
entreated  her  to  give  up  this  desperate  resolution.  She  was  inflex- 
ible. A  despatch  was  sent  to  Lauder,  the  deputy-commander  at 
Carlisle,  desiring  to  know  whether  the  Scottish  queen  might  venture 
on  English  ground.  He  answered,  that  he  could  not  of  his  own 
authority  give  her  any  assurance,  bnt  that  he  would  send  by  jjost 
and  know  his  sovereign's  will ;  nevertheless,  if  any  danger  was 
evident,  he  would  receive  her  at  Carlisle  with  due  respect.  Mary 
seemed  as  if  fatally  anxious  to  be  in  the  power  of  her  enemy  and 
rival ;  the  regent  was  active  and  indefatigable  ;  a  revolting  captivity 
or  certain  death  awaited  her  if  she  fell  into  his  hands.  What  more 
could  Elizabeth  inflict  ?  Accordingly,  without  waiting  for  the 
return  of  the  messenger,  she  set  sail  in  a  fishing-boat  with  sixteen 
attendants,  and  looked  her  last  adieu  on  her  native  land.  She  landed 
at  Wirkington  in  Cumberland,  and,  after  a  short  stay  at  Cocker- 
mouth,  was  conducted  by  Lauder  to  Carlisle,  where  she  remained 
till  an  answer  was  returned  to  her  despatch  to  Elizabeth. 

The  regent,  in  the  mean  time,  followed  up  the  victory  he  had 
gained  by  the  most  active  measures.  Seven  of  the  prisoners,  one  of 
whom  was  Hamilton  of  Bothwellhaugh,  were  condemned,  and  led 
out  to  execution ;  but  the  regent  spared  them,  and  ordered  them 
back  to  prison.  He  appeared  before  the  castles  of  Hamilton  and 
Draphane,    which    surrendered    at  his   summons,   after   which    he 


JAMES    STUART,    EARL   OF   MORAY.  95 

proceeded  to  Glasgow,  and  thence  to  Edinburgh.  Lord  Ruthven 
compelled  the  earl  of  Huntly  to  retire  northward,  though  he  had 
advanced  as  far  as  the  Tay,  with  an  army  of  two  thousand  men.  A 
proclamation  was  issued  by  the  regent,  commanding  a  general 
muster  of  soldiers  at  Biggar.  He  set  out  thither  from  Edinburgh, 
and  left  the  place  of  rendezvous  at  the  head  of  four  thousand  horse 
and  one  thousand  foot.  He  attacked  the  castles  of  all  the  nobility, 
who  were  friendly  to  the  queen.  He  got  possession  of  Boghall 
castle,  belonging  to  Lord  Fleming,  the  governor  of  Dumbarton  ;  he 
destroyed  the  castle  of  Stirling;  and  the  castle  of  Sanquhar,  belong- 
ing to  Lord  Crichton,  capitulated.  Sir  John  Gordon,  the  knight  of 
Lochinvar,  refused  to  surrender  his  castle,  more  especially  as  he 
expected  assistance  from  lord  Hemes  :  the  regent  was  unsuccessful 
in  the  attack,  but  he  destroyed  Kenmore,  another  of  Lochinvar's 
strongholds.  He  marched  to  Dumfries,  and  there  executed  some 
freebooters,  who  had  fallen  into  his  hands.  He  then  made  a 
successful  assault  on  the  castle  of  Hodam,  which  belonged  to  lord 
Herries  ;  and  that  of  Annan  surrendered  at  his  approach.  Here  he 
had  an  interview  with  lord  Scroop,  the  warden  of  the  English 
marches.  He  then  marched  to  Peebles,  and  thence  to  Edinburgh, 
where  he  was  received  with  the  loudest  congratulations,  having 
established  complete  tranquillity  in  the  southern  and  western  counties. 
Nor  was  Moray  less  attentive  to  the  administration  of  the  laws,  which 
in  some  cases  amounted  to  severity. 

On  the  16th  day  of  August  the  parliament  assembled,  and,  after 
much  reasoning,  it  was  resolved  to  send  commissioners  to  England 
to  vindicate  their  conduct.  But  none  being  willing  to  undertake  the 
business,  the  regent  resolved  upon  going  himself;  and  accordingly 
chose  three  gentlemen,  two  ministers,  two  lawyers,  together  with  the 
celebrated  George  Buchanan,  to  accompany  him  ;  and,  with  a  guard 
of  a  hundred  horse,  they  set  out,  and  arrived  at  York,  the  appointed 
place  of  conference,  on  the  fourth  of  October.  After  several  meetings 
with  the  English  commissioners  to  little  purpose,  Elizabeth  invited 
the  regent  to  London,  that,  by  personal  conversation  with  him,  she 
might  be  better  satisfied  about  the  state  of  affairs  in  Scotland.  But 
here  the  same  difficulties  stood  in  his  way  as  at  York  ;  he  refused  to 
enter  upon  the  accusation  of  his  sister,  the  queen  of  Scots,  unless, 
provided  she  was  found  guilty,  Elizabeth  would  engage  to  protect  the 
king's  party. 

The  conferences  ended  in  nothing;  less  from  want  of  inclination, 
than  from  inability  to  prove.  It  was  of  the  greatest  consequence  to 
Moray  to  preserve  the  permanence  of  his  power.  Had  he  consented 
to  her  restoration,  or  acknowledged  she  was  innocent,  he  could  not 
but  anticipate  the  downfall  of  his  pre-eminence.  On  the  other  hand, 
the  declaration  of  Mary's  innocence,  or  her  release,  would  entirely 
disconcert  Elizabeth's  plans.  Her  enmity  was  too  great,  not  to  ap- 
pear through  the  mask  of  feigned  affection  and  impartiality. 
Although  an  adept  in  dissimulation,  it  was  easily  discerned  she  only 
wanted  a  pretext  to  tyrannize  over  her  ill-fated  rival.  And  while 
she  temporized,  the  bonds  of  Mary's  captivity  were  rivetting  faster 
id  faster.     If  the  motives  of  the  different  parties  are  balanced. 


96  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

reasons  may  be  assigned  for  the  conduct  of  each.  The  late  king  was 
despised  and  detested  by  his  subjects ;  by  Elizabeth  treated  with 
indignity,  and  hardly,  if  ever,  recognised  by  that  name.  Now,  under 
the  plea  of  loyalty  and  regard,  all  fly  to  arms,  and  associate  to  ruin 
the  queen.     What  could  this  farce  of  a  trial  end  in  but  nothing. 

The  regent  returned  to  Scotland,  and  found  the  kingdom  in  tran- 
quillity. Finding  it  necessary,  however,  to  take  measures  to  secure 
his  authority  and  government  against  the  designs  of  his  enemies,  who, 
he  knew,  were  neither  few  nor  of  little  consequence,  he  called  an 
assembly  of  the  nobles  at  Stirling,  and  received  their  sanction  to  his 
proceedings  in  England.  But  his  enemies  had  resolved  to  commence 
their  operations,  and  they  were  farther  encouraged  by  the  opportune 
return  of  the  duke  of  Chatelherault  to  Scotland.  This  nobleman, 
who  had  crossed  from  France  to  England  to  oppose  Moray  in  the 
regency,  had  been  amused  by  Elizabeth,  and  actually  detained  by  her 
till  the  regent  returned  to  Scotland.  He  then  received  permission  to 
leave  England  ;  but  the  English  queen  had  so  contrived,  that  he  did 
not  reach  Scotland  till  a  few  weeks  after  the  regent's  arrival.  He  had 
espoused  Mary's  cause,  and  had  received  from  her  a  high  military 
commission,  together  with  the  fantastic  "  title  of  her  adopted  father." 
Prompted  by  these  vain  distinctions,  no  sooner  did  he  arrive  at 
Edinburgh  than  he  issued  a  proclamation,  forbidding  the  acknow- 
ledgment of  any  other  authority  than  that  of  the  queen.  The  regent 
took  the  alarm,  and  determined  to  oppose  with  vigour  this  faction, 
and,  if  possible,  to  check  it  while  he  was  able.  He  issued  a  counter 
proclamation  in  the  name  of  the  king,  appointing  Glasgow  as  a  place 
for  a  general  meeting,  and  ordering  all  loyal  subjects  to  repair  to 
that  city.  With  his  usual  expedition,  he  assembled  an  army,  and 
directed  his  march  towards  the  west.  Chatelherault  was  now 
alarmed  ;  he  knew  that  he  was  unable  to  contend  with  the  regent ; 
the  effects  of  the  battle  of  Langside  were  yet  apparent  in  the  west, 
and  had  made  a  visible  impression  ;  and  he  therefore  thought  it 
more  expedient  to  propose  an  accommodation,  than  hazard  another 
engagement,  which  might  produce  the  most  fatal  consequences  to 
his  house.  In  this  opinion  he  was  farther  decided  by  his  brother, 
the  archbishop  of  Glasgow  ;  and  the  regent  was  by  no  means  willing 
to  proceed  to  extremities,  although  he  had  every  advantage  on  his 
side.  A  treaty  was  accordingly  concluded  on  the  13th  of  March, 
1569.  Chatelherault  promised  to  submit  to  the  authority  of  the  king 
and  the  regent ;  and  the  latter,  on  his  part,  promised  to  repeal  all 
acts  passed  against  the  queen's  friends,  and  to  restore  them  to  their 
privileges,  on  condition  that  they  should  submit  to  the  government. 
Hostages  were  given  by  the  duke,  and  he  visited  the  young  king  at 
Stirling  in  company  with  the  regent  and  lord  Herri es  ;  while  all  the 
prisoners  taken  at  the  battle  of  Langside  were  set  at  liberty. 

This  agreement  between  the  regent  and  Chatelherault  had  been 
conducted  by  lord  Hemes  and  Gavin  Hamilton,  abbot  of  Kilwin- 
ning, who  had  just  returned  from  England.  But  Huntly  and  Argyle 
refused  to  be  included.  A  secret  correspondence  had  been  carried 
on  for  some  time  between  the  captive  queen  and  her  faction ;  her 
affairs  now  seemed  more  promising,  and  the  successful  persecution 


JAMES    STUART,    EARL   OF   MORAY.  97 

of  the  protestants  in  France  had  raised  the  hopes  of  the  crest-fallen 
catholics  to  such  a  degree,  as  to  make  them  already  elated  by  the 
anticipation  of  Mary's  restoration  and  triumph.  These  things  power- 
fully influenced  Huntly  and  Argyle ;  even  on  Chatelherault,  not- 
witstanding  his  recent  engagements,  they  had  a  visible  impression  ; 
and  he  appeared  irresolute,  fickle,  and  wavering,  still  inclined  to 
assume  the  power  of  the  high  office  conferred  on  him  by  Mary,  when 
she  recognised  him  as  her  "  adopted  father."  But  these  noblemen 
were  again  to  learn  another  lesson  from  the  regent's  boldness  and 
vigilance.  Knowing  well  all  the  sentiments  and  contrivances  of  his 
enemies,  and  distrusting  their  professions  of  sincerity,  he  determined, 
by  his  decision,  to  crush  the  faction  while  in  its  state  of  weakness, 
before  it  gathered  strength  to  trouble  the  country  by  renewed  com- 
motions. It  had  been  agreed  at  the  pacification  of  Glasgow,  between 
the  regent  and  Chatelherault,  that,  on  the  tenth  day  of  April  (1569), 
a  convention  should  be  held  to  settle  the  affairs  of  the  queen,  as  well 
as  to  ratify  the  treaty  entered  into  between  these  two  leaders  of  their 
respective  factions.  It  was  easily  perceived,  at  the  same  time,  that 
the  appearance  of  friendship  was  merely  superficial, — that  the  con- 
tending parties  still  indulged  their  animosities  and  hostilities, — that 
their  suspicions,  instead  of  being  dissipated,  were  becoming  stronger. 
The  regent  had  secret  intelligence  of  the  correspondence  of  Huntly 
and  Argyle,  and  of  Chatelherault's  irresolution.  The  day  of  conven- 
tion arrived,  and  the  nobles  assembled.  The  regent,  who,  in  virtue 
of  his  otfice,  presided  in  the  assembly,  as  president  of  the  convention, 
rising  up,  produced  a  document,  and  formally  demanded  of  the 
duke  if  he  would  subscribe  to  the  treaty  of  his  submission.  Chatel- 
herault, surprised  at  the  regent's  address,  nevertheless  assumed  con- 
fidence, and,  in  his  reply,  said  that  he  was  still  willing  to  observe  the 
conditions  ;  but  he  wished  to  be  informed  of  the  manner  in  which 
the  affairs  of  the  queen  were  to  be  concluded.  His  reply  was  evi- 
dently evasive  ;  for  had  he  been  sincere,  he  could  not  have 'scrupled 
to  make  his  written  acknowledgment.  The  regent's  penetration 
enabled  him  at  once  to  perceive  the  causes  of  these  scruples ;  he 
saw  that  if  the  duke  was  permitted  thus  to  break  loose  from  his  en- 
gagements, no  security  would  be  afforded  for  his  pretended  alle- 
giance. His  resolution  was  equally  bold  and  adventurous.  Setting 
aside  all  considerations  of  Chatelherault's  rank,  as  the  nearest  heir 
to  the  crown,  he  ordered  him  to  be  instantly  apprehended  by  his 
guards,  and,  with  lord  Hemes  and  the  abbot  of  Kilwinning,  he  was 
committed  a  prisoner  to  the  castle  of  Edinburgh. 

This  bold  and  politic  conduct  completely  annihilated  the  hopes  of 
the  faction.  Argyle  submitted  :  he  applied  for  a  pardon,  and,  as  he 
had  conducted  himself  with  considerable  moderation,  he  was  only 
required  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  king.  Huntly  was  now 
left  alone ;  his  conduct  demanded  a  more  serious  consideration. 
While  the  regent  was  in  England,  he  had  been  eminently  turbulent, 
and  he  had  acted  with  remarkable  ferocity  in  various  districts,  en- 
couraging the  devastations  of  his  retainers,  and  plundering  without 
exception  the  adherents  of  the  king.  There  were  various  discussions 
on  his  punishment,  which  finally  ended  in  his  caking  the  oath  ot 
7 


98  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

allegiance  to  the  king  at  St.  Andrew's.  Having  thus  defeated  this 
powerful  faction,  the  regent  made  a  visit  to  the  northern  districts  of 
the  kingdom,  and,  after  making  displays  of  his  justice  as  well  as 
clemency  in  various  quarters,  he  disunited  his  enemies  and  strength- 
ened his  own  power. 

The  regent  had  committed  Chatelherault  and  lord  Hemes  to  prison, 
as  he  imagined  that  he  could  not  reckon  on  his  own  security  while 
those  two  zealous  adherents  of  the  queen  were  at  large.  The  former 
being  chief  of  the  house  of  Hamilton,  this  act  roused  the  fury  of  the 
whole  name.  Nor  did  the  regent  stop  with  these  proceedings. 
Knowing  well  that  they  were  the  sole  rivals  of  his  greatness,  both  on 
account  of  their  high  station  and  their  pretensions  to  the  throne,  he 
determined  to  crush  the  Hamiltons  at  every  hazard;  to  undermine 
their  influence,  and,  if  possible,  to  facilitate  their  destruction.  The 
part  which  they  had  acted  at  the  battle  of  Langside  was  not  forgotten  ; 
and  the  enmity  which  Moray  and  Chatelherault  mutually  entertained 
towards  each  other  was  undisguised.  But  from  them  the  regent  would 
have  always  remained  secure  from  personal  vengeance.  It  was  the 
despair  and  vengeance  of  one  man  which  effected  his  destruction. 

James  Hamilton  of  Bothwellhaugh,  nephew  to  the  archbishop  of 
St.  Andrew's,  was  the  person  who  committed  this  detestable  deed. 
He  had  been  condemned  to  death,  with  six  other  gentlemen  of  dis- 
tinction, two  of  them  of  his  own  name,  the  barons  of  Innerwick  and 
Kincavil,  and,  with  them,  had  been  led  out  to  execution  for  his  share 
in  the  battle  of  Langside ;  but,  at  the  intercession  of  the  reformed 
clergy,  the  regent  spared  their  lives,  and  ordered  them  all  back  to 
prison.  This  gentleman  was  a  cadet  of  the  ducal  house  of  Chatel- 
herault ;  his  father,  the  first  of  his  family,  being  David  Hamilton, 
the  fifth  son  of  John  Hamilton  of  Orbiston.  His  estate  was  situated 
in  the  parish  of  Both  well,  and  county  of  Lanark,  whence  he  had  his 
designation.  He  had  married  Isabella  Sinclair,  daughter  and  co- 
heiress of  John  Sinclair  of  Woodhouselee,  in  Mid  Lothian,  and  this 
lady  was  the  innocent  cause  of  the  unfortunate  catastrophe. 

Hamilton  had  contrived  to  make  his  escape  from  prison ;  but  as 
the  act  of  forfeiture  for  his  concern  in  the  battle  of  Langside  re- 
mained in  full  force  against  him,  he  was  compelled  to  lurk  among 
his  friends.  Whether  the  regent  had  any  particular  hatred  towards 
him  cannot  be  ascertained  ;  yet  certain  it  is,  that  the  act  of  for- 
feiture was  removed  from  all  the  gentlemen  taken  prisoners  in  that 
affair,  Bothwellhaugh  excepted.  After  the  confiscation  of  Hamil- 
ton's estate,  his  wife,  who  had  remained  there  during  her  husband's 
absence,  never  imagining  that  her  own  inheritance  was  to  be  also 
doomed  to  the  same  calamity,  proceeded  to  "Woodhouselee,  thinking 
that  on  her  own  patrimony  she  would  with  security  await  the  issue 
of  more  prosperous  times. 

But  in  this  she  was  mistaken.  Sir  James  Bellenden,  lord  justice- 
clerk,  one  of  the  favourites  of  the  regent,  had  asked  and  obtained 
most  unjustly  the  estate  of  Woodhouselee.  As  Bellenden  knew  that 
Hamilton's  lady  resided  on  the  property,  he  applied  to  the  regent  for 
an  act  of  possession  ;  and  accordingly  some  officers  were  sent  to 
Woodhouselee,  who  secured  the  house,  and  barbarously  turned  the 


JAMES  STUART,  EARL  OF  MORAY.  99 

unfortunate  lady,  in  a  cold  and  stormy  night,  and  in  a  state  of  ill 
health,  naked  into  the  fields.  Before  the  morning  dawn,  she  was 
furiously  deranged.  Whether  the  officers  exceeded  their  commission 
we  cannot  say  ;  certain  it  is,  however,  that  this  horrid  and  inhuman 
conduct  was  allowed  to  pass  by  the  regent  without  any  censure.  The 
proceedings  of  those  villains,  the  enormity  of  the  latter  provocation, 
in  thus  savagely  destroying  the  wife  of  his  bosom,  in  addition  to  the 
injuries  he  had  already  borne,  completely  overcame  Hamilton's  pru- 
dence, and  from  that  moment  he  resolved  to  avenge  his  wrongs,  not 
on  the  despicable  villains  who  had  thus  so  barbarously  sported  with, 
his  feelings,  but  on  the  regent  himself,  whom  he  believed  to  be  the 
grand  author  of  this  injustice.  Nor  did  he  conceal  his  intentions. 
He  openly  avowed,  wherever  he  went,  that  he  would  endeavor  to 
effect  Moray's  destruction,  and  he  accordingly  watched  his  enemy's 
motions  for  some  time ;  but  he  was  invariably  disappointed  in  his 
daring  purposes. 

At  length,  unfortunately,  an  opportunity  offered,  which  Hamilton 
determined  to  improve.  The  regent  had  been  at  Stirling,  and  was 
on  his  way  to  the  metropolis.  He  had  to  pass  through  Linlithgow,  a 
town  venerable  and  sacred  in  Scottish  story.  This  town,  Hamilton 
chose  as  the  fittest  place  to  gratify  his  revenge.  With  the  utmost 
deliberation,  he  prepared  for  the  accomplishment  of  the  assassina- 
tion :  the  wrongs  he  had  sustained  ;  above  all,  the  recollection  of  the 
wife  of  his  bosom  whom  he  tenderly  loved,  preyed  on  the  mind  of 
the  rash  and  unhappy  man,  and  excited  the  most  frenzied  enthu- 
siasm. He  believed,  too,  that  he  was  doing  his  country  a  meritori- 
ous service  in  freeing  it  from  the  government  of  one  whom  he 
reckoned  its  greatest  oppressor.  Many  of  his  friends  of  the  name 
of  Hamilton  aided  him  in  the  horrid  and  detestable  enterprise.  The 
town  of  Linlithgow,  delightfully  situated  in  a  valley,  and  surrounded 
on  all  sides  by  rising  grounds,  consisted  then,  as  it  does  still,  of  one 
long  continued  street,  being  terminated  by  the  magnificent  palace 
and  the  ancient  church.  In  this  street  a  house  was  selected  by 
Hamilton,  about  the  middle  of  the  town,  for  the  accomplishment  of 
his  revenge.  As  there  is  a  number  of  entries,  or  passages,  (called 
in  Scotland  closes),  which  have  an  open  outlet  from  the  principal 
street  of  the  town  to  the  fields,  there  is  a  tradition,  that,  on  the  night 
before  the  assassination,  these  were  all  choked  up  with  a  thorny 
bush,  abounding  on  the  Scottish  high  grounds,  called  wliins, — a 
bush  full  of  prickles,  and  annoying  in  the  greatest  degree  to  those 
who  come  in  contact  with  them.  This  tradition  if  not  true,  is  at 
least  plausible  ;  for,  as  Hamilton  well  knew  that  there  would  be  an 
immediate  pursuit,  it  was  his  interest  to  present  as  many  obstacles 
as  possible  ;  and  this  trifling  one,  by  his  pursuers  rushing  through 
the  narrow  entries,  and  finding  themselves  suddenly  plunged  among 
the  whins  and  bramble  bushes,  might  contribute  to  his  safety  by 
causing  a  small  delay.  He  then  took  his  station  in  a  wooden  gallery 
fronting  the  street ;  and  that  he  might  the  more  securely  accomplish 
his  purpose,  without  exciting  suspicion  or  notice  while  in  the  act,  he 
first  spread  on  the  floor  of  the  room  a  large  feather  bed,  that  the 
noise  of  his  feet  in  his  movement  might  not  be  heard  ;  and  he  hung 


100  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

up  a  large  black  cloth  opposite  the  window,  that  none  without  might 
observe  his  shadow.  "  His  next  care,"  says  an  author,  who  graphi- 
cally describes  this  scene,  "  was  to  cut  a  hole  a  little  below  the  lat- 
tice, sufficient  to  admit  the  point  of  his  harquebus ;  and  to  add  to 
the  security  of  his  flight,  he  examined  the  gate  at  the  back  of  the 
house,  and  finding  it  too  low  for  a  man  to  pass  under  on  horseback, 
with  the  assistance  of  his  servant  he  removed  the  lintel,  and  kept  his 
horse  in  the  stable  ready  saddled  and  bridled.  After  all  these  pre- 
parations he  calmly  and  deliberately  awaited  the  approach  of  the 
regent,  who  had  slept  the  preceding  night  in  the  town." 

On  the  23d  day  of  January,  1570,  was  the  foul  deed  committed. 
The  threats  of  this  desperate  man,  however,  had  been  told  to  the 
regent :  on  this  very  day  he  got  certain  information  both  of  the  per- 
son, and  the  place  where  he  was  concealed;  and  Hamilton  was 
almost  disappointed  in  his  aim,  but  unfortunately  the  regent's  hour 
was  come.  Moray  was  remarkable  for  personal  courage  ;  but  though 
he  despised  Hamilton,  he  did  not  think  proper  to  disregard  the 
warning  of  his  danger.  He  had  accordingly  resolved  to  proceed  to 
Edinburgh  on  the  road  which  skirts  the  outside  of  the  town,  instead 
of  taking  the  street ;  but,  after  mounting  his  horse,  and  perceiving 
the  gate  through  which  he  meant  to  pass  blockaded  by  a  vast  crowd, 
he  turned  the  other  way,  through  the  principal  street.  Being  built 
according  to  the  fashion  of  the  age,  it  was  exceedingly  narrow  ;  and 
as  he  rode  along  with  his  guards  and  attendants,  the  crowd  increased 
so  much,  or  a  number  of  carts  were  purposely  overturned,  that  it 
was  with  the  greatest  difficulty  he  proceeded,  and  he  was  compelled 
to  move  with  the  utmost  tardiness.  As  he  advanced,  the  pressure 
increased,  and  unfortunately  he  was  compelled  to  make  a  halt  oppo- 
site the  very  house  in  which  his  intended  assassin  was  concealed. 
Hamilton  was  on  the  alert ;  immediately  he  seized  his  musket ;  and, 
trembling  with  fury,  at  the  same  time  rejoicing  that  his  revenge  was 
on  the  point  of  being  gratified,  he  took  a  marked  and  deliberate  aim 
at  the  unfortunate  nobleman.  He  pointed  towards  his  belt,  and,  dis- 
charging the  musket,*  with  a  single  bullet  he  shot  the  regent  through 
the  lower  part  of  the  belly.  The  ball  passed  through  him  below  the 
navel,  and  killed  the  horse  of  George  Douglas,  who  rode  on  his  right 
side. 

The  assassin  instantly  fled.  He  was  pursued  for  several  miles,  and 
was  at  one  time  on  the  point  of  being  taken :  his  horse  was  breath- 
less, and  almost  ready  to  sink — whip  and  spur  had  no  effect :  and 
coming  to  a  broad  ditch,  his  progress  was  impeded.  A  few  moment's 
delay  would  have  placed  Hamilton  in  the  hands  of  justice ;  but  he 
drew  his  dagger,  and  plunged  it  into  his  steed  behind.  The  horse, 
by  a  desperate  exertion,  leaped  across  the  ditch.  The  assassin  thus 
escaped.  He  fled  first  to  Hamilton,  and  then  sought  shelter  with  his 
brother-in-law,  Muirhead  of  Lauchope,  who  hospitably  received  him, 
and  protected  him  for  the  night.  The  following  day  he  was  accom- 
panied a  part  of  his  way  by  this  relative ;  and  after  a  brief  conceal- 
ment about  the  town  of  Hamilton,  he  effected  his  final  escape  to 

*  The  musket  is  still  to  be  seen  in  Hamilton  palace,  it  having  been  presented  to  the  duke 
btf  a  cadet  of  the  family. 


-aMES    STUART,   EARL  OF   MORAY.  101 

France,  where  he  died  some  years  afterwards,  expressing  great  con- 
trition for  the  execrable  crime  he  had  committed. 

Nothing  could  exceed  the  consternation  of  the  multitude  at  Linlith- 
gow, when  the  fatal  shot  was  fired  with  such  a  well-directed  aim.  A 
cry  of  horror  and  lamentation  burst  from  the  crowd  and  the  regent's 
attendants ;  the  call  of  "  To  arms'''  was  sounded,  and  they  rushed 
forward  to  the  place  from  whence  the  ball  had  been  aimed.  All  was 
confusion,  dismay,  and  sorrow ;  for  Moray  had  secured  the  affections 
of  the  nation.  The  regent,  in  the  mean  time,  told  his  attendants  that 
he  was  wounded ;  but  recovering  from  the  sudden  surprise,  he  dis- 
mounted, and  demanded  to  be  led  to  his  lodgings.  He  revived  so  far 
as  to  be  able  to  walk  thither,  and  the  medical  attendants  were  quickly 
summoned,  while  the  multitude  and  the  inhabitants  of  the  town 
expressed  their  sorrow  by  their  lamentations  and  tears.  At  first  it 
was  thought  that  the  wound  was  not  mortal ;  but  towards  evening 
the  pain  increased,  and  the  unfortunate  nobleman  began  to  prepare 
himself  for  death.  "With  all  the  calmness  of  a  hero,  a  philosopher, 
and  a  Christian,  he  discoursed  to  those  around  him,  and  began  to 
settle  his  affairs.  When  he  was  told  by  his  friends  that  he  had 
ruined  himself  by  his  clemency,  having  once  spared  the  life  of  the 
assassin,  which  he  might  justly  have  taken,  he  replied  with  great 
composure  and  magnanimity,  "  Your  importunities  and  reflections  do 
not  make  me  repent  of  my  clemency."  His  latter  end  was  becoming 
a  Christian  and  a  great  man.  After  he  had  arranged  all  his  family 
concerns,  he  felt  the  pains  of  dissolution  overtake  him.  He  recom- 
mended the  young  king  to  the  care  of  the  nobles  who  were  present ; 
and,  without  speaking  evil  of  any  man,  he  expired  a  little  before 
midnight,  on  the  23d  day  of  January,  1570,  in  the  thirty-eighth  year 
of  his  age. 

Thus  fell  the  earl  of  Moray,  after  he  had  escaped  so  many  dangers. 
He  was  certainly  an  able  governor,  and  an  estimable  man.  Both 
Buchanan  and  Spottiswood,  though  they  differ  in  many  things,  have 
given  him  the  highest  character.  "  His  death,"  says  Buchanan, 
"  was  lamented  by  all  good  men,  who  loved  him  as  the  common 
father  of  his  country ;  even  his  enemies  confessed  his  merit  when 
dead.  They  admired  his  valour  in  war,  his  ready  disposition  for 
peace,  his  activity  in  business,  in  which  he  was  commonly  very  suc- 
cessful :  the  Divine  favour  seemed  to  shine  on  all  his  actions  ;  he 
was  merciful  to  offenders,  and  equitable  in  all  his  decisions.  When 
the  field  did  not  call  for  his  presence,  he  was  busied  in  the  adminis- 
tration of  justice ;  by  which  means  the  poor  were  not  oppressed,  and 
the  terms  of  lawsuits  were  shortened.  His  house  was  like  a  holy 
temple  :  after  meals  he  caused  a  chapter  of  the  Bible  to  be  read,  and 
asked  the  opinions  of  such  learned  men  as  were  present,  upon  it ; 
not  out  of  vain  curiosity,  but  from  a  desire  to  learn,  and  reduce  to 
practice  what  it  contained."  In  a  word,  he  was,  both  in  his  public 
and  private  life,  a  pattern  worthy  of  imitation  ;  and  happy  would  it 
be  for  us,  that  our  nobles  were  more  disposed  to  walk  in  the  paths  in 
which  he  trode  : — for,  "  above  all  his  virtues,"  says  Spottiswood, 
"  which  were  not  a  few,  he  shone  in  piety  towards  God,  ordering 
himself  and  his  family  in  such  a  way,  as   did  more  resemble   a 


102  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

church  than  a  court;  for  therein,  besides  the  exercise  of  devotion, 
which  he  never  omitted,  there  was  no  wickedness,  to  be  seen;  nay, 
not  an  unseemly  or  wanton  word  to  be  heard.  He  was  a  man  truly 
good,  and  worthy  to  be  ranked  among  the  best  governors  that  this 
kingdom  hath  enjoyed,  and  therefore  to  this  day  is  honoured  with  the 
title  of  the  Good  Regent." 

Nothing  could  exceed  the  dismay  and  surprise  when  the  news  of 
the  regent's  assassination  reached  Edinburgh.  The  gates  of  the  city 
were  closed,  and  the  sentinels  doubled  on  every  post.  His  body  was 
brought  to  the  capital,  amid  the  tears  and  the  groans  of  the  people. 
His  many  virtues,  his  vigorous  administration,  his  talents,  were  all 
recollected  with  regret.  Elizabeth  lamented  his  loss  as  that  of  a 
faithful  friend  ;  the  reformed  clergy  were  in  sorrow  and  despondency, 
pronouncing  panegyrics  on  his  public  and  private  life.  He  was 
interred  in  the  cathedral  of  St.  Giles,  and  his  tomb  is  yet  to  be  seen 
in  that  part  of  the  Cathedral  called  the  old  church.  The  monument 
is  plain,  yet  not  wanting  in  decoration.  It  is  on  the  east  side  of  the 
massive  pillar,  at  the  north  end  of  which  is  the  pulpit.  Under  this 
monument  are  the  bones  of  the  regent  Moray. 

"When  the  news  of  the  regent's  death  reached  Mary's  prison,  the 
tenderness  of  her  nature  overcame  her,  and  she  wept  at  the  fate  of  a 
brother.  According  to  her  belief,  he  was  a  heretic,  and  she  shed 
tears  of  sorrow  and  anguish  that  he  had  died  impenitent,  unconfessed, 
unforgiven.  She  heard  the  account  of  his  fate  with  a  bursting 
heart,  and  exclaimed,  "  "Would  that  he  had  not  died,  till  he  had 
repented  of  his  crimes  towards  his  God,  his  country,  and  me." 

Various  are  the  characters  given  of  him  by  historians,  according 
to  the  factions  to  which  they  adhered.  Possessed  of  the  most  splen- 
did talents,  with  an  ample  revenue,  and  a  person  uncommonly 
attractive,  he  despised  the  life  of  an  ecclesiastic,  and  at  an  early  age 
appeared  on  the  arena  of  public  affairs.  His  mind  was  naturally 
restless  and  active,  and  the  period  in  which  he  lived  afforded  him 
opportunities  to  display  his  abilities.  Zeal  for  religion  and  liberty 
were  among  his  early  characteristics.  He  was  equally  brave, 
resolute,  and  sagacious  ;  fitted  either  for  the  cabinet  or  the  camp  ;  at 
once  a  diplomatist,  a  statesman,  and  a  warrior.  Though  surrounded 
by  difficulties,  he  was  never  overcome  :  he  could  rise  superior  to  them 
all  ;  in  adversity  and  prosperity,  when  either  the  exile  or  the 
favourite,  he  flourished  :  his  profound  penetration  enabled  him  to 
foresee  dangers,  his  prudence  to  prepare  for  them,  and  his  fortitude 
to  surmount  them.  His  intrepidity,  military  skill,  and  vigour  in  the 
government  are  not  denied  even  by  his  enemies  ;  and  he  is  acknow- 
ledged to  have  been  among  the  greatest  captains  and  statesmen  of 
his  age. 

"Without  doubt,  therefore,  the  regent  Moray  was  a  great  and  a 
good  man.  He  lias  the  glory  of  achieving  and  establishing  the 
reformation  of  religion  ;  and  it  has  afforded  him  a  fame  brilliant  and 
lasting.  And  whether  we  view  him  as  at  the  head  of  the  government 
in  those  times  of  turbulence,  faction,  and  strife,  or  impartial  in  the 
dis])ensing  of  justice,  restraining  and  repressing  the  wandering 
incursions  of  freebooters,  and  establishing  universal  peace  and  order 


JOHN   KNOX 


103 


over  the  country — we  shall  find  that  the  Good  Regent  is  the  name 
by  which  he  deserves  to  be  long  and  affectionately  remembered 
among  the  people. 


JOHN  KNOX. 


John  Knox  was  born  in  the  year  1505.  The  place  of  his  nativity 
has  been  disputed.  The  most  prevailing  opinion  is,  that  he  was 
born  at  Gilford,  a  village  in  East  Lothian  ;  while  the  tradition  of 
the  country  fixes  his  birth  at  Haddington,  the  principal  town  of  the 
county. 

The  name  of  his  mother  was  Sinclair.  His  father  was  descended 
from  an  ancient  and  respectable  family,  who  possessed  the  lands  of 
Knock,  Ranferly,  and  Craigends,  in  the  shire  of  Renfrew.  The 
descendants  of  this  family  have  been  accustomed  to  claim  him  as  a 
cadet,  and  to  enumerate  among  the  honours  of  their  house,  its  giving 
birth  to  the  Scottish  reformer,  a  bishop  of  Raphoe,  and  of  the  Isles. 
At  what  period  his  ancestors  removed  from  their  original  seat  and 
settled  in  Lothian,  has  not  been  exactly  ascertained. 

Some  writers  have  asserted  that  our  reformer's  parents  were  poor ; 
but  this  cannot  be  strictly  true  ;  for  they  were  able  to  give  their  son 
a  liberal  education,  which,  in  that  age,  was  far  from  being  common. 
In  his  youth  he  was  put  to  the  grammar-school  of  Haddington  ;  and, 
after  acquiring  the  principles  of  the  Latin  tongue  there,  was  sent,  by 
his  father,  to  the  university  of  St.  Andrew's,  at  that  time  the  most 
celebrated  seminary  in  the  kingdom.  This  was  about  the  year  1524 ; 
at  which  time  George  Buchanan  commenced  his  studies,  under  the 
same  masters,  and  in  the  same  college  of  St.  Salvador. 

Here  he  had  an  opportunity  of  studying  the  Aristotelian  philoso- 
phy, scholastic  theology,  with  canon  and  civil  law,  the  principal 
branches  cultivated  in  our  universities.  The  Latin  tongue  was 
universally  known  among  the  learned  at  that  time,  but  not  so  the 
Greek. 

Knox  acquired  the  latter  language  before  he  reached  middle  age  ; 
but  we  find  him  acknowledging,  as  late  as  the  year  1550,  that  lie  was 
ignorant  of  Hebrew,  a  defect  in  his  education  which  he  exceedingly 
lamented,  but  which  he  afterwards  got  supplied  during  his  exile  on 
the  continent. 

He  studied  under  John  Mair,  or  Major,  to  whom  we  have  referred 


104  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

in  our  life  of  Patrick  Hamilton.  This  famous  preceptor  taught  that 
the  authority  of  kings  and  princes  was  originally  derived  from  the 
people  ;  that  the  former  are  not  superior  to  the  latter  collectively 
considered  ;  that  if  rulers  become  tyrannical,  or  employ  their  power 
for  the  destruction  of  their  subjects,  they  may  lawfully  be  controlled 
■by  them,  and,  proving  incorrigible,  may  be  deposed  by  the  commu- 
nity as  the  superior  power ;  and  that  tyrants  may  be  judicially 
proceeded  against,  even  to  capital  punishment.  And  as  these 
opinions  bear  an  affinity  to  the  political  principles  afterwards  avowed 
by  Knox,  the  influence  of  the  teacher  is  seen  on  the  mind  of  the 
pupil. 

Knox  soon  became  disgusted  with  mere  scholastic  learning,  and 
began  to  seek  entertainment  more  gratifying  to  his  ardent  and 
inquisitive  mind.  Having  set  out  in  search  of  knowledge,  as  is  the 
case  with  giant  minds,  he  released  himself  from  the  trammels,  and 
overleaped  the  boundaries,  prescribed  to  him  by  his  conductor.  He 
followed  the  bent  of  his  own  mind,  and,  passing  through  the  avenues 
of  secular  learning,  devoted  himself  to  the  study  of  divine  truth,  and 
the  labours  of  the  sacred  ministry. 

But  we  must  not  suppose,  that  Knox  was  able  at  once  to  divest 
himself  of  the  prejudices  of  his  education  and  of  the  times.  Barren 
and  repulsive  as  the  scholastic  studies  appear  to  our  minds,  there  was 
something  in  the  intricate  and  subtle  sophistry  then  in  vogue,  calcu- 
lated to  fascinate  the  youthful  and  ingenuous  mind.  It  had  a  show 
of  wisdom  ;  it  exercised,  although  it  did  not  feel  the  understanding ; 
it  even  gave  play  to  the  imagination,  while  it  exceedingly  flattered 
the  pride  of  the  adept.  Nor  was  it  easy  for  the  person  who  had 
suffered  himself  to  be  drawn  in,  to  break  through  or  extricate  him- 
self from  the  mazy  labyrinth.  Accordingly,  Knox  continued  for 
some  time  captivated  with  these  studies,  and  prosecuted  them  with 
great  success.  After  he  was  created  master  of  arts,  he  taught  philos- 
ophy, most  probably  as  an  assistant,  or  private  lecturer  in  the  uni- 
versity. His  class  became  celebrated ;  and  he  was  considered  as 
ecmalling,  if  not  excelling,  his  master,  in  the  subtleties  of  the  dialec- 
tic art.  About  the  same  time,  he  was  advanced  to  clerical  orders, 
and  ordained  a  priest,  before  he  had  reached  the  age  fixed  by  the 
canons  of  the  church  ;  although  he  had  no  other  interests  except  what 
was  procured  by  his  own  merit,  or  the  recommendations  of  his 
teachers.  This  must  have  taken  place  previous  to  the  year  1530,  at 
which  time  he(was  twenty-five  years  of  age. 

It  was  not  long,  however,  till  his  studies  received  a  new  direction, 
which  led  to  a  complete  revolution  in  his  religious  sentiments,  and 
had  an  important  influence  on  the  whole  of  his  future  life.  Not 
satisfied  with  the  excerpts  from  ancient  authors,  which  he  found  in 
the  writings  of  the  scholastic  divines  and  canonists,  he  resolved  to 
have  recourse  to  the  original  works.  In  them  he  found  a  method  of 
investigating  and  communicating  truth  to  which  he  had  hitherto  been 
a  stranger  ;  the  simplicity  of  which  recommended  itself  to  his  mind, 
in  spite  of  the  prejudices  of  education,  and  the  pride  of  superior 
attainments  in  his  own  favourite  art.  Among  the  fathers  of  the 
Christian  church,  Jerome  and  Augustine  attracted  his  particular 


IOHN    KNOX. 


105 


attention.  By  the  writings  of  the  former,  lie  was  led  to  the  scrip- 
tures as  the  only  pure  fountain  of  divine  truth,  and  instructed  in  the 
utility  of  studying-  them  in  the  original  languages.  In  the  works  of 
the  latter,  he  found  religious  sentiments  very  opposite  to  those  taught 
in  the  Romish  church,  who  while  she  retained  his  name  a*  a  saint  in 
her  calendar,  had  banished  his  doctrine  as  heretical,  from  her  pulpits. 
From  this  time  he  renounced  the  study  of  scholastic  theology  ;  and, 
although  not  yet  completely  emancipated  from  superstition,  his  mind 
was  fitted  for  improving  the  means  which  Providence  had  prepared, 
for  leading  him  to  a  fuller  and  more  comprehensive  view  of  the 
system  of  evangelical  religion.  It  was  about  the  year  1535,  when 
this  favourable  change  of  his  sentiments  commenced ;  but,  until 
1542,  it  does  not  appear  that  he  professed  himself  a  protestant. 

His  change  of  views  first  discovered  itself  in  his  philosophical 
lectures,  in  which  he  began  to  forsake  the  scholastic  path,  and  to 
recommend  to  his  pupils  a  more  rational  and  useful  method  of  study. 
Even  this  innovation  excited  against  him  violent  suspicions  of 
heresy,  which  were  confirmed,  when  he  proceeded  to  reprehend  the 
corruptions  which  prevailed  in  the  church.  It  was  impossible  for 
him,  after  this,  to  remain- in  safety  at  St.  Andrew's,  which  was  wholly 
under  the  power  of  cardinal  Beaton,  the  most  determined  supporter 
of  the  Romish  church,  and  enemy  of  all  reform.  He  left  that  place, 
and  retired  to  the  south,  where,  within  a  short  time,  he  avowed  his 
full  belief  of  the  protestant  doctrine.  Provoked  by  his  defection, 
and  alarmed  lest  he  should  draw  others  after  him,  the  clergy  were 
anxious  to  rid  themselves  of  such  an  adversary.  Having  passed 
sentence  against  him  as  a  heretic,  and  degraded  him  from  the  priest- 
hood, says  Beza,  the  cardinal  employed  assassins  to  waylay  him,  by 
whose  hands  he  must  have  fallen,  had  not  Providence  placed  him 
under  the  protection  of  the  laird  of  Longniddrie. 

Thomas  Guillaume,  or  Williams,  was  very  useful  to  Knox,  in  lead- 
ing him  to  a  more  perfect  acquaintance  with  the  truth.  He  was  a 
friar  of  eminence,  and  along  with  John  Rough,  acted  as  chaplain  to 
the  earl  of  Arran,  during  the  short  time  that  he  favoured  the  reform- 
ation, at  the  beginning  of  his  regency,  by  whom  he  was  employed  in 
preaching  in  different  parts  of  the  kingdom.  But  the  person  to 
whom  our  reformer  was  most  indebted,  was  George  "Wishart. 

Having  relinquished  all  thoughts  of  officiating  in  that  church, 
which  had  invested  him  with  clerical  orders,  Knox  had  entered  as 
tutor  into  the  family  of  Hugh  Douglass  of  Longniddrie,  a  gentleman 
in  East  Lothian,  who  had  embraced  the  reformed  doctrines.  John 
Oockburn  of  Ormiston,  a  neighbouring  gentleman  of  the  same  per- 
suasion, also  put  his  son  under  his  tuition.  These  young  men  were 
instructed  by  him  in  the  principles  of  religion,  as  well  of  the  learned 
languages.  He  managed  their  religious  instruction  in  such  a  way  as 
to  allow  the  rest  of  the  family,  and  the  people  of  the  neighbourhood 
to  reap  advantage  from  it.  lie  catechized  them  publicly  in  a  chapel 
at  Longniddrie,  in  which  he  also  read  to  them,  at  stated  times,  a 
chapter  of  the  Bible,  accompanied  with  explanatory  remarks.  The 
memory  of  this  has  been  preserved  by  tradition,  and  the  chapel,  the 


106  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

ruins  of  which  are  still  apparent,  is  popularly  called  John  Knox's 
kirk. 

It  was  not  to  be  expected,  that  he  would  long  be  suffered  to 
continue  this  employment,  under  a  government  which  was  now 
entirely  at  the  devotion  of  cardinal  Beaton,  who  had  gained  over  to 
his  measures  the  timid  and  irresolute  regent,  Arran.  But  in  the 
midst  of  his  cruelties,  and  while  he  was  planning  still  more  desperate 
deeds,  the  cardinal  was  himself  suddenly  cut  off.*  His  death  did 
not,  however,  free  Knox  from  persecution.  John  Hamilton,  an  ille- 
gitimate brother  of  the  regent,  who  was  nominated  to  the  vacant 
bishopric,  sought  his  life  with  as  great  eagerness  as  his  predecessor. 
He  was  obliged  to  conceal  himself,  and  to  remove  from  place  to  place,  to 
provide  for  his  safety.  Wearied  with  this  mode  of  living,  and  appre- 
hensive that  he  would  one  day  fall  into  the  hands  of  his  enemies,  he 
came  to  the  resolution  of  leaving  Scotland.  He  had  no  desire  to  go 
to  England  ;  because,  although  "  the  pope's  name  was  suppressed"  in 
that  kingdom,  "  his  laws  and  corruptions  remained  in  full  vigour." 
His  determination  wras  to  visit  Germany,  and  prosecute  his  studies  in 
some  of  the  protestant  universities,  unless  he  should  see  a  favourable 
change  in  the  state  of  his  native  country.  The  lairds  of  Longnid- 
drie  and  Ormiston  were  extremely  reluctant  to  part  with  him,  and, 
by  their  importunities,  prevailed  with  him  to  take  refuge,  along  with 
their  sons,  in  the  castle  of  St.  Andrew's,  which  continued  to  be  held 
by  the  conspirators. 

Knox  entered  the  castle  of  St.  Andrew's,  at  the  time  of  Easter, 
15-17,  and  conducted  the  education  of  his  pupils  after  his  accustomed 
manner.  In  the  chapel  within  the  castle,  he  read  to  them  his 
lectures  on  the  Scriptures,  beginning  at  the  place  in  the  Gospel 
according  to  John,  where  he  had  left  off  at  Longniddrie.  He  cate- 
chized them  in  the  parish  church  belonging  to  the  city.  A  number 
of  persons  attended  both  these  exercises.  Among  those  who  had 
taken  refuge  in  the  castle  (though  not  engaged  in  the  conspiracy 
against  the  cardinal,)  were  John  Rough,  who,  since  his  dismissal  by 
the  regent,  had  lurked  in  Kyle;  Sir  David  Lindsay  of  the  Mount; 
and  Henry  Belnaves  of  Halhill.  These  persons  were  so  much 
pleased  with  Knox's  doctrine  and  mode  of  teaching,  that  they  urged 
him  to  preach  publicly  to  the  people,  and  to  become  colleague  to 
Rough,  who  acted  as  chaplain  to  the  garrison.  But  he  resisted  all 
their  solicitations,  assigning  as  a  reason,  that  he  did  not  consider 
himself  as  having  a  call  to  this  employment,  and  would  not  be 
guilty  of  intrusion.  They  did  not,  however,  desist  from  their 
purpose  ;  but,  having  consulted  with  their  brethren,  came  to  a  reso- 
lution, without  his  knowledge,  that  a  call  should  be  publicly  given 
him,  in  the  name  of  the  whole,  to  become  one  of  their  ministers. 

Accordingly,  on  a  day  fixed  for  the  purpose,  Rough  preached  a 
sermon  on  the  election  of  ministers,  in  which  he  declared  the  power 
which  a  congregation,  however  small,  had  over  any  one  in  whom 
they  perceived  gifts  suited  to  the  office,  and  how  dangerous  it  was 
for  such  a  person  to  reject  the  call  of  those  who  desired  instruction. 

*  See  our  Life  of  Wishart,  p.  57. 


;ohn  KNOX.  107 

Sermon  being  ended,  the  preacher  turned  to  Knox,  who  was  present, 
and  addressed  him  in  these  words:  "Brother,  you  shall  not  be 
offended,  although  I  speak  unto  you  that  which  I  have  in  charge, 

even  from  all  those  that  are  here  present,  which  is  this  :  In  the  name 
of  God,  and  of  his  Son  Jesus  Christ,  and  in  the  name  of  all  that 
presently  call  you  by  my  mouth,  I  charge  you  that  }Tou  refuse  not 
this  holy  vocation  ;  but  as  you  tender  the  glory  of  God,  the  increase 
of  Christ's  kingdom,  the  edification  of  your  brethren,  and  the  comfort 
of  me,  whom  you  understand  wrell  enough  to  be  oppressed  by  the 
multitude  of  labours,  that  you  take  upon  you  the  public  office  and 
charge  of  preaching,  even  as  you  look  to  avoid  God's  heavy  dis- 
pleasure, and  desire  that  he  shall  multiply  his  graces  unto  you." 
Then,  addressing  himself  to  the  congregation,  he  said,  "  AVas  not 
this  your  charge  unto  me  ?  and  do  ye  not  approve  this  vocation  ?" 
They  all  answered,  "  It  was ;  and  we  approve  it."  Abashed  and 
overwhelmed  by  this  unexpected  and  solemn  charge,  Knox  was 
unable  to  speak  ;  but  bursting  into  tears,  retired  from  the  assembly, 
and  shut  himself  up  in  his  chamber.  "  His  countenance  and 
behaviour  from  that  day,  till  the  day  that  he  was  compelled  to 
present  himself  in  the  public  place  of  preaching,  did  sufficiently 
declare  the  grief  and  trouble  of  his  heart ;  for  no  man  saw  any  sign 
of  mirth  about  him,  neither  had  he  pleasure  to  accompany  any  man 
for  many  days  together." 

His  distress  of  mind  on  the  present  occasion  proceeded  from  a 
higher  source  than  the  deficiency  of  some  external  formalites  in  his 
call.  He  had  no  very  different  thoughts  as  to  the  importance  of  the 
ministerial  office,  from  what  he  had  entertained  when  ceremoniously 
invested  with  orders.  The  care  of  immortal  souls,  of  whom  he  must 
give  an  account  to  the  Chief  Bishop ;  the  charge  of  declaring  "  th( 
whole  counsel  of  God,  keeping  nothing  back,"  however  ungrateful  to 
his  hearers,  and  of  "  preaching  in  season  and  out  of  season  ;"  the 
manner  of  life,  afflictions,  persecutions,  imprisonment,  exile,  ana 
violent  death,  to  which  the  preachers  of  the  protestant  doctrine  were 
exposed ;  the  hazard  of  his  sinking  under  these  hardships,  and 
"  making  shipwreck  of  faith  and  a  good  conscience ;"  these,  with 
similar  considerations,  rushed  into  his  mind,  and  filled  it  with  agita- 
tion and  grief.  At  length,  satisfied  that  he  had  the  call  of  God  to 
engage  in  this  work,  he  composed  his  mind  to  a  reliance  on  Him  who 
had  engaged  to  make  his  "  strength  perfect  in  the  weakness"  of  his 
servants,  and  resolved,  with  the  apostle,  "  not  to  count  his  life  dear, 
that  he  might  finish  with  joy  the  ministry  which  he  received  of  the 
Lord,  to  testify  the  gospel  of  the  grace  of  God."  Often  did  he  after- 
wards reflect  with  lively  emotion  upon  this  very  interesting  step  of 
his  life,  and  never,  in  the  midst  of  his  greatest  sufferings,  did  he  see 
reason  to  repent  the  choice  which  he  had  so  deliberately  made. 

His  labours  were  so  successful  during  the  few  months  that  he 
preached  at  St.  Andrew's,  that,  besides  those  in  the  castle,  a  great 
number  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  renounced  popery,  and  made 
profession  of  the  protestant  faith,  by  participating  of  the  Lord's 
supper,  which  he  administered  to  them  in  the  maimer  afterwards 
practised  in  the  reformed  church   of  Scotland.     The   gratification 


108  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

which  he  felt  in  these  first-fruits  of  his  ministry,  was  in  some  degree 
abated  by  instances  of  vicious  conduct  in  those  under  his  charge, 
some  of  whom  were  guilty  of  those  acts  of  licentiousness  too  common 
among  soldiery  placed  in  similar  circumstances.  From  the  time  that 
he  was  chosen  to  be  their  preacher,  he  openly  rebuked  these  dis- 
orders, and  when  he  perceived  that  his  admonition  failed  in  putting  a 
stop  to  them,  he  did  not  conceal  his  apprehensions  of  the  issue  of  the 
enterprise  in  which  they  were  engaged. 

In  the  end  of  June,  1547,  a  French  fleet,  with  a  considerable  body 
of  land  forces,  under  the  command  of  Leo  Strozzi,  appeared  before 
St.  Andrew's,  to  assist  the  governor  in  the  reduction  of  the  castle. 
It  was  invested  both  by  sea  and  land  ;  and  being  disappointed  of  the 
expected  aid  from  England,  the  besieged,  after  a  brave  and  vigorous 
resistance,  were  under  the  necessity  of  capitulating  to  the  French 
commander  on  the  last  day  of  July.  The  terms  of  the  capitulation 
were  honourable  ;  the  lives  of  all  that  were  in  the  castle  were  to  be 
spared  ;  they  were  to  be  transported  to  France,  and  if  they  did  not 
choose  to  enter  into  the  service  of  the  French  king,  were  to  be 
conveyed  to  any  other  country  which  they  might  prefer,  except 
Scotland.  John  Rough  had  left  the  castle  previous  to  the  com- 
mencement of  the  siege,  and  had  retired  to  England.  Knox, 
although  he  did  not  expect  that  the  garrison  would  be  able  to  hold 
out,  could  not  prevail  upon  himself  to  desert  his  charge,  and  resolved 
to  share  with  his  brethren  the  hazard  of  the  siege.  He  was  conveyed 
along  with  the  rest  on  board  the  fleet',  which,  in  a  few  days,  set  sail 
for  France,  arrived  at  Fecamp,  and,  going  up  the  Seine,  anchored 
before  Rouen.  The  capitulation  was  violated,  and  they  were  all 
detained  prisoners  of  war,  at  the  solicitation  of  the  pope  and  the 
Scottish  clergy.  The  principal  gentlemen  were  incarcerated  in 
Rouen,  Cherburg,  Brest,  and  Mount  St.  Michael.  Knox,  with  some 
others,  was  confined  on  board  the  galleys,  bound  with  chains,  and 
treated  with  all  the  indignities  offered  to  heretics,  in  addition  to  the 
rigours  of  ordinary  captivity. 

From  Rouen  they  sailed  to  Nantes,  and  lay  upon  the  Loire  during 
the  following  winter.  Solicitations,  threatenings,  and  violence,  were 
employed  to  make  the  prisoners  recant  their  religion,  and  counte- 
nance the  popish  worship  ;  but  so  great  was  their  abhorrence  of  its 
idolatry,  that  not  a  single  individual  of  the  whole  company,  on  land 
or  water,  could  be  induced  to  symbolize  in  the  smallest  degree. 
"While  the  prison-ships  lay  on  the  Loire,  mass  was  frequently  said, 
and  Salve  Regina  sung  on  board,  or  on  the  shore  within  their 
hearing :  on  these  occasions  they  were  brought  out  and  threatened 
with  torture,  if  they  did  not  give  the  usual  signs  of  reverence ;  but 
instead  of  complying,  they  covered  their  heads  as  soon  as  the  service 
began.  Knox  has  related  a  humorous  incident  which  took  place  on 
one  of  these  occasions  ;  and  although  he  has  not  named  the  person 
concerned  in  it,  most  probably  it  was  himself.  One  day  a  fine 
painted  image  of  the  Virgin  was  brought  into  one  of  the  galleys,  and 
presented  to  a  Scots  prisoner  to  kiss.  He  desired  the  bearer  not  to 
trouble  him,  for  such  idols  were  accursed,  and  he  would  not  touch  it- 
The  officers  roughly  replied,  that  he  should,  put  it  to  his  face,  ar* 


JOHN   KNOX. 


109 


thrust  it  into  his  hands.  Upon  this  he  took  hold  of  the  image,  and 
watching  his  opportunity,  threw  it  into  the  river,  saying,  "  Lat  our 
Ladie  now  save  herself:  sche  is  lycht  anoughe,  lat  hir  leirne  to 
swime."     After  this  they  were  no  more  troubled  in  that  way. 

The  galleys  returned  to  Scotland  in  the  summer  of  1548,  as  nearly 
as  we  can  ascertain,  and  continued  for  a  considerable  time  on  the 
east  coast,  to  watch  for  English  vessels.  Knox's  health,  was  now 
greatly  impaired  by  the  severity  of  his  confinement,  and  he  was 
seized  with  a  fever,  during  which  his  life  was  despaired  of  by  all  in 
the  ship.  But  even  in  this  state,  his  fortitude  of  mind  remained  un- 
subdued, and  he  comforted  his  fellow-prisoners  with  hopes  of  release. 
To  their  anxious  desponding  inquiries  (natural  to  men  in  their  situa- 
tion), "  if  he  thought  they  would  ever  obtain  their  liberty,"  his  uni- 
form answer  was,  "  God  will  deliver  us  to  his  glory,  even  in  this 
life."  While  they  lay  on  the  coast  between  Dundee  and  St. 
Andrew's,  Mr.  (afterwards  Sir)  James  Balfour,  who  was  confined  in 
the  same  ship,  desired  him  to  look  to  the  land,  and  see  if  he  knew  it. 
Though  at  that  time  very  sick,  he  replied,  "  Yes,  I  know  it  well ; 
for  I  see  the  steeple  of  that  place  where  God  first  opened  my  mouth 
in  public  to  his  glory  ;  and  I  am  fully  persuaded,  how  weak  soever 
I  now  appeal-,  that  I  shall  not  depart  this  life,  till  that  my  tongue 
shall  glorify  his  godly  name  in  the  same  place."  This  striking  reply 
Sir  James  repeated,  in  the  presence  of  many  witnesses,  a  number  of 
years  before  Knox  returned  to  Scotland,  and  when  there  was  very 
little  prospect  of  his  words  being  verified. 

"We  must  not,  however,  think  that  he  possessed  this  elevation  and 
tranquillity  of  mind,  during  the  whole  time  of  his  imprisonment. 
When  first  thrown  into  cruel  bonds,  insulted  by  his  enemies,  and 
without  any  apparent  prospect  of  release,  he  was  not  a  stranger  to 
the  anguish  of  despondency,  so  pathetically  described  by  the  royal 
Psalmist  of  Israel.  He  felt  that  conflict  in  his  spirit,  with  which  all 
good  men  are  acquainted  ;  and  which  becomes  peculiarly  sharp 
when  joined  with  corpofal  affection.  But,  having  had  recourse  to 
prayer,  the  never-failing  refuge  of  the  oppressed,  he  was  relieved 
from  all  his  fears;  and,  reposing  upon  the  promise  and  providence 
of  the  God  whom  he  served,  attained  to  "  the  confidence  and  rejoic- 
ing of  hope." 

When  free  from  fever,  he  relieved  the  tedium  of  captivity  by 
committing  to  writing  a  confession  of  his  faith,  containing  the  sub- 
stance of  what  he  had  taught  at  St.  Andrew's,  with  a  particular 
account  of  the  disputation  which  he  had  maintained  in  St.  Leonard's 
Yards.  This  he  found  means  to  convey  to  his  religious  acquaint- 
ances in  Scotland,  accompanied  with  an  earnest  exhortation  to  per- 
severe in  the  faith  which  they  had  professed,  whatever  persecutions 
they  might  suffer  for  its  sake.  To  this  confession  he  afterwards 
refers,  in  the  defence  of  his  doctrine  before  the  bishop  of  Durham. 
"  Let  no  man  think,  that  because  I  am  in  the  realm  of  England, 
therefore  so  boldly  I  speak.  No,  God  hath  taken  that  suspicion  from 
me.  For  the  body  lying  in  most  painful  bands  in  the  midst  of  cruel 
tyrants,  his  mercy  and  goodness  provided  that  the  hand  should  write 


HO  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

and  bear  witness  to  the  confession  of  the  heart,  more  abundantly 
than  ever  yet  the  tongue  spake." 

Notwithstanding  the  rigour  of  their  confinement,  the  prisoners, 
who  were  separated,  found  opportunities  of  occasionally  correspond- 
ing with  one  another.  Henry  Balnaves  of  Halhill  composed  in  his 
prison  a  Treatise  on  Justification,  and  the  Works  and  Conversation 
of  a  Justified  Man.  This  being  conveyed  to  Knox,  probably  after 
his  second  return  in  the  galleys  from  Scotland,  he  was  so  much 
pleased  with  it,  that  he  divided  it  into  chapters,  added  some  mar- 
ginal notes,  and  a  concise  epitome  of  its  contents ;  to  the  whole  he 
prefixed  a  recommendatory  dedication,  intending  that  it  should  be 
published  for  the  use  of  their  brethren  in  Scotland,  as  soon  as  an 
opportunity  offered.  The  reader  will  not,  we  are  persuaded,  be  dis- 
pleased to  breathe  a  little  the  spirit  which  animated  this  undaunted 
confessor,  when  "  his  feet  lay  fast  in  irons,"  as  expressed  by  him  in 
this  dedication  ;  from  which  we  shall  quote  more  freely,  as  the  book 
is  rare. 

It  is  thus  described :  "  John  Knox,  the  bound  servant  of  Jesus 
Christ,  unto  his  best  beloved  brethren  of  the  congregation  of  the 
castle  of  St.  Andrew's,  and  to  all  professors  of  Christ's  true  evangel, 
desireth  grace,  mercy,  and  peace,  from  God  the  Father,  with  perpe- 
tual consolation  of  the  Holy  Spirit."  After  mentioning  a  number  of 
instances  in  which  the  name  of  God  was  magnified,  and  the  interests 
of  religion  advanced,  by  the  exile  of  those  who  were  driven  from 
their  native  countries  by  tyranny,  as  in  the  examples  of  Joseph, 
Moses,  Daniel,  and  the  primitive  Christians,  he  goes  on  thus : — 
"  Which  thing  shall  openly  declare  this  godly  work  subsequent. 
The  counsel  of  Satan  in  the  persecution  of  us,  first,  was  to  stop  the 
wholesome  wind  of  Christ's  evangel  to  blow  upon  the  parts  where 
we  converse  and  dwell ;  and,  secondly,  so  to  oppress  ourselves  by 
corporal  affliction  and  worldly  calamities,  that  no  place  should  we 
find  to  godly  study.  But  by  the  great  mercy  and  infinite  goodness 
of  God  our  Father  shall  these  his  counsels  be  frustrate  and  vain. 
For,  in  despite  of  him  and  all  his  wicked  members,  shall  yet  that 
same  word  (O  Lord  !  this  I  speak,  confiding  in  thy  holy  promise), 
openly  be  proclaimed  in  that  same  country.  And  now  that  our 
merciful  Father,  amongst  these  tempestuous  storms,  by  all  men's 
expectation,  hath  provided  some  rest  for  us,  this  present  work  shall 
testify,  which  was  sent  to  me  in  Roane,  lying  in  irons,  and  sore 
troubled  by  corporal  infirmity,  in  a  galley  named  Notre  Dame,  by  an 
honourable  brother,  Mr.  Henry  Balnaves  of  Halhill,  for  the  present 
holden  as  prisoner  (though  unjustly)  in  the  old  palace  of  Roane. 
Which  work  after  I  had  once  again  read  to  the  great  comfort  and 
consolation  of  my  spirit,  by  counsel  and  advice  of  the  foresaid  noble 
and  faithful  man,  author  of  the  said  work,  I  thought  expedient  it 
should  be  digested  in  chapters,  &c.  Which  thing  I  have  done  as 
imbecility  of  ingine  [i.  e.  genius  or  wit]  and  incommodity  of  place 
would  permit ;  not  so  much  to  illustrate  the  work  (which  in  the  self 
is  godly  and  perfect)  as,  together  with  the  foresaid  nobleman  and 
faithful  brother,  to  give  my  confession  of  the  article  of  justification 
therein  contained       And  I  beseech  you,  beloved  brethren,  earnestly 


JOHN    KNOX.  HI 

to  consider,  if  we  deny  anything  presently  (or  yet  conceal  and  hide, 
which  any  time  before  we  professed  in  that  article.  And  now  we 
have  not  the  castle  of  St.  Andrew's  to  be  our  defence,  as  some  of  our 
enemies  falsely  accused  us,  saying,  If  we  wanted  our  walls,  we  would 
not  speak  so  boldly.  But  blessed  be  that  Lord  whose  infinite  good- 
ness and  wisdom  hath  taken  from  us  the  occasion  of  that  slander, 
and  hath  shown  unto  us,  that  the  serpent  hath  power  only  to  sting 
the  heel,  that  is,  to  molest  and  trouble  the  flesh,  but  not  to  move  the 
spirit,  from  constant  adhering  to  Christ  Jesus,  nor  public  professing 
of  his  true  word.  O  blessed  be  thou,  Eternal  Father,  which,  by  thy 
only  mercy,  hast  preserved  us  to  this  day,  and  provided  that  the  con- 
fession of  our  faith  (which  ever  we  desired  all  men  to  have  known) 
should,  by  this  treatise,  come  plainly  to  light.  Continue,  O  Lord, 
and  grant  unto  us,  that  as  now  with  pen  and  ink,  so  shortly  we  may 
confess  with  voice  and  tongue  the  same  before  thy  congregation  ; 
upon  whom  look,  O  Lord  God,  with  the  eyes  of  thy  mercy,  and 
suffer  no  more  darkness  to  prevail.  I  pray  you,  pardon  me,  beloved 
brethren,  that  on  this  manner,  I  digress ;  vehemence  of  spirit  (the 
Lord  knoweth  I  lie  not),  compelleth  me  thereto." 

The  prisoners  in  Mount  St.  Michael  consulted  Knox,  as  to  the 
lawfulness  of  attempting  to  escape  by  breaking  their  prison,  which 
was  opposed  by  some  of  their  number,  lest  their  escape  should 
subject  their  brethren  who  remained  in  confinement  to  more  severe 
treatment.  He  returned  for  answer,  that  such  fears  were  not  a 
sufficient  reason  for  relinquishing  the  design,  and  that  they  might, 
with  a  safe  conscience,  effect  their  escape,  provided  it  could  be  done 
"  without  the  blood  of  any  shed  or  spilt ;  but  to  shed  any  man's  blood 
for  their  freedom,  he  would  never  consent."  The  attempt  was 
accordingly  made  by  them,  and  successfully  executed,  "  without  harm 
done  to  the  person  of  any,  and  without  touching  anything  that  apper- 
tained to  the  king,  the  captain,  or  the  house. 

At  length,  after  enduring  a  tedious  and  severe  imprisonment  of 
nineteen  months,  Knox  obtained  his  liberty.  This  happened  in 
the  month  of  February,  1549,  according  to  the  modem  computation. 
By  what  means  his  liberation  was  procured,  we  cannot  certainly 
determine.  One  account  says,  that  the  galley  in  which  he  was 
confined,  was  taken  in  the  Channel  by  the  English.  According  to 
another  account,  he  was  liberated  by  order  of  the  king  of  France; 
because  it  appeared  on  examination,  that  he  was  not  concerned  in 
the  murder  of  the  cardinal,  nor  accessory  to  other  crimes  committed 
by  those  who  held  the  castle  of  St.  Andrew's.  Others  say,  that  his 
acquaintances  purchased  his  liberty,  induced  by  the  hopes  which 
they  cherished  of  great  things  to  be  accomplished  by  him.  It  is  not 
improbable,  however,  that  he  owed  his  liberty  to  the  circumstance  of 
the  French  court  having  now  accomplished  their  great  object  in 
Scotland,  by  the  consent  of  the  parliament  to  the  marriage  of  their 
young  queen  to  the  dauphin,  and  by  obtaining  possession  of  her  per- 
son ;  after  which  they  felt  less  inclined  to  revenge  the  quarrels  of  the 
Scottish  clergy. 

Upon  regaining  his  liberty,  Knox  immediately  repaired  to  England, 
"nder  the  most  "favourable  circumstances;  for  Henry  VIII.  died  in 


112  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

the  year  1547,  and  archbishop  Cranmer,  freed  from  the  restraint  of 
his  capricious  master,  exerted  himself  in  advancing  the  reformation. 
He  had  invited  learned  protestants  from  Germany,  who,  with  our 
zealous  countrymen,  were  employed  as  preachers,  itinerating  through 
different  parts  of  the  kingdom,  where  the  clergy  were  most  illiterate 
or  disaffected,  and  the  inhabitants  most  addicted  to  superstition. 

The  reputation  which  Knox  had  gained  by  preaching  at  St. 
Andrew's  was  not  unknown  in  England,  and  his  late  sufferings 
recommended  him  to  Cranmer  and  the  privy  council.  He  was 
accordingly,  soon  after  his  arrival  in  England,  sent  down  from 
London,  by  their  authority,  to  preach  in  Berwick ;  a  situation  the 
more  acceptable  to  him,  as  it  afforded  him  an  opportunity  to  ascertain 
the  state  of  religion  in  his  native  country,  to  correspond  with  his 
friends,  and  to  impart  to  them  his  advice.  The  council  had  every 
reason  to  be  pleased  with  the  choice  which  they  had  made  of  a 
northern  preacher.  He  had  long  thirsted  for  the  opportunity  which 
he  now  enjoyed.  His  captivity,  during  which  he  had  felt  the 
powerful  support  which  the  protestant  doctrine  yielded  to  his  mind, 
had  inflamed  his  love  to  it,  and  his  zeal  against  popery.  He  spared 
neither  time  nor  bodily  strength  in  the  instruction  of  those  to  whom 
he  was  sent.  Regarding  the  worship  of  the  popish  church  as  grossly 
idolatrous,  and  its  doctrine  as  damnable,  he  attacked  both  with  the 
utmost  fervour,  and  exerted  himself  in  drawing  his  hearers  from 
them,  with  as  much  eagerness  as  in  saving  their  lives  from  a 
devouring  flame  or  flood.  Nor  were  his  labours  fruitless  :  during  the 
two  years  that  he  continued  in  Berwick,  numbers  were,  by  his  min- 
istry, converted  from  error  and  ignorance,  and  a  general  reformation 
of  manners  became  visible  among  the  soldiers  of  the  garrison,  who 
had  formerly  been  noted  for  turbulence  and  licentiousness. 

The  labours  of  Knox  within  the  diocese  of  Tonstal,  bishop  of 
Durham,  must  have  been  very  disagreeable  to  the  latter.  As  the 
preacher  acted  under  the  sanction  of  the  protector  and  council,  he 
durst  not  inhibit  him  ;  but  he  was  disposed  to  listen  to  and  encourage 
informations  lodged  by  the  clergy  against  the  doctrine  which  he 
taught.  Although  the  town  of  Berwick  was  Knox's  principal  station 
during  the  years  1549  and  1550,  it  is  probable  that  he  was  appointed 
to  preach  occasionally  in  the  adjacent  country.  Whether,  in  the 
course  of  his  itinerancy,  he  had,  in  the  beginning  of  1550,  gone  as 
far  as  Newcastle,  and  preached  in  that  town,  or  whether  he  was 
called  up  to  it,  in  consecpience  of  complaints  against  his  sermons 
delivered  at  Berwick,  does  not  clearly  appear.  It  is,  however, 
certain,  that  a  charge  was  exhibited  against  him  before  the  bishop, 
for  teaching  that  the  sacrifice  of  the  mass  was  idolatrous,  and  a  day 
appointed  for  him  publicly  to  assign  his  reasons  for  this  opinion. 
Accordingly,  on  the  4th  of  April,  1550,  a  great  assembly  being 
convened  at  Newcastle,  among  whom  were  the  members  of  the 
council,  the  bishop  of  Durham,  and  the  learned  men  of  his  cathedral, 
Knox  delivered  in  their  presence,  an  ample  defence  of  the  doctrine, 
against  which  complaints  had  been  made.  After  an  appropriate 
exordium,  in  which  he  stated  to  the  audience  the  occasion  and  design 


JOHN   KNOX.  113 

of  his  appearance  before  tbem,  and  cautioned  tliem  against  the 
powerful  prejudices  of  education  and  custom  in  favour  of  erron 
opinions  and  practices  in  religion,  he  proceeded  to  establish  the 
doctrine  which  he  had  taught.  The  mode  in  which  he  treated  the 
subject  was  well  adapted  to  his  auditory,  which  was  composed  of  the 
unlearned  as  well  as  the  learned.  He  proposed  his  arguments  in  the 
syllogistic  form,  according  to  the  practice  of  the  schools,  but  illustrated 
them  with  a  plainness  level  to  the  meanest  capacity  among  his 
hearers.  Passing  over  the  more  gross  notions,  and  the  shameful 
traffic  in  masses,  extremely  common  at  that  time,  he  engaged  to 
prove  that  the  mass,  "  in  her  most  high  degree,  and  most  honest 
garments,  was  an  idol  struck  from  the  inventive  brain  of  superstition, 
which  had  supplanted  the  sacrament  of  the  supper,  and  engrossed 
the  honour  due  to  the  person  and  sacrifice  of  Jesus  Christ."  "  Spare 
no  arrows,"  was  the  motto  which  Knox  wore  on  his  standard  ;  the 
authority  of  scripture,  and  the  force  of  reasoning,  grave  reproof,  and 
pointed  irony,  were  in  their  turn  employed  by  him.  In  the  course  of 
this  defence,  he  did  not  restrain  those  sallies  of  raillery,  which  the  fool- 
eries of  the  popish  superstition  irresistibly  provoke,  even  from  those 
who  are  deeply  impressed  with  its  pernicious  tendency.  Before  con- 
cluding, he  adverted  to  certain  doctrines  which  had  been  taught  in 
that  place  on  the  preceding  Sunday,  the  falsehood  of  which  he  was 
prepared  to  demonstrate ;  but  he  would,  in  the  first  place,  he  said, 
submit  to  the  preacher  the  notes  of  the  sermon  which  he  had  taken 
down,  that  he  might  correct  them  as  he  saw  proper  ;  for  his  object 
was  not  to  misrepresent  or  captiously  entrap  a  speaker,  by  catching 
at  words  unadvisedly  uttered,  but  to  defend  the  truth,  and  warn  his 
hearers  against  errors  destructive  to  their  souls. 

This  defence  had  the  effect  of  extending  Knox's  fame  through  the 
north  of  England,  while  it  completely  silenced  the  bishop  and  his 
learned  suffragans.  He  continued  to  preach  at  Berwick  during  the 
remaining  part  of  this  year,  and  in  the  following  was  removed  to 
Newcastle,  and  placed  in  a  sphere  of  greater  usefulness.  In  Decem- 
ber, 1551,  the  privy  council  conferred  on  him  a  mark  of  their  appro- 
bation, by  appointing  him  one  of  king  Edward's  chaplains  inordinary. 
"  It  was  appointed^"  says  his  majesty,  in  a  journal  of  important 
transactions  which  he  wrote  with  his  own  hand,  "  that  I  should  have 
six  chaplains  in  ordinary,  of  which  two  ever  to  be  present,  and  four 
absent  in  preaching;  one  year  two  in  Wales,  two  in  Lancashire  and 
Derby  ;  next  year  two  in  the  marches  of  Scotland,  and  two  in  York- 
shire ;  the  third  year  two  in  Norfolk  and  Essex,  and  two  in  Kent  and 
Sussex.     These  six  to  be  Bill,  Ilarle,  Perne,  Grindal,  Bradford,  and 

."     The  name  of  the  sixth  has  been  dashed  out  of  the  journal, 

but  the  industrious  Strype  has  shown  that  it  was  Knox.  "  These,  it 
it  seems,"  says  bishop  Burnet,  "  were  the  most  zealous  and  readiest 
preachers,  who  were  sent  about  as  itinerants,  to  supply  the  defects  of 
the  greatest  part  of  the  clergy,  who  were  generally  very  faulty."  An 
annual  salary  of  £40  was  allotted  to  each  of  the  chaplains. 

In  the  course  of  the  year,  Knox  was  consulted  about  the  Book  of 
Common  Prayer,  which  was  undergoing  a  review.     On  that  occa- 
8 


114  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

sion  it  is  probable  that  lie  was  called  np  to  London  for  a  short  time. 
Although  the  persons  who  had  the  chief  direction  of  ecclesiastical 
affairs  were  not  disposed,  or  did  not  think  it  yet  expedient,  to  intro- 
duce that  thorough  reform  which  he  judged  necessary,  in  order  to 
reduce  the  worship  of  the  English  church  to  the  Scripture  model,,  his 
representations  were  not  altogether  disregarded.  He  had  influence 
to  procure  an  important  change  on  the  communion  office,  completely 
excluding  the  notion  of  the  corporeal  presence  of  Christ  in  the  sacra- 
ment, and  guarding  against  the  adoration  of  the  elements,  too  much 
countenanced  by  the  practice  of  kneeling  at  their  reception,  which 
was  still  continued.  Knox  speaks  of  these  amendments  with  great 
satisfaction,  in  his  Admonition  to  the  Professors  of  Truth  in  England. 
"Also  God  gave  boldness  and  knowledge  to  the  court  of  parliament 
to  take  away  the  round  clipped  god.,  wherein  standeth  all  the  holi- 
ness of  the  papists,  and  to  command  common  bread  to  be  used  at  the 
Lord's  table,  and  also  to  take  away  most  part  of  superstitions  (kneel- 
ing at  the  Lord's  table  excepted),  which  before  profaned  Christ's  true 
religion."  These  alterations  gave  great  offence  to  the  papists.  In  a 
disputation  with  Latimer,  after  the  accession  of  queen  Mary,  the  pro- 
locutor, Dr.  "Weston,  complained  of  our  countryman's  influence  in 
procuring  them.  "  A  runagate  Scot  did  take  away  the  adoration  or 
worshipping  of  Christ  in  the  sacrament,  by  whose  procurement  that 
heresie  was  put  into  the  last  communion  book  ;  so  much  prevailed 
that  one  man's  authoritie  at  the  time."  In  the  following  year  he  was 
employed  in  revising  the  Articles  of  Religion  previous  to  their  ratifi- 
cation by  parliament. 

During  his  residence  at  Berwick,  Knox  had  formed  an  acquaint- 
ance with  Miss  Marjory  Bowes,  a  young  lady  who  afterwards  became 
his  wife.  She  belonged  to  the  honourable  family  of  Bowes,  and  was 
nearly  allied  to  Sir  Robert  Bowes,  a  distinguished  courtier  during 
the  reigns  of  Henry  VIII.  and  his  son  Edward.  Before  he  left 
Berwick,  he  had  paid  his  addresses  to  this  young  lady,  and  met  with 
a  favourable  reception.  Her  mother  was  also  friendly  to  the  match  ; 
but,  owing  to  some  reason,  most  probably  the  presumed  aversion  of 
her  father,  it  was  deemed  prudent  to  delay  the  consummating  of  the 
union.  But  having  come  under  a  formal  promise  to  her,  he  con- 
sidered himself  as  sacredly  bound,  and,  in  his  letters  to  Mrs.  Bowes, 
always  addressed  her  by  the  name  of  mother. 

Without  derogating  from  the  praise  justly  due  to  those  worthy 
men,  who  were  at  this  time  employed  in  disseminating  religious 
truth  through  England,  we  may  say  that  our  countryman  was  not 
behind  the  first  of  them,  in  the  unwearied  assiduity  with  which  he 
laboured  in  the  stations  assigned  to  him.  From  an  early  period,  his 
mind  seems  to  have  presaged,  that  the  golden  opportunity  enjoyed 
would  not  be  of  long  duration.  He  was  eager  to  "  redeem  the  time," 
and  indefatigable  both  in  his  studies  and  teaching.  In  addition  to 
his  ordinary  services  on  the  Sabbath,  he  preached  regularly  on 
weekdays,  frequently  on  every  day  of  the  week.  Besides  the  portion  - 
of  time  which  he  allotted  to  study,  he  was  often  employed  in 
conversing  with  persons  who  applied  to  him  for  advice  on  religion" 
subjects.      The   council   were   not   insensible   to    the   value  of  his 


JOHN   KNOX. 


115 


services,  and  conferred  on  him  several  marks  of  approbation .  They 
wrote  different  letters  to  the  governors  and  principal  inhabitants  of 
the  places  where  he  preached,  recommending  him  to  their  notice  and 
protection.  They  secured  him  in  the  regular  payment  of  his  salary, 
until  such  time  as  he  should  be  provided  with  a  benefice.  It  was 
also  out  of  respect  to  him,  that,  in  September,  1552,  they  granted  a 
patent  to  his  brother  "William  Knox,  a  merchant,  giving  him  liberty, 
for  a  limited  time,  to  trade  to  any  port  of  England,  in  a  vessel  of  a 
hundred  tons  burden. 

But  the  things  which  recommended  Knox  to  the  council,  drew 
upon  him  the  hatred  of  a  numerous  and  powerful  party  in  the 
northern  counties,  who  remained  addicted  to  popery.  Irritated  by 
his  boldness  and  success  in  attacking  their  superstition,  and  sensible 
that  it  would  be  vain,  and  even  dangerous,  to  prefer  an  accusation 
against  him  on  that  ground,  they  watched  for  an  opportunity  of 
catching  at  something  in  his  discourses  or  behaviour,  which  they 
might  improve  to  his  disadvantage.  He  had  long  observed,  with 
great  anxiety,  the  impatience  with  which  the  papists  submitted  to 
the  present  government,  and  their  eager  desires  for  any  change 
which  might  lead  to  the  overthrow  of  the  protestant  religion  ;  desires 
which  were  expressed  by  them  in  the  north,  without  that  reserve 
which  prudence  dictated  in  places  adjacent  to  the  seat  of  authority. 
He  had  witnessed  the  joy  with  which  they  had  received  the  news  of 
the  protector's  fall,  and  was  no  stranger  to  the  satisfaction  with  which 
they  circulated  prognostications  as  to  the  speedy  demise  of  the  king. 
In  a  sermon  preached  by  him  about  Christmas,  1552,  he  gave  vent 
to  his  feelings  on  the  subject;  and,  lamenting  the  obstinacy  of  the 
papists,  asserted  that  such  as  were  enemies  to  the  gospel,  then 
preached  in  England,  were  secret  traitors  to  the  crown  and  common- 
wealth,— thirsted  for  nothing  more  than  his  majesty's  death,  and 
cared  not  who  should  reign  over  them,  provided  they  got  their 
idolatry  again  erected.  This  free  speech  was  immediately  laid  hold 
on  by  his  enemies,  and  transmitted,  with  many  aggravations,  to  some 
great  men  about  court,  secretly  in  their  interest,  who  therefore 
preferred  a  charge  against  him,  for  high  offences,  before  the  privy 
council. 

In  taking  this  step,  they  were  not  a  little  encouraged  by  their 
knowledge  of  the  sentiments  of  the  duke  of  Northumberland,  who 
had  lately  come  down  to  his  charge  as  warden-general  of  the  north- 
ern marches.  This  ambitious  and  unprincipled  nobleman  had 
employed  his  affected  zeal  for  the  reformed  religion,  as  a  stirrup  to 
mount  to  the  highest  preferment  in  the  state,  which  he  had  recently 
procured  by  the  ruin  of  the  duke  of  Somerset,  the  protector  of  the 
kingdom.  Knox  had  offended  him  by  publicly  lamenting  the  fall  of 
Somerset,  as  threatening  danger  to  the  reformation,  of  which  he  had 
always  shown  himself  a  zealous  friend,  whatever  his  other  faults 
might  have  been.  Nor  could  the  freedom  which  the  preacher  used, 
in  reproving  from  the  pulpit  the  vices  of  great  as  well  as  small,  fail 
to  be  displeasing  to  a  man  of  Northumberland's  character.  On  these 
accounts,  he  was  desirous  to  have  Knox  removed  from  that  quarter, 
and  had  actually  applied  for  this,  by  a  letter  to  the  council,  previous 


116  SCOTS   WORTHIER 

to  the  occurrence  just  mentioned  ;  alleging,  as  a  pretext,  the  great 
resort  of  Scotsmen  unto  him  :  as  if  any  real  danger  was  to  be  appre- 
hended from  this  intercourse  with  a  man,  of  whose  fidelity  the 
existing  government  had  so  many  strong  pledges,  and  who  uniformly 
employed  all  his  influence  to  remove  the  prejudices  of  his  country- 
men against  England. 

In  consequence  of  the  charges  exhibited  against  him  to  the 
council,  he  received  a  citation  to  repair  immediately  to  London,  and 
answer  for  his  conduct.  The  following  extract  of  a  letter,  addressed 
"  to  his  sister,"  will  show  the  state  of  his  mind  on  receiving  the 
summons  :  "  Urgent  necessity  will  not  suffer  that  I  testify  my  mind 
to  you.  My  lord  of  Westmoreland  has  written  to  me  this  Wednes- 
day, at  six  of  the  clock  at  night,  immediately  thereafter  to  repair 
unto  him,  as  I  will  answer  at  my  peril.  I  could  not  obtain  license  to 
remain  the  time  of  the  sermon  upon  the  morrow.  Blessed  be  God 
who  does  ratify  and  confirm  the  truth  of  his  word  from  time  to  time, 
as  our  weakness  shall  require  !  Your  adversary,  sister,  doth  labour 
that  you  should  doubt  whether  this  be  the  word  of  God  or  not.  If 
there  had  never  been  testimonial  of  the  undoubted  truth  thereof 
before  these  our  ages,  may  not  such  things  as  we  see  daily  come  to 
pass  prove  the  verity  thereof?  Doth  it  not  affirm,  that  it  shall  be 
preached,  and  yet  contemned  and  lightly  regarded  by  many ;  that 
the  true  professors  thereof  shall  be  hated  by  father,  mother,  and 
others  of  the  contrary  religion  ;  that  the  most  faithful  shall  be  perse- 
cuted ?  And  cometh  not  all  these  things  to  pass  in  ourselves  ? 
Rejoice,  sister,  for  the  same  word  that  forspeaketh  trouble  doth 
certify  us  of  the  glory  consequent.  As  for  myself,  albeit  the  extrem- 
ity should  now  apprehend  me,  it  is  not  come  unlooked  for.  But, 
alas  !  I  fear  that  yet  I  be  not  ripe  nor  able  to  glorify  Christ  by  my 
death ;  but  what  lacketh  now,  God  shall  perform  in  his  own  time. 
Be  sure  I  will  not  forget  you  and  your  company,  so  long  as  mortal 
man  may  remember  earthly  creature." 

Upon  reaching  London  he  found  that  his  enemies  had  been  uncom- 
monly industrious  in  exciting  prejudices  against  him,  by  transmitting 
the  most  false  and  injurious  information.  But  the  council,  after 
hearing  his  defences,  were  convinced  of  their  malice,  and  honourably 
acquitted  him.  He  was  employed  to  preach  before  the  court,  and 
gave  great  satisfaction,  particularly  to  his  majesty,  who  contracted  a 
favour  for  him,  and  was  very  desirous  to  have  him  promoted  in  the 
church.  It  was  resolved  by  the  council  that  he  should  preach  in 
London,  and  the  southern  counties,  during  the  year  1553 ;  but  he 
was  allowed  to  return  for  a  short  time  to  Newcastle,  either  to  settle 
his  affairs,  or  as  a  public  testimony  of  his  innocence.  In  a  letter  to 
his  sister,  dated  Newcastle,  23d  March,  1553,  we  find  him  writing  as 
follows ;  "  Look  further  of  this  matter  in  the  other  letter,  written 
unto  you  at  such  a  time  as  many  thought  I  should  never  write  after 
to  man.  Heinous  were  the  delations  laid  against  me,  and  many  are 
the  lies  that  are  made  to  the  council.  But  God  one  day  shall  destroy 
all  lying  tongues,  and  shall  deliver  his  servants  from  calamity.  I 
look  but  one  day  or  other  to  fall  into  their  hands  ;  for  more  and  more 
rageth  the  members  of  the  devil  against  me.    This  assault  of  Satan 


JOHN   KNOX.  H7 

has  been  to  his  confusion,  and  to  the  glory  of  God.  And  therefore, 
sister,  cease  not  to  praise  God,  and  to  call  for  my  comfort ;  for  great 
is  the  multitude  of  enemies,  whom  every  one  the  Lord  shall  confound. 
I  intend  not  to  depart  from  Newcastle  before  Easter." 

The  vigour  of  his  constitution  had  been  greatly  impaired  by  his 
confinement  in  the  French  galleys,  which,  together  with  his  labours 
in  England,  had  brought  on  a  gravel.  In  the  course  of  the  year 
1553,  he  endured  several  violent  attacks  of  this  acute  disorder, 
accompanied  with  severe  pain  in  his  head  and  stomach.  "  My  daily 
labours  must  now  increase,"  says  he,  in  the  letter  last  quoted,  "  and 
therefore  spare  me  as  much  as  you  may.  ]\Iy  old  malady  troubles 
me  sore,  and  nothing  is  more  contrarious  to  my  health  than  writing. 
Think  not  that  I  weary  to  visit  you  ;  but  unless  my  pain  shall  cease, 
I  will  altogether  become  unprofitable.  Work,  O  Lord,  even  as 
pleaseth  thy  infinite  goodness,  and  relax  the  troubles,  at  thy  own 
pleasure,  of  such  as  seeketh  thy  glory  to  shine.  Amen."  In  another 
letter  to  the  same  correspondent,  he  writes — "  the  pain  of  my  head 
and  stomach  troubles  me  greatly.  Daily  I  find  my  body  decay  ;  but 
the  providence  of  my  God  shall  not  be  frustrate.  I  am  charged  to 
be  at  Widrington  on  Sunday,  where  I  think  1  shall  also  remain 
Monday.  The  Spirit  of  the  Lord  Jesus  rest  with  you.  Desire  such 
faithful  as  with  whom  ye  communicate  your  mind,  to  pray  that,  at 
the  pleasure  of  our  good  God,  my  dolour  both  of  body  and  spirit 
may  be  relieved  somewhat ;  for  presently  it  is  very  bitter.  Never 
found  I  the  spirit,  I  praise  my  God,  so  abundant  where  God's  glory 
ought  to  be  declared ;  and  therefore  I  am  sure  that  there  abides 
something  that  yet  we  see  not."  "  Your  messenger,"  says  he  in 
another  letter,  "  found  me  in  bed,  after  a  sore  trouble  and  most 
dolorous  night ;  and  so  dolour  may  complain  to  dolour  when  we  two 
meet.  But  the  infinite  goodness  of  God,  who  never  despiseth  the 
petitions  of  a  sore  troubled  heart,  shall  at  his  good  pleasure,  put  end 
to  these  pains  that  we  presently  suffer,  and  in  place  thereof  shall 
crown  us  with  glory  and  immortality  for  ever.  But,  dear  sister,  I 
am  even  of  mind  with  faithful  Job,  yet  most  sore  tormented,  that  my 
pain  shall  have  no  end  in  this  life.  The  power  of  God  may,  against 
the  purpose  of  my  heart,  alter  such  things  as  appear  not  to  be 
altered,  as  he  did  unto  Job ;  but  dolour  and  pain,  with  sore  anguish, 
cries  the  contrary.  And  this  is  more  plain  than  ever  I  spake,  to  let 
you  know  ye  have  a  fellow  and  companion  in  trouble,  and  thus  rest 
in  Christ,  for  the  head  of  the  serpent  is  already  broken  down,  and  he 
is  stinging  us  upon  the  heel." 

About  "the  beginning  of  April,  1553,  he  returned  to  London.  In 
the  month  of  February  preceding,  archbishop  Cranmer  had  been 
desired  by  the  council  to  present  him  to  the  vacant  living  of  All- 
Hallows  in  that  city.  This  proposal,  which  originated  in  the  personal 
favour  of  the  young  king,  was  very  disagreeable  to  Northumberland, 
who  exerted  himself  privately  to  hinder  his  preferment.  His 
interference  was,  however,  unnecessary  on  the  present  occasion  ;  for 
when  the  living  was  offered  to  him,  Knox  declined  it,  and  when 
questioned  as  to  his  reasons,  readily  acknowledged,  that  he  had  not 
freedom  in  his  mind  to  accept  of  a  fixed  charge,  in  the  present  state 


118  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

of  the  English  church.  His  refusal,  with  the  reason  assigned,  having 
given  offence,  be  was,  on  the  14th  of  April,  called  before  the  privy 
council.  There  were  present  the  archbishop  of  Canterbury  ; 
Goodrich,  bishop  of  Ely  and  lord  chancellor ;  the  earls  of  Bedford, 
Northampton,  and  Shrewsbury  ;  the  lords  treasurer  and  chamber- 
lain, with  the  two  secretaries.  They  asked  him,  why  he  had  refused 
the  benefice  provided  for  him  in  London  ?  He  answered,  that  he 
was  fully  satisfied  that  he  could  be  more  useful  to  the  church  in 
another  situation.  Being  interrogated,  If  it  was  his  opinion,  that  no 
person  could  lawfully  serve  in  ecclesiastical  ministrations,  according 
to  the  present  laws  of  the  realm  ?  he  frankly  replied,  That  there 
were  many  things  which  needed  reformation,  without  which  ministers 
could  not,  in  his  opinion,  discharge  their  office  conscientiously  in  the 
sight  of  God  ;  for  no  minister,  according  to  the  existing  laws,  had 
power  to  prevent  the  unworthy  from  participating  of  the  sacraments, 
"  which  was  a  chief  point  of  his  office."  lie  was  asked,  If  kneeling 
at  the  Lord's  table  was  not  indifferent?  He  replied,  that  Christ's 
action  was  most  perfect,  and  in  it  no  such  posture  was  used  ;  that  it 
was  most  safe  to  follow  his  example  ;  and  that  kneeling  was  an 
addition  and  an  invention  of  men.  On  this  article  there  was  a 
smart  dispute  between  him  and  some  of  the  lords  of  the  council. 
After  long  reasoning  he  was  told,  that  they  had  not  sent  for  him  with 
any  bad  design,  but  were  sorry  to  understand  that  he  was  of  a 
contrary  judgment  to  the  common  order.  He  said  he  was  sorry  that 
the  common  order  was  contrary  to  Christ's  institution.  They  dis- 
missed him  with  soft  speeches,  advising  him  to  endeavour  to  bring 
his  mind  to  communicate  according  to  the  established  rites. 

If  honours  and  emoluments  could  have  biassed  the  independent 
mind  of  our  countryman,  he  must  have  been  induced  to  become  a 
full  conformist  to  the  English  church.  At  the  special  request  of 
Edward  VI.,  and  with  the  concurrence  of  his  council,  he  was  offered 
a  bishopric ;  but  the  same  reasons  which  prevented  him  from 
accepting  the  living  of  All-IIallows,  determined  him  to  reject  this 
more  tempting  offer.  The  fact  is  attested  by  Beza,  who  adds,  that 
his  refusal  was  accompanied  with  a  censure  of  the  episcopal  office, 
as  destitute  of  divine  authority,  and  not  even  exercised  in  England 
according  to  the  ecclesiastical  canons.  Knox  himself  speaks  in  one 
of  his  treatises  of  the  "  high  promotion  offered  to  him  by  Edward  ;" 
•and  we  shall  find  him  at  a  later  period  of  his  life  expressly  asserting 
that  he  had  refused  a  bishopric. 

During  the  time  that  Knox  was  in  London,  he  had  full  opportunity 
for  observing  the  state  of  the  court ;  and  the  observations  which  he 
made  filled  his  mind  with  the  most  anxious  forebodings.  Of  the 
piety  and  sincerity  of  the  young  king,  he  entertained  not  the 
smallest  doubt.  Personal  acquaintance  heightened  the  idea  which 
he  had  conceived  of  his  character  from  report,  and  enabled  him  to 
add  his  testimony  to  the  tribute  of  praise,  which  all  who  knew  that 
prince  have  so  cheerfully  paid  to  his  uncommon  virtues  and  endow- 
ments. But  the  principal  courtiers  by  whom  he  was  at  that  time 
surrounded,  were  persons  of  a  very  different  description,  and  gave 
proofs,  too  unequivocal  to  be  mistaken,  of  indifference  to  all  religion, 


JOHN    KNOX. 


119 


and  readiness  to  fall  in  with  and  forward  the  re-establishment  of  the 
ancient  superstition,  whenever  this  might  be  required  upon  a  change 
of  rulers.  The  health  of  Edward,  which  had  long  been  declining, 
growing  gradually  worse,  so  that  no  hope  of  his  recovery  remained, 
they  were  eager  only  about  the  aggrandizing  of  their  families,  and 
providing  for  the  security  of  their  places  and  fortunes. 

The  royal  chaplains  were  men  of  a  very  different  stamp  from  those 
who  have  usually  occupied  that  place  in  the  courts  of  princes.  They 
were  no  time-serving,  supple,  smooth-tongued  parasites  ;  they  were 
not  afraid  of  forfeiting  their  pensions,  or  of  alarming-  the  consciences, 
and  wounding  the  delicate  ears  of  their  royal  and  noble  auditors,  by 
denouncing  the  vices  which  they  committed,  and  the  judgments  of 
Heaven  to  which  they  exposed  themselves.  The  freedom  used  by 
the  venerable  Latimer  is  well  known  from  his  printed  sermons,  which 
for  their  homely  honesty,  artless  simplicity,  native  humour,  and 
genuine  pictures  of  the  manners  of  the  age,  continue  still  to  be  read 
with  interest.  Grindal,  Lever,  and  Bradford,  who  were  superior  to 
him  in  learning,  evinced  the  same  fidelity  and  courage.  They 
censured  the  ambition,  avarice,  luxury,  oppression,  and  irreligion 
which  reigned  in  the  court.  As  long  as  their  sovereign  was  able  to 
give  personal  attendance  on  the  sermons,  the  preachers  were  treated 
with  exterior  decency  and  respect ;  but  after  he  was  confined  to  his 
chamber  by  a  consumptive  cough,  the  resentment  of  the  courtiers 
vented  itself  openly  in  the  most  contumelious  speeches  and  insolent 
behaviour.  Those  who  are  acquainted  with  our  countryman's 
character,  will  readily  conceive  that  the  sermons  delivered  by  him  at 
court,  were  not  less  bold  and  free  than  those  of  his  colleagues.  We 
may  form  a  judgment  of  them,  from  the  account  which  he  has  given 
of  the  last  sermon  which  he  preached  before  his  majest}r,  in  which 
he  directed  several  piercing  glances  of  reproof  at  the  haughty 
premiei*,  and  his  crafty  relation,  the  marquis  of  Winchester,  lord 
high  treasurer,  both  of  whom  were  among  his  hearers. 

On  the  6th  of  July,  1553,  Edward  VI.  departed  this  life,  to  the 
unspeakable  grief  of  all  the  lovers  of  learning,  virtue,  and  the 
protestant  religion  ;  and  a  black  cloud  spread  over  England,  which, 
after  hovering  a  while,  burst  into  a  dreadful  hurricane,  that  raged 
during  five  years  with  the  most  destructive  fury.  Knox  was  at  this 
time  in  London.  He  received  the  afflicting  tidings  of  his  majesty's 
decease  with  becoming  fortitude,  and  resignation  to  the  sovereign 
will  of  Heaven.  The  event  did  not  meet  him  unprepared  :  he  had 
long  anticipated  it,  with  its  probable  consequences  ;  the  prospect  had 
produced  the  keenest  anguish  in  his  breast,  and  drawn  tears  from  his 
eyes  ;  and  he  had  frequently  introduced  the  subject  into  his  public 
discourses  and  confidential  conversations  with  his  friends.  Writing 
to  Mrs.  Bowes,  some  time  after  this,  he  says:  "How  oft  have  you 
and  I  talked  of  these  present  days,  till  neither  of  us  both  could 
refrain  tears,  when  no  such  appearance  then  was  seen  of  man  !  How 
oft  have  I  said  unto  you,  that  I  looked  daily  for  trouble,  and  that  I 
wondered  at  it,  that  so  long  I  should  escape  it !  What  moved  me  to 
refuse  (and  that  with  displeasure  of  all  men,  even  of  those,  that  Nest 
loved  me,)  those  high  promotions  that  were  offered  by  him  whom 


120  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

God  batli  taken  from  us  for  our  offences  ?  Assuredly  the  foresight 
of  trouble  to  come.  How  oft  have  I  said  unto  you  that  the  time 
would  not  he  long  that  England  would  give  me  bread  ?  Advise  with 
the  last  letter  that  I  wrote  unto  your  brother-in-law,  and  consider 
what  is  therein  contained." 

He  remained  in  London  until  the  19th  of  July,  when  Mary  was 
proclaimed  queen,  only  nine  days  after  the  same  ceremony  had  been 
performed  in  that  city,  for  the  amiable  and  unfortunate  lady  Jane 
Grey.  He  was  so  affected  with  the  thoughtless  demonstrations  of 
joy  given  by  the  inhabitants  at  an  event  which  threatened  such 
danger  to  the  religious  faith  which  they  still  avowed,  that  he  could 
not  refrain  from  publicly  testifying  his  displeasure,  and  warning  them 
in  his  sermons  of  the  calamities  which  they  might  look  for.  Imme- 
diately after  this,  he  seems  to  have  withdrawn  from  London,  and 
retired  to  the  north,  being  justly  apprehensive  of  the  measures  which 
might  be  pursued  by  the  new  government. 

To  induce  the  protestants  to  submit  peaceably  to  her  government, 
Mary  amused  them  for  some  time  with  proclamations,  in  which  she 
promised  not  to  do  violence  to  their,  consciences.  Though  aware  of 
the  bigotry  of  the  queen,  and  the  spirit  of  the  religion  to  which  she 
was  devoted,  the  protestant  ministers  reckoned  it  their  duty  to  im- 
prove this  respite.  In  the  month  of  August,  Knox  returned  to  the 
south,  and  resumed  his  labours.  It  seems  to  have  been  at  this  time 
that  he  composed  the  Confession  and  Prayer,  which  he  commonly 
used  in  the  congregations  to  which  he  preached,  in  which  he  prayed 
for  queen  Mary  by  name,  and  for  the  suppression  of  such  as  medi- 
tated rebellion.  While  he  itinerated  through  Buckinghamshire,  he 
was  attended  by  large  audiences,  which  his  popularity  and  the 
alarming  crisis  drew  together ;  especially  at  Amersham,  a  borough 
formerly  noted  for  the  general  reception  of  the  doctrines  of  Wick- 
liffe,  the  precursor  of  the  reformation  in  England,  and  from  which 
the  seed  sown  by  his  followers  had  never  been  altogether  eradicated. 
Wherever  he  went,  he  earnestly  exhorted  the  people  to  repentance 
under  the  tokens  of  divine  displeasure,  and  to  a  steady  adherence 
to  the  faith  which  they  had  embraced.  He  continued  to  preach  in 
Buckinghamshire  and  Kent  during  the  harvest  months,  although  the 
measures  of  government  daily  rendered  his  safety  more  precarious  ; 
and  in  the  beginning  of  November,  returned  to  London,  where  he 
resided  in  the  houses  of  Mr.  Locke  and  Mr.  Hickman,  two  respecta- 
ble merchants  of  his  acquaintance. 

While  the  measures  of  the  new  government  threatened  danger  to 
all  the  protestants  in  the  kingdom,  and  our  countryman  was  under 
daily  apprehension  of  imprisonment,  he  met  with  a  severe  trial  of  a 
private  nature.  We  have  already  mentioned  his  engagements  to 
Mi&s  Bowes.  At  this  time,  it  was  judged  proper  by  both  parties  to 
avow  the  connexion,  and  to  proceed  to  solemnize  the  union.  This 
step  was  opposed  by  the  young  lady's  father;  and  his  opposition  was 
accompanied  with  circumstances  which  gave  much  distress  to  Knox, 
Mrs.  Bowes,  and  her  daughter.  His  refusal  seems  to  have  proceeded 
from  family  pride  ;  but  we  are  inclined  to  think  that  it  was  also  in 
fluenced  by  religious  considerations ;  as  from  different  hints  dropped 


JOHN    KNOX.  2 21 

in  the  correspondence,  Mr.  Bowes  appears  to  Lave  been,  if  not  in- 
clined to  popery  in  his  judgment,  at  least  resolved  to  comply  with 
the  religion  now  favoured  by  the  court.  We  find  Knox  writing  to 
Mrs.  Bowes  on  this  subject  from  London,  in  a  letter  dated  20th  Sep- 
tember, 1553 :  "  My  great  labours,  wherein  I  desire  your  daily 
prayers,  will  not  suffer  me  to  satisfy  my  mind  touching  all  the  pro- 
cess between  your  husband  and  you,  touching  my  matter  with  his 
daughter.  I  praise  God  heartily,  both  for  your  boldness  and  con- 
stancy. But  I  beseech  you,  mother,  trouble  not  yourself  too  much 
therewith.  It  becomes  me  now  to  jeopard  my  life  for  the  comfort 
and  deliverance  of  my  own  flesh,  as  that  I  will  do,  by  God's  grace, 
both  fear  and  friendship  of  all  earthly  creatures  laid  aside.  I  have 
written  to  your  husband,  the  contents  whereof  I  trust  our  brother 
Harry  will  declare  to  you  and  to  my  wife.  If  I  escape  sickness  and 
imprisonment,  [you  may]  be  sure  to  see  me  soon." 

His  wife  and  mother-in-law  were  very  anxious  that  he  should  settle 
in  Berwick,  or  the  neighbourhood  of  it,  where  he  might  perhaps  be 
allowed  to  reside  peaceably,  although  in  a  more  private  way  than 
formerly.  But  for  this  purpose  some  pecuniary  provision  was  requi- 
site. Since  the  accession  of  queen  Mary,  the  payment  of  the  salary 
allotted  to  him  by  government  had  been  stopped.  Indeed,  he  had 
not  received  any  part  of  it  for  the  last  twelve  months.  His  wife's 
relations  were  abundantly  able  to  give  him  a  sufficient  establishment, 
but  their  dissatisfaction  with  the  marriage  rendered  them  averse. 
Induced  by  the  importunity  of  his  mother-in-law,  he  applied  to  Sir 
Robert  Bowes  at  London,  and  attempted,  by  a  candid  ex] Sanation 
of  all  circumstances,  to  remove  any  umbrage  which  he  had  con- 
ceived against  him,  and  procure  an  amicable  settlement  of  the  whole 
affair.  He  communicated  the  unfavourable  issue  of  this  interview,  in 
a  letter  to  Mrs.  Bowes,  of  which  the  following  is  an  extract : 

"  Dear  Mother,  so  may  and  will  I  call  you,  not  only  for  the  tender 
affection  I  bear  unto  you  in  Christ,  but  also  for  the  motherly  kindness 
ye  have  shown  unto  me  at  all  times  since  our  first  acquaintance, 
albeit  such  things  as  I  have  desired  (if  it  had  pleased  God),  and  ye 
and  others  have  long  desired,  are  never  like  to  come  to  pass,  yet  shall 
ye  be  sure  that  my  love  and  care  toward  you  shall  never  abate,  so 
long  as  I  can  care  for  any  earthly  creature.  Ye  shall  understand 
that  this  6th  of  November,  I  spake  with  Sir  Robert  Bowes,  on  the 
matter  ye  know,  according  to  your  request,  whose  disdainful,  yea, 
despiteful  words,  hath  so  pierced  my  heart,  that  my  life  is  bitter  unto 
me.  I  bear  a  good  countenance  with  a  sore  troubled  heart ;  while 
he  that  ought  to  consider  matters  with  a  deep  judgment  is  become 
not  only  a  despiser,  but  also  a  taunter  of  God's  messengers.  God  be 
merciful  unto  him.  Among  other  his  most  unpleasing  words,  while 
that  I  was  about  to  have  declared  my  part  in  the  whole  matter,  he 
said,  '  Away  with  your  rhetorical  reasons,  for  I  will  not  be  persuaded 
with  them.'  God  knows  I  did  use  no  rhetoric  or  coloured  speech, 
but  would  have  spoken  the  truth,  and  that  in  most  simple  maimer. 
I  am  not  a  good  orator  in  my  own  cause.  But  what  he  would  not 
be  content  to  hear  of  me,  God  shall  declare  to  him  one  day  to  his 
displeasure,  unless  he  repent.    It  is  supposed  that  all  the  matter 


122  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

comes  by  you  and  me.  I  pray  God  that  your  conscience  were  quiet, 
and  at  peace,  and  I  regard  not  what  country  consume  this  my  wicked 
carcass.  And  were  [it]  not  that  no  man's  unthankfulness  shall  move 
me  (God  supporting  my  infirmity)  to  cease  to  do  profit  unto  Christ's 
congregation,  those  days  should  be  few  that  England  would  give  me 
bread.  And  I  fear  that,  when  all  is  done,  I  shall  be  driven  to  that 
end  ;  for  I  cannot  abide  the  disdainful  hatred  of  those,  of  whom  not 
only  I  thought  I  might  have  craved  kindness,  but  also  to  whom  God 
hath  been  by  me  more  liberal  than  they  be  thankful.  But  so  must 
men  declare  themselves.  Affection  does  trouble  me  at  this  present : 
yet  I  doubt  not  to  overcome  by  him,  who  will  not  leave  comfortless 
his  afflicted  to  the  end  :  whose  omnipotent  Spirit  rest  with  you. 
Amen. 

He  refers  to  the  same  disagreeable  affair  in  another  letter  written 
about  the  end  of  this  year.  After  mentioning  the  bad  state  of  his 
health,  which  had  been  greatly  increased  by  distress  of  mind,  he 
adds,  "  It  will  be  after  the  12th  day  before  I  can  be  at  Berwick ;  and 
almost  I  am  determined  not  to  come  at  all.  Ye  know  the  cause. 
God  be  more  merciful  unto  some,  than  they  are  equitable  unto  me  in 
judgment.  The  testimony  of  my  conscience  absolves  me,  before  his 
face  who  looks  not  upon  the  presence  of  man."  These  extracts 
show  us  the  heart  of  the  writer ;  they  discover  the  sensibility  of  his 
temper,  the  keenness  of  his  feelings,  and  his  pride  and  indejiendence 
of  spirit  struggling  with  affection  to  his  relations,  and  a  sense  of 
duty. 

About  the  end  of  November,  or  beginning  of  December,  he 
returned  from  the  south  to  Newcastle.  The  parliament  had  by  this 
time  repealed  all  the  laws  made  in  favour  of  the  reformation,  and 
restored  the  Roman  Catholic  religion  ;  but  liberty  was  reserved,  to 
such  as  pleased  to  observe  the  protestant  worship,  until  the  20th  of 
December.  After  that  period  they  were  thrown  out  of  the  protection 
of  the  law,  and  exposed  to  the  pains  decreed  against  heretics!  Many 
of  the  bishops  and  ministers  were  committed  to  prison  ;  others  had 
escaped  beyond  sea.  Knox  could  not  however  prevail  on  himself 
either  to  flee  the  kingdom,  or  to  desist  from  preaching.  Three  clays 
after  the  period  limited  by  the  statute  had  elapsed,  he  says  in  one  of 
his  letters,  "I  may  not  answer  your  places  of  Scripture,  nor  yet 
write  the  exposition  of  the  6th  Psalm,  for  every  day  of  this  week 
must.  I  preach,  if  this  wicked  carcass  will  permit." 

His  enemies,  who  had  been  defeated  in  their  attempts  to  ruin  him 
under  the  former  government,  had  now  access  to  rulers  sufficiently 
disposed  to  listen  to  their  informations.  They  were  not  dilatory  in 
improving  the  opportunity.  In  the  end  of  December,  1553,  or 
beginning  of  January,  1554,  his  servant  was  seized  as  he  carried 
letters  from  him  to  his  wife  and  mother-in-law,  and  the  letters  taken 
from  hi  in,  with  the  view  of  finding  in  them  some  matter  of  accusa- 
tion against  the  writer.  As  they  contained  merely  religious  advices, 
and  exhortations  to  constancy  in  the  faith  which  they  professed, 
which  he  was  prepared  to  avow  before  any  court  to  which  he  might 
be  called,  he  was  not  alarmed  at  their  interception.  But,  being 
Aware  of  the  uneasiness  which  the  report  would  give  to  his  friends  at 


JOHN   KNOX.  123 

Berwick,  lie  set  out  immediately  with  the  design  of  visiting  them. 
Notwithstanding  the  secrecy  with  "which  he  conducted  this  journey, 
the  rumour  of  it  quickly  spread  ;  and  some  of  his  wife's  relations 
who  had  joined  him,  persuaded  that  lie  was  in  imminent  danger, 
prevailed  on  him,  greatly  against  his  own  inclination,  to  relinquish 
his  design  of  proceeding  to  Berwick,  and  to  retire  to  a  place  of 
safety  on  the  coast,  from  which  he  might  escape  by  sea,  provided  the 
search  after  him  was  continued.  From  this  retreat  he  wrote  to  his 
wife  and  mother,  acquainting  them  with  the  reasons  of  his  abscond- 
ing, and  the  little  prospect  which  he  had  of  being  able  at  that  time 
to  see  them.  His  brethren,  he  said,  had,  "  partly  by  admonition, 
partly  by  tears,  compelled  him  to  obey,"  somewhat  contrary  to  his 
own  mind;  for  "never  could  he  die  in  a  more  honest  quarrel,"  than 
by  suffering  as  a  witness  for  that  truth  for  which  God  had  made  him 
a  messenger.  Notwithstanding  this  state  of  his  mind,  he  promised, 
if  Providence  prepared  the  way,  to  "  obey  the  voices  of  his  brethren 
and  give  place  to  the  fury  and  rage  of  Satan  for  a  time." 

Having  ascertained  that  the  apprehensions  of  his  friends  were  too 
well  founded,  and  that  he  could  not  elude  the  pursuit  of  his  enemies, 
if  he  remained  in  England,  he  procured  a  vessel,  which,  on  the  28th 
of  January,  1554,  landed  him  safely  at  Dieppe,  a  port  of  Normandy, 
in  France. 

Providence,  which  had  more  important  services  in  reserve  for 
Knox,  made  use  of  tiie  urgent  importunities  of  his  friends  to  hurry 
him  away  from  the  danger  to  which,  had  he  been  left  to  the  deter- 
mination of  his  own  mind,  his  zeal  and  fearlessness  would  have 
prompted  him  to  expose  himself.  No  sooner  did  he  reach  a  foreign 
shore  than  he  began  to  regret  the  course,  which  he  had  been  induced* 
to  take.  When  he  thought  upon  his  fellow-preachers,  whom  he  ha( 
left  behind  immured  in  dungeons,  and  the  people  lately  under  hit- 
charge,  now  scattered  abroad  as  sheep  without  a  shepherd,  and  a  pre) 
to  ravening  wolves,  he  felt  an  indescribable  pang,  and  an  alums* 
irresistible  desire  to  return  and  share  in  the  hazardous  but  honourable 
conflict.  Although  he  had  only  complied  with  the  divine  direction. 
"  when  they  persecute  you  in  one  city,  flee  ye  into  another,"  and  in 
his  own  breast  stood  acquitted  of  cowardice,  he  found  it  difficult  to 
divest  his  conduct  of  the  appearance  of  that  weakness,  and  was 
afraid  it  might  operate  as  a  discouragement  to  his  brethren  in 
England,  or  an  inducement  to  them  to  make  sinful  compliances  with 
the  view  of  saving  their  lives. 

He  did  not,  however,  abandon  himself  to  melancholy  and  unavail- 
ing complaints.  One  of  his  first  cares  after  arriving  at  Dieppe,  was 
to  employ  his  pen  in  writing  suitable  advices  to  those  whom  he  could 
no  longer  instruct  by  his  sermons  and  conversation.  With  this  view 
he  transmitted  to  England  two  short  treatises.  The  one  was  an 
exposition  of  the  Sixth  Psalm,  which  he  had  begun  to  write  in 
England,  at  the  request  of  Mrs.  Bowes,  but  had  not  found  leisure  to 
finish.  It  is  an  excellent  practical  discourse  upon  that  portion  of 
Scripture,  and  will  be  read  with  peculiar  satisfaction  by  those  who 
have  been  trained  to  religion  in  the  school  of  adversity.  The  other 
treatise  was  a  large  letter,  addressed  to  those  in  London  and  other 


124  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

parts  of  England,  among  whom  he  had  been  employed  as  a  preacher. 
The  drift  of  it  was  to  warn  them  against  defection  from  the  religion 
which  the j  had  professed,  or  giving  countenance  to  the  idolatrous 
worship  erected  among  them.  The  conclusion  is  a  most  impressive 
and  eloquent  exhortation,  in  which  he  addresses  their  consciences, 
their  hopes,  their  fears,  their  feelings,  and  adjures  them  by  all  that 
is  sacred,  and  all  that  is  dear  to  them,  as  men,  as  parents,  and  as 
Christians,  not  to  start  back  from  their  good  profession,  and  plunge 
themselves  and  their  posterity  into  the  gulf  of  ignorance  and 
idolatry.  The  reader  of  this  letter  cannot  fail  to  be  struck  with  its 
animated  strain,  when  he  reflects,  that  it  proceeded  from  a  foreign 
exile,  in  a  strange  country,  without  a  single  acquaintance,  and 
ignorant  where  he  would  find  a  place  of  abode., or  the  means  of  sub- 
sistence, "^^ii^^^. 

On  the  last  day  of  February,  155-1,  he  set  out^^JP^ieppe,  like 
the  Hebrew  patriarch  of  old,  "  not  knowing  whither  he  went ;"  and 
"  committing  his  way  to  God,"  travelled  through  France,  and  came 
to  Switzerland.  A  correspondence  had  been  kept  up  between  some 
of  the  English  reformers  and  the  most  noted  divines  of  the  Helvetic 
church.  The  latter  had  already  heard,  with  the  sincerest  grief,  of 
the  overthrow  of  the  reformation  in  England,  and  the  dispersion  of 
its  friends.  Upon  making  himself  known,  Knox  was  cordially 
received  by  them,  and  treated  with  the  most  Christian  hospitality. 
He  spent  some  time  in  Switzerland,  visiting  the  particular  churches, 
and  conferring  with  the  learned  men.  Certain  difficult  questions, 
suggested  by  the  present  conjuncture  of  affairs  in  England,  which 
he  had  revolved  in  his  mind,  he  propounded  to  them  for  advice,  and 
was  confirmed  in  his  own  judgment  by  the  coincidence  of  their 
views. 

In  the  beginning  of  May  he  returned  to  Dieppe,  to  receive  infor- 
mation from  England,  a  journey  which  he  repeated  at  intervals  as 
long  as  he  remained  on  the  continent.  The  kind  reception  which  he 
had  met  with,  and  the  agreeable  company  which  he  enjoyed,  during 
his  short  residence  in  Switzerland,  had  helped  to  dissipate  the  clouu 
which  hung  upon  his  spirits  when  he  landed  in  France,  and  to  open 
his  mind  to  more  pleasing  prospects  as  to  the  issue  of  the  present 
afflicting  providences.  This  appears  from  a  letter  written  by  him  at 
this  time,  and  addressed,  "  To  his  afflicted  brethren."  After  dis- 
coursing of  the  situation  of  the  disciples  of  Christ,  during  the  time 
that  he  lay  in  the  grave,  and  the  sudden  transition  which  they  expe- 
rienced, from  the  depth  of  sorrow  to  the  summit  of  joy,  upon  the  re- 
appearance of  their  Master ;  he  adds :  "  The  remembrance  thereof 
is  unto  my  heart  great  matter  of  consolation.  For  yet  my  good  hope 
is,  that  one  day  or  other,  Christ  Jesus,  that  now  is  crucified  in  Eng- 
land, shall  rise  again,  in  despite  of  his  enemies,  and  shall  appear  to 
his  weak  and  sore  troubled  disciples  (for  yet  some  he  hath  in  that 
wretched  and  miserable  realm) ;  to  whom  he  shall  say,  '  Peace  be 
unto  you  ;  it  is  I ;  be  not  afraid.'  " 

His  spirit  was  also  refreshed  at  this  time,  by  the  information  which 
he  received  of  the  constancy  with  which  his  mother-in-law  adhered 
to  the  protestant  faith.     It  appears  that  her  husband  had  expected 


JOHN   KNOX.  125 

that  she  and  the  rest  of  her  family  had  consciences  equally  accommo- 
dating with  his  own.  It  was  not  until  she  had  evinced  in  the  most 
determined  manner,  her  resolution  to  forsake  friends  and  native 
country,  rather  than  sacrifice  her  religion,  that  she  was  released 
from  his  importunities  to  comply  with  the  Roman  catholic  religion. 
Before  he  went  to  Switzerland,  Knox  had  signified  his  intention,  if 
his  life  was  spared,  of  visiting  his  friends  at  Berwick.  When  he 
returned  to  Dieppe,  he  had  not  relinquished  the  thoughts  of  this  en- 
terprise. His  friends,  by  their  letters,  would,  it  is  likely,  dissuade 
him  from  this  ;  and,  after  cool  consideration,  he  resolved  to  postpone 
an  attempt,  by  which  he  must  have  risked  his  life,  without  any  pros- 
pect of  doing  good. 

Wherefore,  setting  out  again  from  Dieppe,  he  repaired  to  Geneva. 
It  was  on  jy^psasion  that  he  first  became  personally  acquainted 
with  the  ceWwated  Calvin,  and  formed  that  intimate  friendship 
which  subsisted  between  them  till  the  death  of  the  latter,  in  1564. 
They  were  nearly  of  the  same  age  ;  and  there  was  a  striking  simi- 
larity in  their  sentiments,  and  in  the  prominent  features  of  their 
character.  The  Genevan  reformer  was  highly  pleased  with  the  piety 
and  talents  of  Knox,  who,  in  his  turn,  entertained  a  greater  esteem 
and  deference  for  Calvin  than  for  any  other  of  the  reformers.  As 
Geneva  was  an  eligible  situation  for  prosecuting  study,  and  he 
approved  much  of  the  religious  order  established  in  it,  he  resolved 
to  make  that  city  the  ordinary  place  of  his  residence,  during  the  con- 
tinuance of  his  exile. 

But  no  prospect  of  personal  safety  or  accommodation  could  banish 
from  his  mind  the  thoughts  of  his  persecuted  brethren.  In  the 
month  of  July  he  undertook  another  journey  to  Dieppe,  to  inform 
himself  accurately  of  their  situation,  and  learn  if  he  could  do  any- 
thing for  their  comfort.  On  this  occasion  he  received  tidings,  which 
tore  open  those  wounds  which  had  begun  to  close.  The  severities 
used  against  the  protestants  of  England  daily  increased  ;  and,  what 
was  still  more  afflicting  to  him,  many  of  those  who  had  embraced 
the  truth  under  his  ministry,  had  been  induced  to  recant,  and  go 
over  to  popery. 

About  this  time  he  composed  the  Admonition  to  England,  which 
was  published  about  the  end  of  this  year.  Those  who  have  censured 
him,  as  indulging  in  an  excessive  vehemence  of  spirit  and  bitterness 
of  language,  usually  refer  to  this  tract  in  support  of  the  charge.  It 
is  true  that  he  there  paints  the  persecuting  papists  in  the  blackest 
colours,  and  holds  them  up  as  objects  of  human  execration  and 
divine  vengeance.  We  do  not  stop  here  to  inquire  whether  he  was 
chargeable  with  transgressing  the  bounds  of  moderation  prescribed 
by  religion  and  the  gospel,  in  the  expression  of  his  indignation  and 
zeal ;  or  whether  the  censures  pronounced  by  his  accusers,  and  the 
principles  upon  which  they  proceed,  do  not  involve  a  condemnation 
of  the  temper  and  language  of  the  most  righteous  men  mentioned  in 
Scripture,  and  even  of  our  Saviour  himself.  But  we  ask — What 
terras  were  too  strong  for  stigmatizing  the  execrable  system  of  perse- 
cution coolly  projected  by  the  dissembling,  vindictive  Gardiner,  the 
brutal  barbarity  of  the  bloody  Bonner,  or  the  unrelenting,  insatiable 


126  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

cruelty  of  Mary,  who,  having  extinguished  the  feelings  of  humanity, 
and  divested  herself  of  the  tenderness  which  characterizes  her  sex, 
issued  orders  for  the  murder  of  her  subjects,  until  her  own  husband, 
bigoted  and  unfeeling  as  he  was,  turned  with  disgust  from  the  spec- 
tacle, and  continued  to  urge  to  fresh  severities  the  willing  instru- 
ments of  her  cruelty,  after  they  were  sated  with  blood  ! 

Knox  returned  to  Geneva,  and  applied  himself  to  study  with  all 
the  ardour  of  youth,  although  his  age  now  bordered  upon  fifty.  It 
was  about  this  time  that  he  seems  to  have  made  some  proficiency  in 
the  knowledge  of  the  Hebrew  language,  which  he  had  no  opportunity 
of  acquiring  in  early  life.  It  is  natural  to  inquire,  by  what  funds  he 
was  supported  during  his  exile.  However  much  inclined  his  mother- 
in-law  was  to  relieve  his  necessities,  the  disposition  of  her  husband 
seems  to  have  put  it  greatly  out  of  her  power.  Any  small  sum 
which  his  friends  had  advanced  to  him,  before  his  sudden  departure 
from  England,  was  exhausted,  and  he  was  at  this  time  very  much 
straitened  for  money.  Being  unwilling  to  burden  strangers,  he 
looked  for  assistance  to  the  voluntary  contributions  of  those  among 
whom  he  had  laboured.  In  a  letter  to  Mrs.  Bowes,  he  says,  "  My 
own  estate  I  cannot  well  declare ;  but  God  shall  guide  the  footsteps 
of  him  that  is  wilsome,  and  will  feed  him  in  trouble  that  never 
greatly  solicited  for  the  world.  If  any  collection  might  be  made 
among  the  faithful,  it  were  no  shame  for  me  to  receive  that  which 
Paul  refused  not  in  the  time  of  his  trouble.  But  all  I  remit  to  His 
providence,  that  ever  careth  for  his  own."  I  find  from  his  letters, 
that  remittances  were  made  to  him  by  particular  friends,  both  in 
England  and  Scotland,  during  his  residence  on  the  continent. 

On  the  14th  of  July,  1554,  the  English  exiles  who  had  come  to 
Frankfurt,  obtained  from  the  magistrates  the  joint  use  of  the  place 
of  worship  allotted  to  the  French,  with  liberty  to  perform  religious 
service  in  their  own  language.  This  was  granted  upon  the  condition 
of  their  conforming  as  nearly  as  possible  to  the  form  of  worship  used 
by  the  French  church,  a  prudent  precaution  which  their  political 
circumstances  dictated.  The  offer  was  gratefully  accepted  by  the 
English,  who  came  to  an  unanimous  agreement,  that  in  using  the 
English  liturgy  they  would  omit  the  litany,  the  audible  responses, 
the  surplice,  with  other  ceremonies,  which,  "  in  those  reformed 
churches  would  seem  more  than  strange,"  or  which  were  supersti- 
tious and  superfluous."  Having  settled  this  point  in  the  most  har- 
monious manner,  elected  a  pastor  and  deacons,  pro  tempore,  and 
agreed  upon  some  rules  for  discipline,  they  wrote  a  circular  letter  to 
their  brethren  scattered  in  different  places,  inviting  them  to  Frank- 
fort, to  share  with  them  in  their  accommodations,  and  unite  their 
prayers  for  the  afflicted  church  of  England.  The  exiles  at  Stras- 
burgh,  in  their  reply,  recommended  to  them  certain  persons  as  most 
fit  for  the  offices  of  superintendent  and  pastors;  a  recommendation 
not  asked  by  the  congregation  at  Frankfort,  who  did  not  think  a 
superintendent  requisite  in  their  situation,  and  meant  to  have  two  or 
three  pastors  of  equal  authority.  They,  accordingly,  proceeded  to 
make  choice  of  three,  one  of  whom  was  Knox,  who  received  information 


JOHN    KNOX.  127 

of  his  election,  by  the  following  letter  from  the  congregation  deliver- 
ed to  him  in  Geneva  : — 

"  We  have  received  letters  from  our  brethren  oif  Strausbrough, 
but  not  in  suche  sorte  and  ample  wise  as  we  looked  for;  whereupon 
we  assembled  together  in  the  II.  Goaste  (we  hope),  and  have,  with 
one  voice  and  consent,  chosen  yow  so  particulerly  to  be  one  off  the 
ministers  off  our  congregation  here,  to  preache  unto  us  the  most 
lively  worde  of  God,  accordinge  to  the  gift  that  God  hathe  geven 
yow  :  for  as  muche  as  we  have  here,  throughe  the  mercifull  good- 
ness off  God  a  churche  to  be  congregated  together  in  the  name  of 
Christe,  and  be  ye  all  of  one  body,  and  also  beinge  of  one  nation, 
tonge,  and  countrie.  And  at  this  presente,  having  need  of  such  a 
one  as  yow,  we  do  desier  yow  and  also  require  yow,  in  the  name  of 
God,  not  to  deny  us,  nor  to  refuse  theis  oure  requests  :  but  that  yow 
will  aide,  helpe,  and  assiste  us  with  your  presence  in  this  our  good 
and  godlie  enterprise,  wdiich  we  have  taken  in  hand,  to  the  glorie 
off  God  and  the  profit  off  his  congregation,  and  the  poore  sheepe  off 
Christ  dispersed  abroad,  who,  withe  your  and  like  presences,  woulde 
come  hither  and  be  of  one  folde,  where  as  nowe  they  wander  abroad 
as  loste  sheepe,  withowte  anie  gide.  We  mistrnste  not  but  that  you 
will  joifully  accepte  this  callinge.  Fare  ye  well  from  Franckford  this 
24.  of  September." 

Knox  was  averse  to  undertake  this  charge,  either  from  a  desire  to 
continue  his  studies  at  Geneva,  or  from  an  apprehension  of  difficul- 
ties which  he  might  meet  with  at  Frankfort.  By  the  persuasion  of 
Calvin,  he  was,  however,  induced  to  comply  with  the  call,  and, 
repairing  to  Frankfort  in  the  month  of  November,  commenced  his 
ministry  with  the  universal  consent  and  approbation  of  the  congre- 
gation. 

When  Knox  arrived,  he  found  that  the  seeds  of  animosity  had 
already  sprung  up  amongst  them.  From  his  sentiments  respecting 
the  English  service-book  we  may  be  sure  that  the  eagerne-s  mani- 
fested by  those  who  wished  to  impose  it  was  very  displeasing  to 
him.  But  so  sensible  was  he  of  the  pernicious  and  discreditable 
effects  of  division  among  brethren  exiled  for  the  same  faith,  that  he 
resolved  to  act  as  a  moderator  between  the  two  parties,  and  to  avoid, 
as  far  as  possible,  everything  which  tended  to  widen  or  continue  the 
breach.  Accordingly,  when  the  congregation  had  agreed  to  the 
order  of  the  Genevan  church,  and  requested  him  to  proceed  to 
administer  the  communion  according  to  it,  (although,  in  his  judg- 
ment, he  approved  of  that  order),  he  declined  to  use  it,  until  their 
learned  brethren  in  other  places  were  consulted.  At  the  same  time 
he  signified  that  he  had  not  freedom  to  administer  the  sacraments 
agreeably  to  the  English  liturgy.  If  he  could  not  be  allowed  to 
perform  this  service  in  a  manner  more  consonant  to  Scripture,  he 
recpiested  that  some  other  might  be  employed  in  this  duty,  and  he 
would  willingly  confine  himself  to  preaching;  if  neither  of  these 
could  be  granted,  he  besought  them  to  release  him  altogether  from 
his  charge.     To  this  last  request  they  would  by  no  means  consent. 

Fearing  that  if  these  differences  were  not  speedily  accommodated, 
hey  would  burst  into  a  flame  of  contention,  Knox,  along  with  some 


128  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

others,  was  employed  to  draw  up  a  summary  of  the  Book  of  Common 
Prayer,  and  having  translated  it  into  Latin,  to  send  it  to  Calvin  tor 
his  opinion  and  advice.    Calvin  replied  in  a  letter,  which  being  read 
to  the  congregation,  had  a  great  effect  in  repressing  the  keenness  ot 
such  as  had  urged  the  unlimited  use  of  the  liturgy  ;  and  a  commit- 
tee was  appointed  to  draw  up  a  form  which  might  accommodate  all 
differences.     When  this  committee  met,  Knox  told  them  that  he  was 
convinced  it  was  necessary  for  one  of  the  parties  to  relent  before  they 
could  come  to  an  amicable  settlement ;  he  would  therefore  state,  he 
said,  what  he  judged  most  proper,  and  having  exonerated  himself, 
would  allow  them  without  opposition  to  determine  as  they  should 
answer  to  God  and  the  church.     They  accordingly  agreed  upon  a 
form  of  worship,  in  which  some  things  were  taken  from  the  English 
liturgy,  and  others  added,  which  were  thought  suitable  to  their  cir- 
cumstances.     This  was  to  continue  in  force,  until  the  end  of  April 
next ;  if  any  dispute  arose  in  the  interval,  it  was  to  be  referred  to  five 
of  the  most  celebrated  foreign  divines.     This  agreement  was  sub- 
scribed by  all  the  members  of  the  congregation  ;  thanks  were  publicly 
returned  to  God  for  the  restoration  of  harmony ;  and  the  communion 
was  received  as  a  pledge  of  union,  and  the  burial  of  all  past  offences. 
But  this  agreement  was  soon  after  violated,  and  the  peace  of  that 
unhappy  congregation  again  broken,  in  the  most  wanton  and  scanda- 
lous manner.     On  the  13th  of  March,  Dr.  Cox,  who  had  been  pre- 
ceptor to  Edward  YL,  came  from  England  to  Frankfort,  with  some 
others  in   his  company.     The  first  day  that  they   attended   public 
worship  after  their  arrival,  they  broke  through  the  established  order, 
by  answering  aloud  after  the  minister  in  the  time  of  divine  service. 
Being  admonished  by  some  of  the  elders  to  refrain  from  that  prac- 
tice, they  insolently  replied  :  "  That  they  would  do  as  they  had  done 
in  England ;  and  they  would  have  the  face  of  an  English  church." 
On  the  following  Sabbath,  one  of  the  number  intruded  himself  into 
the  pulpit,  without  the  consent  of  the  pastors  or  the  congregation, 
and  read  the  litany,  Cox  and  the  other  accomplices  echoing   the 
responses.     This  offensive  behaviour  was  aggravated  by  the  conside- 
ration, that  some  of  them,  before  leaving  England  had  been  guilty 
of  compliances  with  popery,  for  which  they  had  as  yet  given  no  sat- 
isfaction.    This  occasioned  an  unhappy  difference  between  the  pre- 
ceptor of  the  king  and  the  reformer,  which  led  the  latter  to  quit 
Frankfort. 

Upon  leaving  Frankfort,  Knox  went  directly  to  Geneva.  He  was 
cordially  welcomed  back  by  Calvin.  As  his  advice  had  great  weight 
in  disposing  Knox  to  comply  with  the  invitation  from  Frankfort,  he 
felt  much  hurt  at  the  treatment  which  had  obliged  him  to  leave  it. 
In  reply  to  an  apologetic  epistle  which  he  received  from  Dr.  Cox, 
Calvin,  although  he  restrained  himself  from  saying  anything  which 
might  revive  or  increase  the  flame,  could  not  conceal  his  opinion, 
that  Knox  had  been  used  in  an  unbrotherly,  unchristian  manner; 
and  that  it  would  have  been  better  for  the  accuser  to  have  remained 
at  home,  than  to  have  brought  a  firebrand  into  a  foreign  country,  to 
inflame  a  peaceable  society. 

It  appeared  from  the  event,  that  Providence  had  disengaged  Knox 


JOHN   KNOX. 


129 


from  Ins  late  charge,  to  employ  him  on  a  more  important  service. 
From  the  time  that  he  was  carried  prisoner  into  France,  he  had 
never  lost  sight  of  Scotland,  nor  relinquished  the  hope  of  again 
preaching  in  his  native  country.  His  constant  employment,  during 
the  five  years  which  he  spent  in  England,  occupied  his  mind,  and 
lessened  the  regret  which  he  felt,  at  seeing  the  great  object  of  his 
desire  apparently  at  as  great  a  distance  as  ever.  Upon  leaving 
England,  his  attention  was  more  particularly  directed  to  his  native 
country  ;  and  soon  after  returning  from  Frankfort,  he  was  informed 
that  matters  began  to  assume  a  more  favourable  appearance  there 
than  they  had  worn  for  a  number  of  years.  After  the  surrender  of 
the  castle  of  St.  Andrew's,  and  the  banishment  of  the  protestants 
who  had  taken  refuge  in  it,  an  irrecoverable  blow  seemed  to  have 
been  given  to  the  reformed  cause  in  Scotland.  The  clergy  triumphed 
in  their  victory,  and  flattered  themselves  that  they  had  stifled  the 
voice  of  opposition.  There  were  still  many  protestants  in  the  king- 
dom ;  but  they  satisfied  themselves  with  retaining  their  sentiments 
in  secret,  without  exposing  their  lives  to  certain  destruction  by  avow- 
ing them,  or  exciting  the  suspicions  of  their  enemies  by  private 
conventicles.  An  event  which  threatened  the  extinction  of  the 
reformation  in  Britain  proved  the  means  of  reviving  it  in  Scotland. 
Several  of  those  who  were  driven  from  England  by  the  persecution 
of  Mary,  took  refuge  in  this  country,  and  were  overlooked,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  security  into  which  the  Scottish  clergy  had  been  lulled 
by  success.  Travelling  from  place  to  place,  they  instructed  many, 
and  fanned  the  latent  zeal  of  those  who  had  formerly  received  the 
knowledge  of  the  truth. 

"William  Harlow,  whose  zeal  and  knowledge  of  the  doctrines  of 
the  gospel  compensated  for  the  defects  of  his  education,  was  the  first 
preacher  who  came.  After  him  arrived  John  "VVillock,  in  summer. 
1555,  being  charged  with  a  commission  from  the  duchess  of  Embden 
to  the  queen  regent.  Willock  became  afterwards  the  chief  coadjutor 
of  Knox,  who  entertained  the  highest  esteem  and  affection  for  him. 
The  union  of  their  talents  and  peculiar  qualities  was  of  great  advan- 
tage to  the  reformation.  Willock  was  not  inferior  to  Knox  in  learn- 
ing ;  and,  although  he  did  not  equal  him  in  intrepidity  and  eloquence, 
surpassed  him  in  affability,  prudence,  and  address  ;  by  which  means 
he  was  sometimes  able  to  maintain  his  station  and  accomplish  his 
purposes,  when  his  colleague  could  not  act  with  safety  or  success. 
He  was  a  native  of  Ayrshire,  and  had  worn  the  monastic  habit: 
but,  at  an  early  period,  he  embraced  the  reformed  opinions,  and  fled 
into  England.  During  the  severe  persecution  for  the  Six  Articles, 
he  was,"in  1541,  thrown  into  the  prison  of  the  Fleet.  He  was  after- 
wards chaplain  to  the  duke  of  Suffolk,  the  father  of  lady  Jane  G-rey  ; 
and  upon  the  accession  of  queen  Mary,  he  retired  to  East  Fries- 
land. 

Although  Knox  did  not  know  what  it  was  to  fear  danger,  and  was 
little  accustomed  to  consult  his  personal  ease,  when  lie  had  the  pros- 
pect of  being  useful  in  his  Master's  service,  none  of  his  enterprises 
were  undertaken  rashly,  and  without  serious  deliberation  upon  the 
call  which  he  had  to  engage  in  them.  On  the  present  occasion,  he 
9 


2 30  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

felt  at  first  averse  to  a  journey  into  Scotland,  notwithstanding  some 
encouraging  circumstances  in  the  intelligence  which  he  had  received 
from  that  quarter,  lie  had  been  so  much  tossed  about  of  late,  that 
he  felt  a  peculiar  relish  in  the  learned  leisure  which  he  at  present 
enjoyed,  and  was  desirous  to  prolong.  His  anxiety  to  see  his  wife, 
after  an  absence  of  nearly  two  years,  and  the  importunity  with  which 
his  mother-in-law,  in  her  letters,  urged  him  to  visit  them,  determined 
him  at  last  to  undertake  the  journey.  Setting  out  from  Geneva  in 
the  month  of  August,  1555,  lie  came  to  Dieppe  ;  and,  sailing  from 
that  port,  landed  on  the  east  coast,  near  the  boundaries  between 
Scotland  and  England,  about  the  end  of  harvest,  He  repaired  im- 
mediately to  Berwick,  where  he  had  the  satisfaction  of  finding  his 
wife  and  her  mother  in  comfortable  circumstances ;  enjoying  the 
happiness  of  religious  society  with  several  individuals  in  that  city, 
who  like  themselves,  had  not  "  bowed  the  knee"  to  the  established 
idolatry,  nor  submitted  to  "  receive  the  mark"  of  Antichrist. 

Having  remained  some  time  with  them,  he  set  out  secretly  to  visit 
the  protectants  in  Edinburgh,  intending,  after  a  short  stay,  to  return 
to  Berwick.  But  he  found  employment  which  detained  him  beyond 
his  expectation.  In  Edinburgh  he  lodged  with.  James  Syme,  a 
respectable  and  religions  burgess,  to  whose  house  the  friends  of  the 
reformed  doctrine  repaired,  to  attend  his  instructions,  as  soon  as  they 
were  informed  of  his  arrival.  Among  these  were  John  Erskine  of 
Dun,  and  William  Maitland,  younger  of  Lethington,  afterwards 
secretary  to  Mary  queen  of  Scots.  John  Willock  was  also  in  Edin- 
burgh at  this  time.  Those  who  heard  him,  being  exceedingly 
gratified  with  his  doctrine,  brought  their  friends  and  acquaintances 
along  with  them,  and  his  audiences  daily  increased.  Being  confined 
to  a  private  house,  he  was  obliged  to  preach  to  successive  assem- 
blies ;  and  was  almost  unremittingly  employed,  by  night  as  well  as 
by  day,  in  communicating  instruction  to  persons  who  demanded  it 
with  extraordinary  avidity. 

When  he  arrived  in  Scotland,  he  found  that  the  friends  of  the 
reformed  doctrine,  in  general,  continued  to  attend  the  popish  wor- 
ship, and  even  the  celebration  of  mass;  principally  with  a  view  of 
avoiding  the  scandal  which  they  would  otherwise  incur.  This  was 
very  disagreeable  to  Knox,  who,  in  his  sermons  and  conversation, 
disclosed  the  impiety  of  that  service,  and  the  danger  of  symbolizing 
with  it.  A  meeting  being  appointed  for  the  express  purpose  of  dis- 
cussing this  question,  Maitland  defended  the  practice  with  all  that 
ingenuity  and  learning  for  which  he  was  distinguished  ;  but  his 
arguments  were  so  satisfactorily  answered  by  Knox,  that  he  yielded 
tlu-  poinl  as  indefensible,  and  agreed  with  the  rest  of  his  brethren, 
to  abstain  for  the  future  from  such  temporizing  conduct.  Thus  was 
a  formal  separation  made  from  the  popish  church  in  Scotland,  which 
may  justly  be  regarded  as  an  importaut  step  in  the  reformation. 

Mr. Erskine  prevailed  on  Knox  to  accompany  him  to  his  family 
seat  of  Dun,  in  Angus,  where  he  continued  a  month,  preaching 
every  day.  The  principal  persons  in  that  neighbourhood  attended 
hie  sermons.  After  he  returned  to  the  south,  he  resided  for  the  mo- 
part  in  Calderhouse,  with   Sir  James  Sandilands.     Here  he   was 


JOHN   KNOX.  131 

attended  by  lord  Lorn,  afterwards  earl  of  Argyle ;  the  master  of 
Mar,  afterwards  earl  of  Mar ;  and  lord  James  Stuart,  natural  son  of 
James  V.,  and  prior  of  St.  Andrew's,  afterwards  earl  of  Moray  ;  the 
last  two  of  whom  Knox  lived  to  see  regents  of  Scotland.  "These 
noblemen  were  highly  pleased  with  the  doctrine  which  he  taught. 
In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1556,  he  was  conducted  by  Lockhart  of 
Bar,  and  Campbell  of  Kinzeancleugh,  to  Kyle,  the  ancient  recep- 
tacle of  the  Scottish  Lollards,  where  there  were  a  number  of  ad- 
herents to  the  reformed  doctrines.  He  preached  in  the  houses  of 
Bar,  Kinzeancleugh,  Carnell,  Ochiltree,  and  Gadgirth,  and  in  the 
town  of  Ayr.  In  several  of  these  places,  he  also  dispensed  the 
sacrament  of  our  Lord's  Supper.  A  little  before  Easter,  the  earl  of 
Glencairn  sent  for  him  to  his  manor  of  Finlayston,  in  which,  after 
preaching,  he  also  dispensed  the  sacrament ;  the  earl,  his  lady,  and 
two  of  their  sons,  with  some  friends  assembled  for  that  purpose,  par- 
ticipating of  the  sacred  feast.  From  Finlayston  he  returned  to 
Calder-house,  and  soon  after  paid  a  second  visit  to  Dun,  during 
which  he  preached  more  openly  than  before.  The  most  of  the  gen- 
tlemen of  Mearns  did  at  this  time  make  profession  of  the  reformed 
religion,  by  sitting  down  at  the  Lord's  table ;  and  entered  into  a 
solemn  and  mutual  bond,  in  which  they  renounced  the  popish  com- 
munion, and  engaged  to  maintain  the  true  preaching  of  the  gospel, 
according  as  Providence  should  favour  them  with  opportunities. 
This  seems  to  have  been  the  first  of  those  religious  bonds  or  cove- 
nants, by  which  the  confederation  of  the  protestants  in  Scotland  was 
so  frequently  ratified. 

The  dangers  to  which  Knox  and  his  friends  had  been  accustomed, 
had  taught  them  to  conduct  matters  with  such  secrecy,  that  he  had 
preached  for  a  considerable  time  and  in  different  places,  before  the 
clergy  knew  that  he  was  in  the  kingdom.  Concealment,  however, 
was  impracticable,  after  his  audiences  became  so  numerous.  His 
preaching  in  Ayr  was  reported  to  the  court,  and  formed  the  topic  of 
conversation  in  the  presence  of  the  queen  regent.  ■  Some  affirmed 
that  the  preacher  was  an  Englishman  ;  "  a  prelate  not  of  the  least 
pride,"  (probably  Beaton,  archbishop  of  Glasgow,)  said,  "  Nay,  no 
Englishman,  but  it  is  Ivnox,  that  knave."  "It  was  my  Lord's 
pleasure,"  says  Knox,  "  so  to  baptize  a  poor  man  ;  the  reason  whereof, 
if  it  should  be  required,  his  rochet  and  mitre  must  stand  for  authority. 
What  further  liberty  he  used  in  defining  tilings  like  uncertain  to 
him,  to  wit,  of  my  learning  and  doctrine,  at  this  present  I  omit.  For 
what  hath  my  life  and  conversation  been,  since  it  hath  pleased  God 
to  call  me  from  the  puddle  of  papistry,  let  my  very  enemies  speak ; 
and  what  learning  I  have,  they  may  prove  when  they  please." 
Interest  was  at  this  time  made  by  the  bishops  for  his  apprehension  ; 
but  the  queen  regent  discouraged  the  application. 

After  his  last  journey  to  the  north,  the  friars  flocked  from  all 
quarters  to  the  bishops,  and  instigated  them  to  adopt  speedy  and 
decisive  measures  for  checking  the  alarming  effects  of  his  preaching. 
In  consequence  of  this,  Knox  was  summoned  to  appear  before  a 
convention  of  the  clergy,  in  the  church  of  the  blackfriars  at  Edin- 
burgh, on  the  15th  of  May.     This  diet  he  resolved  to  keep,  and  with 


1;,,  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

that  view  came  to  Edinburgh,  before  the  day  appointed  accompanied 
by  Erekine  of  Dun,  and  several  other  gentlemen.  Ihe  clergy  had 
never  dreamed  of  his  attendance  :  when  apprized  of  Ins  design,  being 
afraid  to  bring  matters  to  extremity,  and  unassured  ot  the  regents 
derided  support,  they  met  beforehand,  cast  the  summons  under 
pretence  of  Borne  informality,  and  deserted  the  diet  against  him  On 
the  day  on  which  he  should  have  appeared  as  a  pannel,  Knox 
preached  in  the  bishop  of  Dunkeld's  large  lodging,  to  a  far  greater 
audience  than  had  before  attended  him  in  Edinburgh.  During  the 
ten  following  days,  he  preached  in  the  same  place,  forenoon  and 
afternoon ;  none  of  the  clergy  making  the  smallest  attempt  to  disturb 

him. 

About  this  time,  the  earl  marischal,  at  the  desire  ot  the  earl  ot 
acairn,  attended  an  evening  exhortation  delivered  by  Knox.  He 
was  so  much  pleased  with  it,  that  he  joined  with  Glencairn,  in  urging 
the  preacher  to  write  a  letter  to  the  queen  regent,  which  they  thought 
might  have  the  effect  of  inclining  her  to  protect  the  reformed 
preachers,  if  not  also  to  give  a  favourable  ear  to  their  doctrine. 
With  this  request  he  was  induced  to  comply. 

A-  a  specimen  of  the  manner  in  which  this  letter  was  written,  we 
shall  give  the  following  quotation,  in  the  original  language.  "I 
doubt  not,  that  the  rumouris,  whilk  haif  cumin  to  your  Grace's  earis 
of  me,  haif  bene  such,  that  (yf  all  reportis  wer  true)  I  wer  unworthie 
to  live  in  the  earth.  And  wonder  it  is,  that  the  voces  of  the 
multitude  suld  not  have  so  inflamed  your  Grace's  hart  with  just 
hatred  of  such  a  one  as  I  am  accuseit  to  be,  that  all  acces  to  pitie 
suld  have  bene  schute  up.  I  am  traduceit  as  ane  heretick,  accusit  as 
a  fais  teacher,  and  seducer  of  the  pepill,  besydis  uther  opprobries, 
whilk  (atlirmit  be  men  of  warldlie  honour  and  estimatoun)  may 
easelie  kendill  the  wrath  of  majestratis,  whair  innocencie  in  not 
knawin.  But  blissit  be  God,  the  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Chryst, 
wh<»,  by  the  dew  of  his  heavenlie  grace,  hath  so  quenchit  the  fyre  of 
displeasure  as  y it  in  your  Grace's  hart,  (whilk  of  lait  dayia  I  have 
understand)  that  Sathan  is  frustrat  of  his  interpryse  and  purpois. 
Whilk  is  to  my  hart  no  small  comfort ;  not  so  muche  (God  is  witnes) 
for  any  benefit  that  I  can  resave  in  this  miserable  lyfe,  by  protectioun 
of  any  earthlie  ere  a  tun.',  (for  the  cupe  whilk  it  behoveth  me  to  drink 
ipoyntit  by  the  wisdume  of  him  whois  consallis  ar  not  changeable) 
as  that  1  am  for  that  benefit  whilk  I  am  assurityour  Grace  sail  resave  ; 
yf  that  ye  continew  in  lyke  modaratioun  and  clemencie  towardis 
tttheris,  that  maist  unjustlie  ar  and  sail  be  accusit,  as  that  your  Grace 
hath  begun  towardis  me,  and  my  most  desperat  cause." 

Though  Knox's  pen  was  not  the  most  smooth  nor  delicate,  and  he 
often  irritated  by  the  plainness  and  severity  of  his  language,  the 
letter  to  the  queen  regent  is  far  from  being  uncourtly.  It  seems  to 
have  been  written  with  great  care;  and,  in  point  of  language,  it  may 
be  compared  with  any  composition  of  that  period,  for  simplicity  and 
forcible  expression.  Its  strain  was  well  calculated  for  stimulating 
the  inquiries,  and  confirming  the  resolutions  of  one  who  was  impressed 
with  a  conviction  of  the  reigning  evils  in  the  church,  or  who,  though 
not  resolved   in  judgment  as  to  the  matters  in  controversy,  was 


JOHN   KNOX.  133 

determined  to  preserve  moderation  between  the  contending  parties. 
Notwithstanding  her  imposing  manners,  the  regent  was  not  a  person 
of  this  description.  The  earl  of  Glencairn  delivered  the  letter  into 
her  hand  ;  she  glanced  at  it  with  a  careless  air,  and  gave  it  to  the 
archbishop  of  Glasgow,  saying,  Please  yon,  my  lord,  to  read  a 
pasqnil.  The  report  of  this  induced  Knox,  after  he  retired  from 
Scotland,  to  publish  the  letter,  with  additions,  in  which  he  used  a 
more  pointed  and  severe  style. 

While  he  was  thus  employed  in  Scotland,  he  received  letters  from 
the  English  congregation  at  Geneva,  stating  that  they  had  made 
choice  of  him  as  one  of  their  pastors,  and  urging  him  to  come  and 
take  the  inspection  of  them.  He  judged  it  his  duty  to  comply  with 
this  invitation,  and  began  immediately  to  prepare  for  the  journey. 
His  wife  and  mother-in-law  had  by  this  time  joined  him  at  Edin- 
burgh ;  and  Mrs.  Bowes,  being  now  a  widow,  resolved  to  accompany 
her  daughter  and  her  husband  to  Geneva.  Having  sent  them  before 
him  in  a  vessel,  to  Dieppe,  Knox  again  visited  and  took  his  leave  of 
the  brethren  in  the  different  places  where  he  had  preached.  Campbell 
of  Kinzancleugh  conducted  him  to  the  earl  of  Argyle,  and  he 
preached  for  some  days  in  Castle  Campbell.  Argyle,  and  the  laird 
of  Glenorchy,  urged  him  to  remain  in  Scotland,  but  he  resisted  all 
their  importunities.  "  If  God  so  blessed  their  small  beginning,"  he 
said,  "that  they  continued  in  godliness,  whensoever  they  pleased  to 
command  him,  they  should  find  him  obedient.  But  once  he  must 
needs  visit  that  little  flock,  which  the  wickedness  of  men  had  com- 
pelled him  to  leave."  Accordingly,  in  the  month  of  July,  1556,  he 
left  Scotland,  and,  arriving  at  Dieppe,  proceeded  with  his  family  to 
Geneva. 

Knox  reached  Geneva  before  the  end  of  harvest,  and  took  upon 
him  the  charge  of  the  English  congregation  there,  among  whom  he 
laboured  during  the  two  following  years.  This  short  period  was  the 
most  quiet  of  his  life.  In  the  bosom  of  his  own  family,  he  experi- 
enced that  soothing  care  to  which  he  had  hitherto  been  a  stranger, 
and  which  his  frequent  bodily  ailments  required.  Two  sons  were 
born  to  him  in  Geneva.  The  greatest  cordiality  among  themselves, 
and  affection  to  him,  subsisted  in  the  small  flock  under  his  charge. 
With  his  colleague,  Christopher  Goodman,  he  lived  as  a  brother ; 
and  was  happy  in  the  friendship  of  Calvin  and  the  other  pastors  of 
Geneva.  So  much  was  he  pleased  with  the  purity  of  ^  religion 
established  in  that  city,  that  he  warmly  recommended  it  to  his 
religious  acquaintances  in  England,  as  the  best  Christian  asylum  to 
which  they  could  flee.  "  In  my  heart,"  says  he,  in  a  letter  to  his 
friend  Mr.  Locke,  "  I  could  have  wished,  yea,  and  cannot  cease  to 
wish,  that  it  might,  please  God  to  guide  and  conduct  yourself  to  this 
place,  where  I  neither  fear  nor  eshame  to  say,  is  the  most  perfect 
school  of  Christ  that  ever  was  in  the  earth,  since  the  days  of  the 
apostles.  In  other  places  I  confess  Christ  to  be  truly  preached  ;  but 
manners  and  religion  so  sincerely  reformed,  I  have  not  yet  seen  in 
any  other  place  beside." 

But  neither  the  enjoyment  of  personal  accommodations,  nor  the 
pleasure  of  literary  society,  nor  the  endearments  of  domestic  happi- 


134 


SCOTS   WORTHIES. 


ness,  could  subdue  our  reformer's  ruling  passion,  or  unfix  his 
determination  to  return  to  Scotland,  as  soon  as  an  opportunity  should 
offer'for  advancing  the  reformation  among  his  countrymen.  In  a 
lejtter  written  to  some  of  his  friends  in  Edinburgh,  March  16,  1557, 
we  find  him  expressing  himself  thus:  "  My  own  motion  and  daily 
prayer  is,  not  only  that  1  may  visit,  you,  hut  also  that  with  joy  I  may 
end'  my  battle  among  you.  And  assure  yourselves  of  that,  that 
whenever  a  greater  number  among  you  shall  call  upon  me  than  now 
hath  hound  me  to  serve  them,  by  his  grace  it  shall  not  he  the  fear  of 
punishment,  neither  vet  of  the  death  temporal,  that  shall  impede  my 
coming  to  you."  A  certain  heroic  confidence,  and  assurance  of 
ultimate  success  have  often  been  displayed  by  those  whom  Providence 
has  raised  up  to  achieve  great  revolutions  in  the  world  ;  by  which 
they  have  been  borne  up  under  discouragements  which  would  have 
overwhelmed  men  of  ordinary  spirits,  and  emboldened  to  face 
dangers  from  which  others  would  have  shrunk  appalled.  This 
enthu>iastie  heroism  (I  use  not  the  epithet  in  a  bad  sense)  often 
blazed  f>rth  in  the  conduct  of  the  great  German  reformer.  Knox 
possessed  no  inconsiderable  portion  of  the  same  spirit.  "  Satan,  I 
confess,  rageth,"  says  he,  in  a  letter  nearly  of  the  same  date  with 
that  last  quoted  ;  "  but  potent  is  He  that  promised  to  be  with  us,  in 
all  such  enterprises  as  we  take  in  hand  at  his  commandment,  for  the 
glory  of  his  name,  and  for  maintenance  of  his  true  religion.  And 
therefore  the  less  fear  we  any  contrary  power :  yea,  in  the  boldness 
of  our  God,  we  altogether  contemn  them,  be  they  kings,  emperors, 
men,  angels,  or  devils.  For  they  shall  never  be  able  to  prevail 
against  the  simple  truth  of  God  which  we  openly  profess  :  by  the 
permission  of  God,  they  may  appear  to  prevail  against  our  bodies  ; 
but  our  eause  Bhall  triumph  in  despite  of  Satan." 

Within  a  month  after  he  wrote  the  letter  last  quoted  but  one, 
James  Syme,  who  had  been  his  host  at  Edinburgh,  and  James 
Barron,  another  burgess  of  the  same  city,  arrived  at  Geneva  with  a 
letter,  and  credence,  from  the  earl  of  Glencairn,  lords  Lorn,  Erskine, 
and  James  Stuart,  informing  him  that  those  who  had  professed  the 
reformed  doctrine  remained  steadfast,  that  its  adversaries  were  daily 
losing  credit  in  the  nation,  and  that  those  who  possessed  the  supreme 
authority,  although  they  had  not  yet  declared  themselves  friendly, 
still  refrained  from  persecution  ;  and  inviting  him  in  their  own  name, 
and  in  that  of  their  brethren,  to  return  to  Scotland,  where  he  would 
find  them  all  ready  to  receive  him,  and  to  spend  their  lives  and 
fortunes  in  advancing  the  cause  which  they  had  espoused. 

This  invitation  Knox  laid  before  his  congregation,  and  also  sub- 
mitted it  to  Calvin  and  his  colleagues.  The  latter  delivered  it  as 
their  opinion,  "that  he  could  not' refuse  the  call,  without  showing 
himself  rebellious  to  God,  and  unmerciful  to  his  country."  Hi's 
congregation  agreed  to  sacrifice  their  particular  interest  to  the  greater 
a  of  the  chmch  ;  and  his  own  family  acquiesced.  Upon  this,  he 
returned  an  answer  to  the  letter  of  the'  nobility,  signifying,  that  he 
meant  t<>  risit  them  with  all  reasonable  expedition.  Accordingly, 
after  Beeingthe  congregation  agreeably  provided  with  a  pastor  innis 
room,  and  settling  his  other  affairs,  he  took  an  affectionate  leave  of 


JOHN   KNOX.  135 

his  friends  at  Geneva,  and  went  to  Dieppe,  in  the  beginning  of 
October.  "While  he  waited  there  for  a  vessel,  he  received  letters  from 
Scotland,  written  in  a  very  different  strain  from  the  former.  These 
informed  him,  that  new  consultations  had  been  held  ;  that  some 
began  to  repent  of  the  invitation  which  they  had  given  him  to  return 
to  Scotland ;  and  that  the  greater  part  seemed  irresolute  and  faint- 
hearted. 

This  intelligence  exceedingly  disconcerted  and  embarrassed  him. 
lie  instantly  despatched  a  letter  to  the  nobility  who  had  invited  him, 
upbraiding  them  for  their  timidity  and  inconstancy. 

Having  sent  off  this  letter,  with  others  written  in  the  same  strain, 
to  Erskine  of  Dun,  Wishart  of  Pitarrow,  and  some  other  gentlemen 
of  his  acquaintance,  he  resolved  to  spend  some  time  in  the  interior 
of  France,  hoping  to  receive  in  a  little  more  favourable  accounts  from 
Scotland.  The  reformed  doctrine  had  been  early  introduced  into  the 
kingdom  of  France  ;  it  had  been  watered  with  the  blood  of  many 
martyrs  ;  and  all  the  violence  and  barbarity  which  had  been 
employed,  had  not  been  able  to  extirpate  it,  or  prevent  it  from 
spreading  among  all  ranks.  The  Parisian  protestants  were  at 
present  smarting  under  the  effects  of  one  of  those  massacres  which 
so  often  disgraced  the  Roman  catholic  religion  in  that  country, 
before  as  well  as  after  the  commencement  of  the  civil  wars.  Not 
satisfied  with  assaulting  them  when  peaceably  assembled  for  worship 
in  a  private  house,  and  treating  them  with  great  barbarity,  their 
adversaries,  in  imitation  of  their  pagan  predecessors,  invented  the 
most  diabolical  calumnies  against  them,  and  circulated  everywhere, 
that  the}''  were  guilty  of  committing  the  most  flagitious  crimes  in 
their  assemblies.  The  innocent  sufferers  had  drawn  up  an  apology, 
vindicating  themselves  from  this  atrocious  charge,  and  Knox,  having 
got  a  copy  of  this,  translated  it  into  English,  and  wrote  a  preface 
and  additions  to  it,  intending  to  publish  it  for  the  use  of  his 
countrymen. 

Having  acquired  the  French  language,  and  formed  an  acquaint- 
ance with  many  of  the  protestants,  he  occasionally  preached  to  .them 
in  passing  through  the  country.  It  seems  to  have  been  on  the 
present  occasion,  that  he  preached  in  the  city  of  Rochelle,  when 
having  introduced  the  subject  of  his  native  country,  he  told  his 
audience  that  he  expected,  within  a  few  years,  to  preach  in  the 
church  of  St.  Giles,  in  Edinburgh.  There  is  nothing  in  our  reformer's 
letters  from  which  I  can  learn  whether  he  found  any  protestants  in 
Dieppe,  a  place  which  he  so  often  visited  during  his  exile  :  it  is 
probable  he  did  ;  for  at  an  early  period  of  the  following  century  they 
had  a  very  numerous  church  in  that  town. 

Having  received  no  intelligence  of  an  encouraging  nature,  Knox 
determined  to  relinquish  for  the  present  his  design  of  proceeding  to 
Scotland. 

Before  he  left  Dieppe,  he  transmitted  two  long  letters  to  Scotland  : 
the  one,  dated  1st  December,  1557,  was  addressed  to  the  protestants 
in  general ;  the  other,  dated  the  17th  of  the  same  month,  was  directed 
to  the  nobility.  In  judging  of  Knox's  influence  in  advancing  the 
reformation,  we  must  take  into  view  not  only  his  personal  labours, 


136 


SCOTS   WORTHIES. 


but  also  the  epistolary  correspondence  which  he  maintained  with  his 
countrymen.  By  this,  he  instructed  them  in  his  absence,  communi- 
cated hie  own  advice,  and  that  of  the  learned  among  whom  he  resided, 
upon  every  difficult  case  which  occurred,  and  animated  them  to  con- 
stancy and  perseverance.  The  letters  which  he  wrote  at  this  time 
deserve  particular  attention  in  this  view.  In  both  of  them  he  pru- 
dently avoids  any  reference  to  his  late  disappointment. 

In  the  first  letter  he  strongly  inculcates  purity  of  morals,  and  warns 
all  who  professed  the  reformed  religion  against  those  irregularities 
of  lite,  which  were  improved  to  the  disparagement  of  their  cause,  by 
two  classes  of  persons  ;  by  the  papists,  who,  although  the  same  vices 
prevailed  in  a  far  higher  degree  among  themselves,  represented  them 
as  the  native  fruits  of  the  protestant  doctrine;  and  by  a  new  sect, 
who  were  enemies  to  superstition,  and  had  belonged  to  their  ^  own 
society ;  but  having  deserted  it,  had  become  scarcely  less  hostile  to 
them 'than  the  papists.  The  principal  design  of  this  letter  was  to 
put  them  on  their  guard  against  the  arts  of  this  class  of  persons,  and 
to  expose  their  leading  errors. 

His  letter  to  the  protestant  lords  breathes  a  spirit  of  ardent  and 
noble  piety.  He  endeavours  to  purify  their  minds  from  selfish  and 
worldly  principles  ;  to  raise,  sanctify,  and  Christianize  their  motives, 
by  exhibiting  and  recommending  to  them  the  spirit  and  conduct  of 
the  princes  and  heroes,  celebrated  not  in  profane,  but  sacred  story. 
The  glory  of  God,  the  advancement  of  the  kingdom  of  Jesus  Christ, 
the  salvation  of  themselves  and  their  brethren,  the  emancipation  of 
their  country  from  spiritual  and  civil  thraldom  ;  these,  and  not  their 
own  honour  and  aggrandizement,  or  the  revenging  of  their  petty, 
private  quarrels,  were  the  objects  which  they  ought  to  keep  steadily 
and  solely  in  view. 

In  this  letter,  he  also  communicates  his  advice  on  the  delicate 
question  of  resistance  to  supreme  rulers.  They  had  consulted  him  on 
this  question,  and  he  had  submitted  it  to  the  judgment  of  the  most 
learned  on  the  continent. 

Knox  returned  to  Geneva  in  the  end  of  the  year  1557.  During  the 
following  year,  he  was  engaged,  along  with  several  learned  men  of 
his  congregation,  in  making  a  new  translation  of  the  Bible  into 
English;  which,  from  the  place  where  it  was  composed  and  first 
printed,  obtained  the  name  of  the  Geneva  Bible.  It  was  at  this  time 
that  he  published  his  letter  to  the  queen  regent,  and  his  appellation 
and  exhortation;  both  of  which  were  transmitted  to  Scotland,  and 
contributed  not  a  little  to  the  spread  of  the  reformed  opinions.  I 
have  already  given  an  account  of  the  first  of  these  tracts,  which  was 
chiefly  intended  tor  removing  the  prejudices  of  catholics.  The  last 
was  more  immediately  designed  for  instructing  and  animating  such 
as  were  friendly  to  the  reformed  religion.  Addressing  himself  to 
the  nobility  and  estates,  he  shows  that  the  care  and  reformation  of 
religion  belonged  to  civil  rulers,  and  constituted  one  of  the  primary 
duties  o!  their  office.  This  was  a  dictate  of  nature  as  well  as  revela- 
tion ;  and  he  would  doI  insist  long  upon  that  topic,  lest  he  should 
a  to  suppose  them"lesse  careful  over  God's  true  religion,  than 
were  the  Lthnickes  over  their  idolatrie."  Inferior  magistrates,  within 


JOHN    KNOX. 


137 


the  sphere  of  their  jurisdiction — the  nobles  and  estates  of  a  kingdom, 
as  well  as  kings  and  princes — were  bound  to  attend  to  this  high  duty. 
He  then  addresses  himself  to  the  commonality  of  Scotland,  and 
points  out  their  duty  and  interest,  with  regard  to  the  important  con- 
troversy in  agitation.  They  were  rational  creatures,  formed  after  the 
image  of  God ;  they  had  souls  to  be  saved  ;  they  were  accountable 
for  their  conduct ;  they  were  bound  to  judge  of  the  truth  of  religion, 
and  to  make  profession  of  it,  as  well  as  kings,  nobles,  or  bishops. 
If  idolatry  was  maintained,  if  the  gospel  was  suppressed,  if  the 
blood  of  the  innocent  was  shed,  how  could  they  be  exculpated, 
provided  they  kept  silence,  and.  did  not  exert  themselves  to  prevent 
these  evils. 

But  the  most  singular  treatise  published  this  year  by  Knox,  and 
that  which  made  the  greatest  noise,  was,  The  First  Blast  of  the 
Trumpet  against  the  Monstrous  Regiment  of  Women  ;  in  which  he 
attacked  with  great  vehemence,  the  practice  of  admitting  females  to 
the  government  of  nations.  There  is  some  reason  to  think  that  his 
mind  was  struck  with  the  incongruity  of  this  practice,  as  early  as 
Mary's  accession  to  the  throne  of  England.  This  was  probably  one 
of  the  points  on  which  he  had  conferred  with  the  Swiss  divines  in 
1554.  It  is  certain,  from  a  letter  written  by  him  in  1556,  that  his 
sentiments  respecting  it  were  then  fixed  and  decided.  He  continued, 
however,  to  retain  them  to  himself,  and  refrained  for  a  considerable 
time  from  publishing  them,  out  of  deference  to  the  opinions  of 
others.  But  at  last,  provoked  by  the  tyranny  of  the  queen  of 
England,  and  wearied  out  with  her  increasing  cruelties,  he  applied 
the  trumpet  to  his  mouth,  and  uttered  a  terrible  blast.  "  To  promote 
a  woman  to  bear  rule,  superiority,  dominion,  or  empire,  above  any 
realm,  nation  or  city,  is  repugnant  to  nature,  contumely  to  God,  a 
thing  most  contrarious  to  his  revealed  will  and  approved  ordinance  ; 
and,  finally,  it  is  the  subversion  of  all  equity  and  justice."  Such  is 
the  first  sentence  and  principal  proposition  of  the  work. 

Our  reformer's  letter  to  the  protestant  lords  in  Scotland  produced 
its  intended  effect,  in  re-animating  their  drooping  courage.  At  a 
consultative  meeting  held  at  Edinburgh,  in  December,  155T,  they 
unanimously  resolved  to  adhere  to  one  another,  and  exert  themselves 
for  the  advancement  of  the  reformation.  Having  subscribed  a 
solemn  bond  of  mutual  assurance,  they  renewed  their  invitation  to 
Knox ;  and  being  afraid  that  he  might  hesitate  on  account  of  their 
former  irresolution,  they  wrote  to  Calvin  to  employ  his  influence  to 
induce  him  to  comply.  Their  letters  did  not  reach  Geneva  until 
November,  1558.  By  the  same  conveyance  Knox  received  from 
Scotland  letters  of  later  date,  communicating  the  most  agreeable 
intelligence,  respecting  the  progress  which  the  reformed  cause  had 
made,  and  the  flourishing  appearance  which  it  continued  to  wear. 

Through  the  exertions  of  our  reformer,  during  his  residence  among 
them  in  the  beginning  of  the  year  1556,  and  in  pursuance  of  the 
instructions  which  he  left  behind  him,  the  protectants  had  formed 
themselves  into  congregations,  which  met  in  different  parts  of  the 
country  with  greater  or  less  privacy,  according  to  the  opportunities 
which  they  enjoyed.     Having  come  to  the  resolution  of  withdrawing 


13s  SCOTS    WOKTH1ES. 

from  the  popish  worship,  they  endeavoured  to  provide  for  their 
religious  instruction  and  mutual  edification,  in  the  best  manner  that 
their  circumstances  permitted.  As  there  were  no  ministers  among 
them  they  continued  for  some  time  to  be  deprived  of  the  dispen- 
sation ..f  the  sacraments  ;  but  certain  intelligent  and  pious  men  of 
their  number  were  chosen,  to  read  the  Scriptures,  exhort,  and  offer 
up  prayers,  in  their  assemblies.  Convinced  of  the  necessity  of  order 
and  discipline  in  their  societies,  and  desirous  to  have  them  organized, 
as  far  as  within  their  power,  agreeably  to  the  institution  of  Christ, 
they  next  proceeded  to  choose"  elders,  for  the  inspection  of  their 
manners,  to  whom  they  promised  subjection  ;  and  deacons,  for  the 
collection  and  distribution  of  alms  to  the  poor.  Edinburgh  was  the 
first  place  in  which  this  order  was  established — Dundee  the  first  town 
in  which  a  reformed  church  was  completely  organized,  provided 
with  a  regular  minister,  and  the  dispensation  of  the  sacraments. 

During  the  war  with  England,  which  began  in  Autumn,  1556,  and 
continued  through  the  following  jeav,  the  protestants  enjoyed  con- 
siderable liberty  ;  and  as  they  improved  it  with  the  utmost  assiduity, 
their  numbers  rapidly  increased.  William  Harlow,  John  Douglas, 
Paul  Methven,  and  John  Willock,  who  had  again  returned  from 
Embden,  now  began  to  preach,  with  greater  publicity,  in  different 
parts  of  the  country.  The  popish  clergy  were  not  indifferent  to 
these  proceedings,  and  wanted  not  inclination  to  put  a  stop  to  them. 
They  prevailed  on  the  queen  regent  to  summon  the  protestant 
preachers ;  but  the  interposition  of  the  gentlemen  of  the  west  coun- 
try obliged  her  to  abandon  the  process  against  them.  At  length,  the 
clergy  determined  to  revive  those  cruel  measures  which,  since  the 
year  1550,  had  been  suspended  by  the  political  circumstances  of  the 
kingdom,  more  than  by  their  clemency  or  moderation.  In  April, 
1559,  the  archbishop  of  St.  Andrew's  committed  to  the  flames 
Walter  Mill,*  and  summoned  several  others  to  appear,  on  a  charge 
of  heresy,  before  a  convention  of  the  clergy  at  Edinburgh. 

This  barbarous  and  illegal  execution  produced  effects  of  the  great- 
est importance.  It  raised  the  horror  of  the  nation  to  an  incredible 
pitch  ;  and  as  it  was  believed,  at  that  time,  that  the  regent  was  not 
accsssory  to  the  deed,  their  indignation  was  directed  wholly  against 
the  clergy.  Throwing  aside  all  fear,  and  those  restraints  which  pru- 
dence, or  a  regard  to  established  order,  had  hitherto  imposed  on 
them,  the  people  now  assembled  openly  to  join  in  the  reformed 
worship,  and  avowed  their  determination  to  adhere  to  it  at  all 
hazard-.  The  protestant  leaders  laid  their  complaints,  in  a  regular 
and  respectful  manner,  before  the  regent,  and  repeated  their  petition, 
that  she  would,  by  her  authority,  and  in  concurrence  with  the  parlia- 
ment, restrain  the  tyrannical  proceedings  of  the  clergy,  correct  the 
flagrant  and  insufferable  abuses  which  prevailed  in  the  church,  and 
grant  t<>  them  and  their  brethren  the  liberty  of  religious  instruction 
and  worship — at  least  according  to  a  restricted  plan,  which  they  laid 
before  her,  and  to  which  they  were  willing  to  submit,  until  such 
time  as  their  grievances  were  deliberately  examined  and  redressed. 
The  regent's  reply  was  such   as   to   persuade   them  that  she  was 

*  See  Mill's  Life. 


JOHxN    KNOX.  139 

friendly  to  their  proposals  :  she  promised  that  she  would  take 
measures  for  carrying  them  legally  into  effect,  as  soon  as  it  was  in 
her  power;  and  that,  in  the  mean  time,  they  might  depend  on  her 
protection. 

It  did  not  require  many  arguments  to  persuade  Knox  to  comply 
with  an  invitation  which  was  accompanied  with  such  gratifying 
intelligence  ;  and  he  began  immediately  to  prepare  for  his  journey 
to  Scotland.  The  future  settlement  of  the  congregation  under  his 
charge  occupied  him  for  some  time.  Information  being  received  of 
the  death  of  Mary,  queen  of  England,  and  the  accession  of  Eliza- 
beth, the  protestant  refugees  hastened  to  return  to  their  native 
country.  The  congregation  at  Geneva  having  met  to  return  thanks 
to  God  for  this  deliverance,  agreed  to  send  one  of  their  number  with 
letters  to  their  brethren  in  different  places  of  the  continent,  particu- 
larly at  Frankfort,  congratulating  them  on  the  late  happy  change, 
and  requesting  a  confirmation  of  the  mutual  reconciliation  which 
had  already  been  effected,  the  burial  of  all  past  offences,  with  a 
brotherly  co-operation,  in  endeavouring  to  obtain  such  a  settlement  of 
religion  in  England  as  would  be  agreeable  to  all  the  sincere  well- 
wishers  of  the  reformation.  A  favourable  return  to  their  letters 
being  obtained,  they  took  leave  of  the  hospitable  city,  and  set  out 
for  their  native  country.  By  them  Knox  sent  letters  to  some  of  his 
former  acquaintances,  who  were  now  in  the  court  of  Elizabeth,  re- 
questing permission  to  travel  through  England,  on  his  way  to  Scot- 
land. 

In  the  month  of  January,  1559,  our  reformer  took  his  leave  of 
Geneva  for  the  last  time.  In  addition  to  former  marks  of  respect,  the 
republic,  before  his  departure,  conferred  on  him  the  freedom  of 
the  city.  He  left  his  wife  and  family  behind  him,  until  he  should 
ascertain  that  they  could  live  with  safety  in  Scotland. 

Notwithstanding  the  nattering  accounts  which  he  received  from 
his  countrymen  of  the  favourable  disposition  of  the  queen  regent,  and 
the  directions  which  he  sent  them  to  cultivate  this,  he  always  enter- 
tained suspicions  of  the  sincerity  of  her  professions.  But,  since  he 
left  Geneva,  they  had  been  confirmed ;  and  the  information  which 
he  had  procured,  in  travelling  through  France,  conspired  with  the 
intelligence  which  he  had  lately  received  from  Scotland,  in  convinc- 
ing him,  that  the  immediate  suppression  of  the  reformation  in  his. 
native  country,  and  its  consequent  suppression  in  the  neighbouring 
kingdom  were  intended.  The  plan  projected  by  the  gigantic  ambi- 
tion of  the  princes  of  Lorraine,  brothers  of  the  queen  regent  of  Scot-. 
land,  has  been  developed,  and  described  with  great  accuracy  and 
ability,  by  a  celebrated  modern  historian.  Suffice  it  to  say  here,  that 
the  court  of  France,  under  their  influence,  had  resolved  to  set  up 
the  claim  of  the  young  queen  of  Scots  to  the  crown  of  England  ;  to 
attack  Elizabeth,  and  wrest  the  sceptre  from  her  hands  as  a  bastard 
and  a  heretic;  and,  as  Scotland  was  the  only  avenue  by  which  this 
attack  could  be  successfully  made,  to  begin  by  suppressing  the  refor- 
mation, and  establishing  their  power  in  that  country.  Knox,  in  the 
course  of  his  journeys  through  France,  had  formed  an  acquaintance 
with  some  persons  about  the  court;  and  by  their  means  had  gained 


1J:q  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

sonic  "knowledge  of  the  plan.  lie  was  convinced  that  the  Scottish 
reformers  were  unable  to  resist  the  power  of  France,  which  was  to 
be  directed  against  them;  and  that  it  was  the  interest  as  well  as 
duty  of  the  English  court,  to  afford  them  the  most  effectual  support. 
But  he  was  afraid  that  a  selfish  and  narrow  policy  might  prevent 
them  from  doing  this,  until  it  was  too  late;  and  was  therefore 
anxious  to  call  their  attention  to  this  subject  at  an  early  period,  and. 
to  put  them  in  possession  of  the  facts  that  had  come  to  his  know* 
ledge.  The  assistance  which  Elizabeth  granted  to  the  Scottish  pro- 
testants,  in  1559  and  15G0,  was  dictated'by  the  soundest  policy.  It 
baffled  and  defeated  the  designs  of  her  enemies  at  the  very  outset ; 
it  gare  her  an  influence  over  Scotland,  which  all  her  predecessors 
could  nut  obtain;  it  secured  the  stability  of  her  government^  by 
extending  and  strengthening  the  protestant  interest,  the  principal 
pillar  on  which  it  rested.  Audit  reflects  not  a  little  credit  on  our 
reformer's  sagacity,  that  he  had  formed  this  plan  in  his  mind  at  so 
early  a  period,  and  persisted  to  urge  its  adoption,  until  his  endeavours 
were  crowned  with  success. 

On  his  arrival,  Knox  found  matters  in  the  most  critical  state  in 
Scotland.    The  c^ueen  regent  had  thrown  off  the  mask  which  she  had 
long  worn,  and  avowed  her  determination  forcibly  to  suppress  the 
reformation.     As  long  as  she  stood  in  need  of  the  assistance  of  the 
protestants  to  support  her  authority  against  the  Ilamiltons,  and  pro- 
cure the  matrimonial  crown  for  her  son-in-law,  the  dauphin  of  France, 
she  courted  their  friendship,  pretended  to  accede  to  all  their  plans  of 
reform,  and  flattered  them,  if  not  with  the  hopes  of  her  joining  their 
party,  at  least  with  assurances  that  she  would  shield  them  from  the 
fury  of  the  clergy.     So  completely  were  they  duped  by  her  consum- 
mate address   and  dissimulation,  that  they  complied  with  all  her 
requests,  restrained  some  of  their  preachers  from  teaching  in  public, 
and  desisted  from  presenting  to  the  late  parliament  a  petition  which 
they  had  prepared  ;  nor  would  they  believe  her  insincere,  even  after 
different   parts   of  her   conduct   had    afforded   strong   grounds    for 
Suspicion.     But,  having  accomplished  the  great  objects  which  she 
had  in  view,  she  at  last,  in  conformity  with  instructions  from  France, 
and   Becret  engagements  witli  the  clergy,  adopted  measures  which 
Completely  undeceived  them,  and  discovered  the  gulf  into  which  they 
were  ready  to  be  precipitated.     Some  of  the  protestant  leaders  having 
waited  on  her  to  intercede  in  behalf  of  their  preachers,  who  had 
been  Bummoned  by  her,  she  told  them  in  plain  terms,  that"  in  spite 
of  them,  they  should  be  all  banished  from  Scotland,  although  they 
preached  as  truly  as  ever  St.  Paul  did  :"  and  Avhen  they  reminded 
her  of  the  repeated  promises  of  protection  that  she  had  given  them, 
she   unhlushingly  replied,  that  "  it  became  not  subjects  to  burden 
their  princes  with  promises,  farther  than  they  pleased  to  keep  them." 
They  told  her  that,  if  she  violated  the  engagements  which  she  came 
under  to  her  subjects,  they  would  consider  themselves  as  released 
from  allegiance  to  her,  and  warned  her  very  freely  of  the  dangerous 
consequences  ;  upon  which  she  adopted  milder  language,  and  engaged 
to  prevent  the  trial.     But  soon  after,  upon  hearing  that  the  exercise 
of  the  reformed  religion  had  been  introduced  into  the  town  of  Perth. 


JOHN   KNOX.  1^1 

she  renewed  the  process,  and  summoned  all  the  preachers  to  appear 
at  Stirling,  on  the  10th  of  May,  to  undergo  a  trial. 

Although  his  own  cause  was  prejudged,  and  sentence  already  pro- 
nounced against  him,  he  did  not  hesitate  a  moment  in  resolving  to 
present  himself  voluntarily  at  Stirling,  to  assist  his  brethren  in  their 
defence,  and  share  in  their  danger.  Having  rested  only  a  single  day 
at  Edinburgh,  he  hurried  to  Dundee,  where  he  found  the  principal 
protestants  in  Angus  and  Mearns  already  assembled,  determined  to 
attend  their  ministers  to  the  place  of  trial,  and  to  avow  their  adher- 
ence to  the  doctrines  for  which  they  were  accused.  The  providential 
arrival  of  such  an  able  champion  of  the  cause,  at  this  crisis,  must 
have  been  very  encouraging  to  the  assembly  ;  and  the  liberty  of 
accompanying  them,  which  he  requested,  was  readily  granted. 

Lest  the  unexpected  approach  of  such  a  multitude,  though 
unarmed,  should  alarm  or  offend  the  regent,  the  congregation  (for  so 
the  protestants  began  at  this  time  to  be  called)  agreed  to  stop  at 
Perth,  and  sent  Erskine  of  Dun  before  them  to  Stirling,  to  acquaint 
her  with  the  peaceable  object  and  manner  of  their  coming.  Appre- 
hensive that  their  presence  would  disconcert  her  measures,  the  regent 
had  again  recourse  to  dissimulation.  She  persuaded  Erskine  to  write 
to  his  brethren  to  desist  from  their  intended  journey,  and  authorized 
him  to  promise,  in  her  name,  that  she  would  put  a  stop  to  the  trial. 
The  congregation  testified  their  pacific  intentions  by  a  cheerful  com- 
pliance with  this  request,  and  the  great  part,  confiding  in  the  royal 
promise,  returned  to  their  homes.  But  when  the  day  of  trial  came, 
the  summons  was  called  by  the  orders  of  the  queen,  the  accused 
were  outlawed  for  not  appearing,  and  all  were  prohibited  under  the 
pain  of  rebellion,  from  harbouring  or  assisting  them. 

Escaping  from  Stirling,  Erskine  brought  to  Perth  the  intelligence 
of  this  disgraceful  transaction,  which  could  not  fail  to  incense  the 
protestants.  It  happened  that,  on  the  same  day  on  which  the  news 
came,  Knox,  who  remained  at  Perth,  preached  a  sermon,  in  which  he 
exposed  the  idolatry  of  the  mass,  and  of  image-worship.  Sermon 
being  ended,  the  audience  quietly  dismissed ;  a  few  idle  persons  only 
loitered  in  the  church,  when  an  imprudent  priest,  wishing  either  to 
try  the  disposition  of  the  people,  or  to  show  his  contempt  of  the 
doctrine  which  had  been  just  delivered,  uncovered  a  rich  altar-piece 
decorated  with  images,  and  prepared  to  celebrate  mass.  A  boy 
having  uttered  some  expressions  of  disapprobation  was  struck  by  the 
priest.  He  retaliated  by  throwing  a  stone  at  the  aggressor,  which, 
falling  on  the  altar,  broke  one  of  the  images.  This  operated  like  a 
signal  upon  the  people  present  who  had  taken  part  with  the  boy ; 
and,  in  the  course  of  a  few  minutes,  the  altar,  images,  and  all  the 
ornaments  of  the  church  were  torn  down  and  trampled  under  foot. 
The  noise  soon  collected  a  mob,  who,  finding  no  employment  in  the 
church,  by  a  sudden  and  irresistible  impulse  flew  upon  the  monas- 
teries ;  nor  could  they  be  restrained  by  the  authority  of  the  magis- 
trates and  the  persuasions  of  the  preachers,  who  assembled  as  soon 
as  they  heard  of  the  riot,  until  the  houses  of  the  gray  and  black 
friars,  with  the  costly  edifice  of  the  Carthusian  monks,  were  laidin 
ruins.    None  of  the  gentlemen  or  sober  part  of  the  congregation 


142  SCOTS  WORTHIES. 

were  concerned  in  this  unpremeditated  tumult ;  it  was  wholly  con- 
fined to  the  Laser  inhabitants,  or,  as  Knox  designs  them,  "  the  rascal 
multitude." 

The  demolition  of  the  monasteries  has  been  represented  as  the 
first-fruits  of  our  reformer's  labours  on  this  occasion;  but  whatever 
his  sentiments  Mere  as  to  the  destruction  of  the  instruments  and 
monuments  of  idolatry,  he  wished  this  to  be  accomplished  in  a 
regular  manner ;  he  was  sensible  that  such  tumultuary  proceedings 
were  prejudicial  to  the  cause  of  the  reformers  in  present  circumstan- 
ces; and,  instead  of  instigating,  he  exerted  himself  in  putting  a  stop 
to  the  ravages  of  the  mob.  If,  however,  it  is  to  be  traced  to  a 
remote  cause,  it  must  be  imputed  to  the  wanton  and  dishonourable 
perfidy  of  the  queen. 

Nothing  could  be  more  favourable  to  the  designs  of  the  regent  than 
this  riot.  "By  her  recent  conduct,  she  had  forfeited  the  confidence  of 
the  protestants,  and  even  exposed  herself  in  the  eyes  of  the  sober  and 
moderate  of  her  own  party.  This  occurrence  afforded  her  an  oppor- 
tunity of  turning  the  public  indignation  from  herself,  and  directing 
it  against  the  congregation,  which  she  did  not  fail  to  improve  with 
her  usual  address.  Having  assembled  the  nobility,  she  magnified 
the  accidental  tumult  into  a  dangerous  and  designed  rebellion.  To 
the  catholics  she  dwelt  upon  the  sacriligious  overthrow  of  those 
venerable  structures  which  their  ancestors  had  dedicated  to  the  ser- 
vice of  God.  To  the  protestants  who  had  not  joined  those  at  Perth, 
she  complained  of  the  destruction  of  the  royal  foundation  of  the 
charter-house,  protested  that  she  had  no  intention  of  offering  violence 
to  their  consciences,  and  promised  her  protection,  provided  they 
assisted  her  in  punishing  those  who  had  been  guilty  of  this  violation 
of  public  order.  Having  inflamed  the  minds  of  all  against  them, 
she  advanced  to  Perth  with  an  army,  threatening  to  lay  waste  the 
town  with  fire  and  sword,  and  to  inflict  the  most  exemplary  ven- 
geance on  all  who  had  been  instrumental  in  producing  the  riot. 

The  protestants  of  the  north  were  not  insensible  of  their  danger, 
and  did  all  in  their  power  to  appease  the  rage  of  the  queen  ;  they 
wrote  to  her,  to  the  commanders  of  the  French  troops,  to  the  popish 
nobles,  and  to  those  of  their  own  persuasion;  they  solemnly  dis- 
claimed all  rebellious  intentions;  they  protested  their  readiness  to 
yield  all  due  obedience  to  the  government;  they  obtested  and  ad- 
monished all  to  refrain  from  offering  violence  to  peaceable  subjects, 
who  sought  only  the  liberty  of  their  consciences.  Finding  all  these 
endeavours  fruitless,  they  resolved,  however,  not  to  suffer  themselves 
and  their  brethren  to  be  massacred,  but  prepared  for  a  defence  of 
the  town  against  an  illegal  and  furious  assault.  So  prompt  and 
vigorous  were  their  measures,  that  the  regent,  when  she  approached, 
deemed  it  imprudent  to  attack  them,  and  proposed  overtures  of 
accommodation,  to  which  they  readily  acceded. 

While  the  two  armies  lay  before  Perth,  and  negotiations  were 
going  on  between  them,  our  reformer  obtained  an  interview  with  the 
prior  of  St.  Andrew's  and  the  young  earl  of  Argyle,  who  adhered  to 
the  regent;  he  reminded  them  of  the  solemn  engagements  which 
they  had  contract  id,  aud  charged  them  with  violating  these,  by 


JOHN  KNOX.  143 

abetting  measures  which  tended  to  the  suppression  of  the  reformed 
religion,  and  the  enslaving;  of  their  native  country.  The  noblemen 
assured  them  that  they  held  their  engagements  sacred  :  the  regent 
had  requested  them  to  use  their  Lest  endeavours  to  bring  the  present 
differences  to  an  amicable  termination  ;  if,  however,  she  violated  the 
present  treaty,  they  promised  that  they  would  no  longer  adhere  to 
her,  hut  would  openly  take  part  with  the  rest  of  the  congregation. 
The  queen  was  not  long  in  affording  them  the  opportunity  of  verify- 
ing this  promise. 

The  lords  of  the  congregation  now  resolved  to  introduce  a  refor- 
mation, in  those  places  to  which  their  authority  or  influence  extended, 
and  where  the  greater  part  of  the  inhabitants  were  friendly,  by 
abolishing  the  popish  superstition,  and  setting  up  the  protestant 
worship  in  its  room.  The  feudal  ideas  respecting  the  jurisdiction  of 
the  nobility,  which  at  that  time  prevailed  in  Scotland,  in  part  justi- 
fied this  step  :  the  urgent  and  extreme  necessity  of  the  case  forms  its 
best  vindication. 

St.  Andrew's  was  the  place  fixed  on  for  beginning  these  opera- 
tions. With  this  view,  Lord  James  Stuart,  who  was  prior  of  the 
abbey  of  St.  Andrew's,  and  the  earl  of  Argyle,  made  an  appoint- 
ment with  Knox  to  meet  him  on  a  certain  day,  in  that  city.  Travel- 
ling along  the  east  coast  of  Fife,  he  preached  at  Anstruther  and 
Crail,  and  on  the  9th  of  June,  he  came  to  St.  Andrew's.  The  arch- 
bishop, apprized  of  his  design  to  preach  in  his  cathedral,  assembled 
an  armed,  force,  and  sent  information  to  him,  that  if  he  appeared  in 
the  pulpit,  he  would  give  orders  to  the  soldiers  to  fire  upon  him. 
The  noblemen,  having  met  to  consult  what  ought  to  be  done,  were 
of  opinion  that  Knox  should  desist  from  preaching  at  that  time. 
Their  retinue  was  very  slender ;  they  had  not  yet  ascertained  the 
disposition  of  the  town ;  the  queen  lay  at  a  small  distance  with  an 
army,  ready  to  come  to  the  bishop's  assistance ;  and  his  appearance 
in  the  pulpit  might  lead  to  the  sacrifice  of  his  own  life,  and  the  lives 
of  those  who  were  determined  to  defend  him  from  violence. 

But  had  the  reformers,  after  announcing  their  intentions,  suffered 
themselves  to  be  intimidated  by  the  bravadoing  attitudes  and  threats 
of  the  archbishop,  their  cause  would,  at  the  very  outset,  have  re- 
ceived a  blow,  from  which  it  could  not  easily  have  recovered.  This 
was  prevented  by  the  firmness  and  intrepidity  of  Knox.  Fired 
with  the  recollection  of  the  part  which  he  had  formerly  acted  on 
that  spot,  and  with  the  near  prospect  of  realizing  the  sanguine  hopes 
which  he  had  cherished  in  his  breast  for  many  years,  he  replied  to 
the  solicitations  of  his  brethren, — That  he  could  take  God  to  witness, 
that  he  never  preached  in  contempt  of  any  man,  nor  with  the  design 
of  hurting  an  earthly  creature ;  but  to  delay  to  preach  next  day 
(unless  forcibly  hindered),  he  could  not  in  conscience  agree.  In  that 
town,  and  in  that  churcli,  had  God  first  raised  him  to  the  dignity  of 
a  preacher,  and  from  it  he  had  been  reft  by  French  tyranny,  at  the 
instigation  of  the  Scotch  bishops.  The  length  of  his  imprisonment, 
and  the  tortures  which  he  had  endured,  he  would  not  at  present  re- 
cite; but  one  thing  he  could  not  conceal,  that,  in  the  hearing  of 
:iany  yet  alive,  he  had  expressed  his  confident  hope  of  again  preach- 


1U  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

in°-  in  St.  Andrew's.  Now,  therefore,  when  Providence,  beyond  all 
men's  expectation,  had  brought  him  to  that  place,  he  besought  them 
not  to  hinder  lum.  "  As  fur  the  fear  of  danger  that  may  come  to 
me,"  continued  he,  "let  no  man  be  solicitous;  for  my  life  is  in  the 
custodv  of  Him  whose  glory  I  seek.  I  desire  the  hand  or  weapon 
of  no  man  to  defend  me.  I  only  crave  audience ;  which,  if  it  be 
denied  here  unto  me  at  this  time,  I  must  seek  where  I  may  have  it." 

This  intrepid  reply  silenced  all  further  remonstrances ;  and  next 
day  Knox  appeared  in  the  pulpit,  and  preached  to  a  numerous 
assembly  without  meeting  with  the  slightest  opposition  or  interrup- 
tion, lie  discoursed  on"  the  subject  of  our  Saviour's  ejecting  the 
profane  traffickers  from  the  temple  of  Jerusalem ;  from  which  he 
took  occasion  to  expose  the  enormous  corruptions  which  had  been 
introduced  into  the  church,  under  the  papacy  ;  and  to  point  out  what 
was  incumbent  upon  Christians  in  their  different  spheres,  for  remov- 
ing them.  On  the  three  following  days  he  preached  in  the  same 
place;  and  such  was  the  influence  of  his  doctrine,  that  the  provost, 
bailies,  and  inhabitants,  harmoniously  agreed  to  set  up  the  reformed 
worship  in  the  town  ;  the  church  was  stripped  of  images  and  pictures, 
and  the  monasteries  pulled  down. 

The  example  of  St.  Andrew's  was  cpiickly  followed  in  other  parts 
of  the  kingdom ;  and,  in  the  course  of  a  few  weeks,  at  Crail,  at 
Cupar,  at  Lindores,  at  Stirling,  at  Linlithgow,  and  at  Edinburgh,  the 
houses  of  the  monks  were  overthrown,  and  all  the  instruments  which 
had  been  employed  to  foster  idolatry  and  image-worship  were  de- 
stroyed. 

Our  reformer  continued  at  St.  Andrew's  till  the  end  of  June,  when 
he  came  to  Edinburgh,  from  which  the  regent  and  her  forces  had 
retired.  The  protestants  in  this  city  fixed  their  eyes  upon  him,  and 
chose  him  immediately  for  their  minister.  He  accordingly  entered 
upon  that  charge ;  but  the  lords  of  the  congregation  having  soon 
after  concluded  a  treaty  with  the  regent,  by  which  they  delivered 
up  Edinburgh  to  her,  judged  it  unsafe  for  him  to  remain  there,  on 
account  of  the  extreme  personal  hostility  with  which  the  papists 
were  inflamed  against  him.  Willock,  as  being  less  obnoxious  to 
them,  was  therefore  substituted  in  his  place,  while  he  undertook  a 
tour  of  preaching  through  the  kingdom.  This  itinerancy  had  great 
influence  in  extending  the  reformed  interest.  The  wide  field  which 
was  before  him;  the  interesting  situation  in  which  he  was  placed; 
the  dangers  by  which  he  was  surrounded,  and  the  hopes  which  he 
cherished,  increased  the  ardour  of  his  zeal,  and  stimulated  him  to 
extraordinary  exertions  both  of  body  and  mind.  Within  less  than 
two  months,  he  travelled  over  the  greater   part  of  Scotland.     He 


their  eyes  were  opened  to  the  errors  by  which  they  had  been  deluded ; 
and  they  panted  lor  the  word  of  life  which  they  had  once  tasted. 

Immediately  after  his  arrival  in  Scotland,  Knox  wrote  to  Geneva 
for  his  wife  and  family.  On  the  13th  of  June,  Mrs.  Knox  and  her 
family  were  at  Paris,  and  applied  to  Sir  Nicolas  Throkmorton,  the 


JOHN   KNOX.  145 

English  ambassador,  for  a  safe  conduct  to  pass  into  England. 
Throkmorton,  who  by  this  time  had  begun  to  penetrate  the  counsels 
of  the  French  court,  not  only  granted  this,  but  wrote  a  letter  to  the 
queen,  in  which  he  urged  the  propriety  of  overlooking  the  offence 
which  Knox  had  given  by  his  publication,  and  of  conciliating  him 
by  the  kind  treatment  of  his  wife ;  seeing  he  was  in  great  credit  with 
the  lords  of  the  congregation  ;  had  been  the  principal  instrument  in 
producing  the  late  change  in  that  kingdom  ;  and  was  capable  of 
doing  essential  service  to  her  majesty.  Accordingly,  Mrs.  Knox 
came  into  England,  and  being  conveyed  to  the  borders  by  the  direc- 
tion of  the  court,  reached  her  husband  in  safety,  on  the  20th  of 
September.  Her  mother,  after  remaining  a  short  time  in  her  native 
country,  followed  her  into  Scotland,  where  she  remained  until  her 
death.  * 

The  arrival  of  his  family  was  the  more  gratifying  to  our  reformer, 
that  they  were  accompanied  by  Christopher  Goodman.  lie  had 
repeatedly  written,  in  the  most  pressing  manner,  for  his  late  col- 
league to  come  to  his  assistance,  and  expressed  much  uneasiness  at 
the  delay  of  his  arrival.  Goodman  became  minister  of  St.  An- 
drew's. The  settlement  of  protestant  ministers  took  place  at  an 
earlier  period  than  is  mentioned  in  our  common  histories.  Previous 
to  September,  1559,  eight  towns  were  provided  with  pastors  ;  other 
places  remained  unprovided,  owing  to  the  scarcity  of  preachers, 
which  was  severely  felt. 

In  the  mean  time,  it  became  daily  more  apparent  that  the  lords 
of  the  congregation  would  be  unable,  without  foreign  aid,  to  main- 
tain the  struggle  in  which  they  were  involved.  Had  the  contest 
been  merely  between  them  and  the  domestic  party  of  the  regent, 
they  would  soon  have  brought  it  to  a  successful  termination  ;  but 
they  could  not  withstand  the  veteran  troops  which  France  had  sent 
to  her  assistance,  and  was  preparing  to  send,  in  still  more  formidable 
numbers.  As  far  back  as  the  middle  of  June,  our  reformer  renewed 
his  exertions  for  obtaining  assistance  from  England,  and  persuaded 
William  Kircaldy  of  Grange,  first  to  write,  and  afterwards  to  pay  a 
visit  to  Sir  Henry  Percy,  who  held  a  public  situation  on  the  English 
marches.  Percy  immediately  transmitted  his  representations  to 
London,  and  an  answer  was  returned  from  secretary  Cecil,  encourag- 
ing the  correspondence. 

Knox  himself  wrote  to  Cecil,  requesting  permission  to  visit  Eng- 
land, and  enclosed  a  letter  to  queen  Elizabeth,  in  which  he  attempted 
to  apologize  for  his  rude  attack  upon  female  government.  There- 
was  nothing  at  which  he  was  more  awkward  than  making  apologies. 
The  letter  contains  professions  of  strong  attachment  to  Elizabeth's 
government ;  but  the  strain  in  which  it  is  written  is  such  as,  if  it  was 
ever  read  by  that  high-minded  princess,  must  have  aggravated 
instead  of  extenuating  his  offence.  But  the  sagacious  secretary,  we 
have  little  doubt,  suppressed  it.  He  was  himself  friendly  to  the 
measure  of  assisting  the  Scottish  congregation,  and  exerted  all  his 
influence  to  bring  over  the  queen  and  her  council  to  his  opinion.  A 
message  was  accordingly  sent  to  Knox,  desiring  him  to  muut  with  Sir 
Henry  Percy  at  Alnwick,  on  the  2d  of  August,  upon  business  which 
10 


U6  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

required  the  utmost  secresy  and  despatch  ;  and  Cecil  came  down  to 
Stamford  to  hold  an  interview  with  him. 

'I  be  confusion  produced  by  the  advance  of  the  regents  army  upon 
Edinburgh  retarded  his  journey;  but  no  sooner  was  this  settled, 
than  he  sailed  from  Pittenweem  to  Holy  Island.  _  Finding  that 
Percy  was  recalled  from  the  borders,  he  applied  to  Sir  James  Croft, 
governor  of  Berwick.  Croft,  who  was  not  unapprized  of  the  design 
upon  which  he  came,  dissuaded  him  from  proceeding  farther  into 
England  and  undertook  to  despatch  his  communications  to  London, 
and  to  i 'roc ure  a  speedy  return.  While  he  remained  at  Berwick, 
Whitlaw  came  from  the  English  court  with  answers  to  the  letters  for- 
merly sent;  and  he  immediately  returned  to  lay  these  before  a  meet- 
in--  of  the  protectant  lords  at  Stirling.  The  irresolution  or  the  cau- 
tion of  Elizabeth's  cabinet  had  led  them  to  express  themselves  in 
Mnh  general  and  unsatisfactory  terms,  that  the  assembly  were  both 
disappointed  and  displeased;  and  it  was  with  some  difficulty  that 
our  reformer  obtained  permission  from  them  to  write  again  to  London 
in  his  own  name.  The  representation  which  he  gave  of  the  urgency 
of  the  case,  and  the  danger  of  further  hesitation  or  delay,  produced  a 
speedy  reply,  desiring  them  to  send  a  confidential  messenger  to 
Berwick,  who  would  receive  a  sum  of  money  to  assist  them  in  carry- 
ing on  the  war.  About  the  same  time,  Sir  Ralph  Saddler  was  sent 
down  to  Berwick,  to  act  as  an  accredited,  but  secret  agent ;  and  the 
correspondence  between  the  court  of  London  and  the  lords  of  the 
congregation  continued  afterwards  to  be  carried  on  through  him  and 
James  Croft,  until  the  English  auxiliary  army  entered  Scotland. 

If  we  reflect  upon  the  connexion  which  the  religious  and  civil 
liberties  of  the  nation  had  with  the  contest  in  which  the  protestants 
were  engaged,  and  upon  our  reformer's  zeal  in  that  cause,  we  will 
not  be  greatly  surprised  to  find  him  at  this  time  acting  in  the  charac- 
ter of  a  politician.  Extraordinary  cases  cannot  be  measured  by 
ordinary  rules.  In  a  great  emergency,  like  that  under  considera- 
tion, when  all  that  is  valuable  and  dear  to  a  people  is  at  stake,  it 
becomes  the  duty  of  every  individual  to  step  forward,  and  exert  the 
talents  with  which  he  is  endowed,  for  the  public  good.  Learning 
was  at  this  time  rare  among  the  nobility;  and  though  there  were 
men  of  distinguished  abilities  among  the  protestant  leaders,  few  of 
ilniii  hud  been  accustomed  to  transact  public  business.  Accord- 
ingly, the  management  of  the  correspondence  with  England  was  for 
a  time  devolved  chiefly  on  Balnaves  and  our  reformer.  But  he  sub- 
mitted to  this  merely  from  a  sense  of  duty  and  regard  to  the  common 
can.se;  and,  when  the  younger  Maitland  acceded  to  their  party,  he 
expressed ^  the  greatest  satisfaction  at  the  prospect  which  this  gave 
him  of  being  relieved  from  the  burden. 


Iii  a  letter  to  Sir  .lames  Croft,  Knox  represented  the  great  impor- 
tance of  their  being  speedily  assisted  with  troops,  without  which  they 
would  be  in  much  hazard  of  miscarrying  in  an  attack  upon  th  ' 
fications  of  Leith.  The  court  of  England,  he  said,  ought  not 
itate  at  offending  France,  of  whose '"hostile  intentions  against 

•I,..,      1....1      (1 ,       ....-•     ......     ....      __'J___  -r»     .      „   ...  9.     .      . 


the  forti- 
to  hes 
*-.st  them 
thei  bad  themosl   satisfactory  evidence.    But  "if  ye  list  to  era' 
with  thame,"  continued  he,  "  the  sending  of  a  thousand  or  mo  men 


JOHN   KNOX.  i±f 

to  us  can  breake  no  league  nor  point  of  peace  contracted  betwixt  you 
and  France :  For  it  is  free  for  jour  subjects  to  serve  in  warr  anie 
prince  or  nation  for  their  wages;  and  if  yee  fear  that  such  excuses 
will  not  prevail,  ye  may  declare  thame  rebelles  to  your  realme,  when 
ye  shall  be  assured  that  thei  be  in  our  companie."  Xo  doubt  such 
things  have  been  often  done ;  and  such  political  casu'istry,  as  Keith 
not  improperly  styles  it,  is  not  unknown  at  courts.  But  it  must  be 
confessed,  that  the  measure  recommended  by  Knox — the  morality  of 
which  must  stand  on  the  same  grounds  with  the  assistance  which  the 
English  were  at  that  time  affording — was  too  glaring  to  be  concealed 
by  the  excuses  which  he  suggested.  Croft  laid  hold  of  this  opportu- 
nity to  check  the  impetuosity  of  his  correspondent,  and  wrote  him, 
that  he  wondered  how  he,  ''being  a  wise  man,"  would  require  from 
them  such  aid  as  they  could  not  give  "  without  breach  of  treaty,  and 
dishonour ;"  and  that  the  world  was  not  so  blind  as  not  to  see  through 
the  devices  by  which  he  proposed  to  colour  the  matter.  Knox,  in  his 
reply,  apologized  for  his  "  unreasonable  request  ;"  but,  at  the  same 
time,  reminded  Croft  of  the  common  practice  of  courts  in  such 
matters,  and  of  the  French  court  toward  themselves  in  a  recent 
instance  ;  he  was  not  ignorant,  he  said,  of  the  inconveniences  which 
might  attend  an  open  declaration  in  their  favour,  but  feared  that  they 
would  have  cause  to  "  repent  the  drift  of  time,  when  the  remedy 
shall  not  be  so  easy." 

Notwithstanding  the  prejudice  which  existed  in  the  English  court 
against  our  reformer,  on  account  of  his  "  audacity"  in  attacking 
female  prerogative,  they  were  too  well  acquainted  with  his  integrity 
and  influence  to  decline  his  services.  Cecil  kept  up  a  correspond- 
ence with  him  ;  and,  in  the  directions  sent  from  London  for  the 
management  of  the  subsidy,  it  was  expressly  provided  that  he  should 
be  one  of  the  council  for  examining  the  receipts  and  payments,  to 
see  that  it  was  applied  to  the  common  action,  and  not  to  any  private 
use. 

In  the  mean  time,  his  zeal  and  activity  in  the  cause  of  the  congre- 
gation exposed  him  to  the  deadly  resentment  of  the  queen  regent  and 
the  papists.  A  reward  was  publicly  offered  to  the  person  who  should 
seize  or  kill  him,  and  numbers,  actuated  by  hatred  or  avarice,  lay  in 
wait  for  his  apprehension.  But  he  was  not  deterred  by  this  from 
appearing  in  public,  nor  from  travelling  through  the  country,  in  the 
discharge  of  his  duty.  His  exertions  at  this  period  were  incredibly 
great.  By  day  he  was  employed  in  preaching;  by  night  in  writing 
Tetters  on" public  business.  He  was  the  soui  of  the  congregation; 
was  always  present  at  the  post  of  danger ;  and  by  his  presence,  his 
public  discourses,  and  private  advices,  animated  the  whole  body,  and 
defeated  the  schemes  employed  to  corrupt  and  disunite  them. 

On  the  21st  of  October,  an  assembly  of  nobles,  barons,  and  repre- 
sentatives of  boroughs,  was  convened  at  Edinburgh,  to  deliberate  on 
the  lawfulness  of  suspending  the  queen  rtgent.  WiUock,  who  then 
officiated  as  minister  of  Edinburgh,  and  Knox,  were  called  to  attend, 
when  they  both  concurred  in  the  legality  of  the  proposal. 

Those  who  judge  of  the  propriety  of  any  measure,  from  thesuccess 
with  which  it  is  accompanied,  will  be  disposed  to  condemn  this  treat- 


lis  SCOTS   WORTHIES 

ment  of  the  queen.  Soon  after  this  step  was  taken,  the  affairs  of  the 
congregation  began  to  wear  a  gloomy  appearance.  The  messenger 
whom  they  had  Bent  to  Berwick,  to  receive  a  remittance  from  the 
English  court,  was  intercepted  on  his  return,  and  rifled  of  the  treas- 
ure^ their  soldiers  mutinied  for  want  of  pay  ;  they  were  repulsed  in 
a  premature  assault  upon  the  fortifications  of  Leith,  and  worsted  in 
a  Bkirmish  with  the  French  troops;  the  secret  emissaries  of  the 
regent  were  too  successful  among  them;  their  numbers  daily 
decreased  ;  and  the  remainder,  disunited,  dispirited,  and  dismayed, 
came  to  the  resolution  of  abandoning  Edinburgh  on  the  evening  of 
the  5th  of  November,  and  retreated  with  precipitation  and  disgrace 
to  Stirling. 

Amidst  the  universal  dejection  produced  by  these  disasters,  the 
spirit  of  Knox  remained  unsubdued.  On  the  day  after  their  arrival 
at  Stirling,  he  mounted  the  pulpit,  and  delivered  a  discourse,  which 
had  a  wonderful  effect  in  rekindling  the  zeal  and  courage  of  the 
congregation.  Their  faces,  he  said,  were  confounded,  their  enemies 
triumphed,  their  hearts  had  quaked  for  fear,  and  still  remained 
oppressed  with  sorrow  and  shame.  What  was  the  cause  for  which 
God  had  thus  dejected  them  ?  The  situation  of  their  affairs  required 
plain  language,  and  he  would  use  it.  In  the  present  distressed  state 
of  their  minds,  they  were  in  danger  of  fixing  upon  an  erroneous 
cause  of  their  misfortunes,  and  of  imagining  that  they  had  offended 
in  taking  the  sword  of  self-defence  into  their  hands  ;  just  as  the  tribes 
of  Israel  did  when  twice  discomfited  in  the  war  which  they  under- 
took, by  divine  direction,  against  their  brethren  the  Benjamites. 
Having  divided  the  congregation  into  two  classes,  those  who  had 
been  embarked  in  the  cause  from  the  beginning,  and  those  who  had 
lately  acceded  to  it,  he  proceeded  to  point  out  what  he  considered  as 
blamable  in  the  conduct  of  each  ;  and,  after  exhorting  all  to  amend- 
ment of  life,  prayers,  and  works  of  charity,  he  concluded  with  an 
animating  address.  God,  he  said,  often  suffered  the  wicked  to 
triumph  for  a  while,  and  exposed  his  chosen  congregation  to  mockery, 
dangers,  and  apparent  destruction,  in  order  to  abase  their  self-confi- 
dence, and  induce  them  to  look  to  him  for  deliverance  and  victory. 
If  they  turned  unfeignedly  to  the  Eternal,  he  no  more  doubted  that 
their  present  distress  wouid  be  converted  into  joy,  and  followed  by 
success,  than  he  doubted  that  Israel  was  finally  victorious  over  the 
Benjamites,  after  being  twice  repulsed  with  ignominy.  The  cause  in 
which  they  were  engaged  would,  in  spite  of  all  opposition,  prevail  in 
Scotland.  It  was  the  eternal  truth  of  the  eternal  God  which  they 
maintained  ;  it  might  be  oppressed  for  a  time,  but  would  ultimately 
triumph. 

The  audience  who  had  entered  the  church  in  deep  despondency, 
Left  it  with  renovated  courage.  In  the  afternoon  the  council  met, 
and  after  prayer  by  the  reformer,  unanimously  agreed  to  despatch 
Maitland  to  London  to  supplicate  more  effectual  assistance  from 
Elizabeth.  In  the  mean  time  as  they  M-ere  unable  to  keep  the  field, 
they  resolved  to  divide  ;  and  that  the  one  half  of  the  council  should 
remain  a1  Glasgow,  and  the  other  at  St.  Andrew's.  Knox  was  ap- 
pointed to  attend  the  latter.    The  French  having,  in  the  beginning 


m 


JOHN    KNOX".  149 

of  the  year  15G0,  penetrated  into  Fife,  he  encouraged  that  small 
band,  which,  under  the  earl  of  Arran,  and  the  prior  of  St.  Andrew's, 
bravely  resisted  their  progress,  until  the  appearance  of  the  English 
fleet  obliged  them  to  make  a  precipitate  retreat. 

The  disaster  which  caused  the  protestant  army  to  leave  Edinburgh 
turned  out  to  the  advantage  of  their  cause.  It  obliged  the  English 
court  to  abandon  the  line  of  cautious  policy  which  they  had  hitherto 
pursued.  On  the  27th  of  February,  15G0,  they  concluded  a  formal 
treaty  with  the  lords  of  the  congregation  ;  and,  in  the  beginning  of 
April,  the  English  army  entered  Scotland.  The  French  troops  re- 
tired within  the  fortifications  of  Leith,  and  were  invested  by  sea  and 
land  ;  the  queen  regent  died  in  the  castle  of  Edinburgh  during  the 
siege  ;  and  the  ambassadors  of  France  were  forced  to  agree  to  a 
treaty,  by  which  it  was  provided  that  the  French  troops  should  be 
removed  from  Scotland,  an  amnesty  granted  to  all  who  had  been 
engaged  in  the  late  resistance  to  the  measures  of  the  regent,  their 
principal  grievances  redressed,  and  a  free  parliament  called  to  settle 
the  other  affairs  of  the  kingdom. 

During  the  continuance  of  the  civil  war,  while  the  protestant 
preachers  were  assiduous  in  disseminating  the  knowledge  of  the 
truth  through  all  parts  of  the  kingdom,  the  popish  clergy  used  no 
exertions  to  counteract  them.  Too  corrupt  to  think  of  reforming 
their  manners  ;  and  too  illiterate  to  be  capable  of  defending  their 
errors,  they  placed  their  forlorn  hope  upon  the  success  of  the  French 
arms,  and  looked  forward  to  the  issue  of  the  contest,  as  involving  the 
establishment  or  the  ruin  of  their  religion.  One  attempt  they  indeed 
made  to  recover  their  lost  reputation,  and  support  their  sinking  cause 
by  reviving  the  stale  pretence  of  miracles  wrought  at  the  shrines  of 
their  saints.  But  the  detection  of  the  imposture  exposed  them  to 
derision,  and  was  the  occasion  of  their  losing  a  person,  who,  by  his 
learning  and  integrity,  was  the  greatest  ornament  of  their  party. 

The  treaty  which  put  an  end  to  hostilities  made  no  settlement  re- 
specting religious  differences  ;  but,  on  that  very  account,  it  was  fatal 
to  popery.  The  power  was  left  in  the  hands  of  the  protestants.  The 
Roman  catholic  worship  was  almost  universally  deserted  through 
the  kingdom,  except  in  those  places  which  had  been  occupied  by 
the  regent  and  her  foreign  auxiliaries  ;  and  no  provision  was  made 
for  its  restoration.  The  firm  hold  which  it  once  had  of  the  opinions 
and  affections  of  the  people  was  completely  loosened  ;  it  was  sup- 
ported by  force  alone ;  and  the  moment  that  the  French  troops  em- 
barked, that  fabric,  which  had  stood  for  ages  in  Scotland,  fell  to  the 
ground.  Its  feeble  and  dismayed  priests  ceased,  of  their  ownaccord, 
from  the  celebration  of  its  rites;  and  the  reformed  service  was 
peaceably  set  up,  wherever  ministers  could  be  found  to  perform 
it.  The  parliament,  when  it  met,  had  little  else  to  do  respecting 
religion,  than  to  sanction  what  the  nation  had  previously  adopted. 

In  the  assignation  of  ministers  to  the  different  parts  of  the  king- 
dom, a  measure  which  engaged  the  attention  of  the  protestants 
immediately  after  the  proclamation  of  peace,  the  temporary  arrange- 
ments formerly  made  were  in  general  confirmed  ;  and  our  reformer 
resumed  his  station  as  minister  of  Edinburgh.     During  the  month 


150  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

of  August,  he  was  employed  in  composing  the  Protestant  Confession 
of  Faith,  which  was  presented  to  the  parliament,  who  ratified  it  and 
abolished  the  papal  jurisdiction  and  worship. 

The  organization  of  the  reformed  church  was  not  yet  completed. 
Hitherto  "the  Book  of  Common  Order,  agreed  upon  by  the  English 
church  at  Geneva,  had  been  chiefly  followed  as  a  directory  for  wor- 
ship and  government.  But  this  having  been  compiled  for  the  use  of 
a  Bingle  congregation,  composed,  too,  for  the  most  part,  of  men  of 
education,  was  found  inadeqate  for  an  extensive  church,  consisting 
of  a  multitude  of  confederated  congregations.  Sensible  of  the  great 
importance  of  ecclesiastical  polity  for  the  maintainance  of  order, 
the  preservation  of  purity  of  doctrine  and  morals,  and  the  general 
flourishing  of  religion  in  the  kingdom,  our  reformer,  at  an  early 
period,  called  the  attention  of  the"  protestants  to_  this  subject,  and 
urged  its  speedy  settlement.  In  consequence  of  this,  the  lords  of  the 
privy  council  appointed  him  and  other  five  ministers  to  draw  out 
such  a  plan  as  they  judged  most  agreeable  to  scripture,  and  con- 
ducive to  the  advancement  of  religion.  They  met  accordingly  ; 
and  with  great  pains,  and  much  unanimity,  formed  the  book  which 
was  afterwards  called  the  First  Book  of  Discipline.  Our  reformer 
had  a  chief  hand  in  the  compilation  of  this  book. 

The  first  General  Assembly  of  the  reformed  church  of  Scotland,  sat 
down  at  Edinburgh  on  the  20th  of  December,  1560.  It  consisted  of 
forty  members,  only  six  of  whom  were  ministers.  Knox  was  one  of 
these ;  and  he  continued  to  sit  in  most  of  its  meetings  until  the  time 
of  his  death.  Their  deliberations  were  conducted  at  first  with  great 
simplicity  and  unanimity.  It  is  a  singular  circumstance,  that  they 
had  seven  different  meetings  without  a  president  or  moderator.  But 
as  the  number  of  members  increased,  and  business  became  more 
complicated,  a  moderator  was  appointed  to  be  chosen  at  every  meet- 
ing ;  he  was  invested  with  authority  to  maintain  order ;  and  regula- 
tions were  enacted  concerning  the  constituent  members  of  the  court, 
the  causes  which  ought  to  come  before  them,  and  the  order  of  proce- 
dure. 

In  the  close  of  this  year  our  reformer  suffered  a  heavy  domestic 
loss  by  the  death  of  his  valuable  wife,  who,  after  sharing  in  the 
hardships  of  her  husband's  exile,  was  removed  from  him  when  he 
had  obtained  a  comfortable  settlement  for  his  family.  He  wTas  left 
with  tin'  charge  of  two  young  children,  in  addition  to  his  other  cares. 
His  mother-in-law  was  still  with  him;  but  though  betook  pleasure 
in  her  religious  company,  the  dejection  of  mind  to  which  she  was 
subject,  and  which  all  his  efforts  could  never  completely  cure,  rather 
increased  than  lightened  his  burden.  His  acute  feelings  were 
severely  wounded  by  this  stroke;  but  he  endeavoured  to  moderate 
his  grief  by  the  consolations  which  he  administered  to  others,  and  by 
application  to  public  duties.  He  had  the  satisfaction  of  receiving, 
on  this  occasion,  a  letter  from  his  much  respected  friend  Calvin,  in 
which  expressions  of  -rent  esteem  for  his  deceased  partner  were 
mingled  with  condolence  for  his  loss.  We  may  take  this  opportunity 
of  mentioning,  that  Knox,  with  the  consent  of  his  brethren,  consulted 
the  Genevan  reformer  upon  several  difficult  questions  which  occurred 


JOHN   KNOX.  151 

respecting  the  settlement  of  the  Scottish  reformation  ;  and  that  a 
number  of  letters  passed  between  them  on  this  subject. 

Anxieties  on  a  public  account  were  felt  by  Knox  along  with  his 
domestic  distress.  The  reformation  had  hitherto  advanced  with  a 
success  equal  to  his  most  sanguine  expectations  ;  and,  at  this  time, 
no  opposition  was  publicly  made  to  the  new  establishment.  But 
matters  were  still  in  a  very  critical  state.  There  "was  a  party  in  the 
nation,  by  no  means  inconsiderable  in  numbers  and  power,  who 
remained  addicted  to  popery;  and,  though  they  had  given  way  to 
the  torrent,  they  anxiously  waited  for  an  opportunity  to  embroil  the 
country  in  another  civil  war,  for  the  restoration  of  the  ancient 
religion.  Queen  Mary  and  her  husband,  the  king  of  France,  had 
refused  to  ratify  the  late  treaty,  and  had  dismissed  the  deputy  sent 
by  the  parliament,  with  marks  of  the  highest  displeasure  at  the 
innovations  which  they  had  presumed  to  introduce.  A  new  army 
was  preparing  in  France  for  the  invasion  of  Scotland  against  the 
spring;  emissaries  were  sent,  in  the  mean  time,  to  encourage  and 
unite  the  Roman  catholics ;  and  it  was  doubtful  if  the  queen  of 
England  would  subject  herself  to  new  expense  and  odium,  by 
protecting  them  against  a  second  attack. 

The  danger  was  not  unperceived  by  our  reformer,  who  exerted 
himself  to  prepare  his  countrymen,  by  impressing  their  minds  with 
a  due  sense  of  it,  and  exciting  them  speedily  to  complete  the 
settlement  of  religion  throughout  the  kingdom,  which,  he  was 
persuaded,  would  prove  the  principal  bulwark  against  the  assaults 
of  their  adversaries.  In  the  state  in  which  the  minds  of  men  then 
were,  his  admonitions  were  listened  to  by  many  who  had  formerly 
treated  them  with  indifference.  The  threatened  storm  blew  over,  in 
consequence  of  the  death  of  the  French  king  ;  but  this  necessarily 
led  to  a  measure  which  involved  the  Scottish  protestants  in  a  new 
struggle,  and  exposed  the  reformed  church  to  dangers  less  obvious 
and  striking ;  but,  on  that  account,  not  less  to  be  dreaded  than  open 
violence  and  hostility.  This  was  the  invitation  given  by  the  protest- 
ant  nobility  to  their  young  queen,  who,  on  the  l'Jth  of  August,  1501, 
arrived  in  Scotland  and  assumed  the  reins  of  government  into  her 
own  hands. 

The  reception  which  she  met  with  on  her  first  arrival  in  Scotland 
was  flattering ;  but  an  occurrence  which  took  place  soon  after 
damped  the  joy  which  had  been  expressed,  and  prognosticated 
future  jealousies  and  confusion.  Resolved  to  give  her  subjects  an 
early  proof  of  her  firm  determination  to  adhere  to  the  Roman 
catholic  worship,  Mary  directed  preparations  to  be  made  for  the 
celebration  of  a  solemn  mass  in  the  chapel  of  Ilolyrood-house,  on 
the  first  Sunday  after  her  arrival.  So  great  was  the  horror  with 
which  the  protestants  viewed  this  service,  and  the  alarm  which  they 
felt  at  finding  it  countenanced  by  their  queen,  that  the  first  rumour 
of  the  design  excited  violent  murmurs,  which  would  have  burst  into 
an  open  tumult,  had  not  the  leaders  interfered,  and  by  their  authority 
repressed  the  zeal  of  the  multitude.  Knox,  from  regard  to  public 
tranquillity,  and  to  avoid  giving  offence  to  the  queen  and  her 
relations,  at   the  present    juncture,  used   his   influence   in   private 


152  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

conversation  to  allay  the  fervour  of  the  more  zealous,  who  were 
!v  to  prevent  the  service  by  force.  But  he  was  not  less  alarmed 
at  the  precedent  than  the  rest  'of  his  brethren;  and,  having  exposed 
the  evil  of  idolatry  in  his  sermon  on  the  following  Sabbath,  he  said, 
that  "one  me68  was  more  fearfull  unto  him,  than  if  ten  thousand 
armed  enemies  ver  landed  in  ony  part  of  the  realme,  of  purpose  to 
suppress  the  hole  religionn." 

Besides  his  fears  for  the  common  cause,  Knox  had  grounds  for 
apprehension  as  to  his  personal  safety.  The  queen  was  peculiarly 
incensed  against  him  on  account  of  the  active  hand  which  he  had  in 
the  late  revolution  ;  the  popish  clergy  who  left  the  kingdom  repre- 
sented him  as  the  ringleader  of  her  factious  subjects  ;  and  she  had 
signified,  before  she  left  France,  that  she  was  determined  he  should 
be  punished.  His  book  against  female  government  was  most 
probably  the  ostensible  charge  on  which  he  was  to  be  prosecuted; 
and  accordingly  we  find  him  making  application  through  the  English 
resident  at  Edinburgh,  to  secure  the  favour  of  Elizabeth  ;  reasonably 
fearing  that  she  might  be  induced  to  abet  the  proceedings  against 
him  on  this  head.  But  whatever  perils  he  apprehended  from  the 
personal  presence  of  the  queen,  either  to  the  public  or  to  himself,  he 
used  not  the  smallest  influence  to  prevent  her  being  invited  home. 
On  the  contrary,  he  concurred  with  his  brethren  in  this  measure,  and 
in  defeating  a  scheme  which  the  duke  of  Chatelherault,  under  the 
direction  of  the  archbishop  of  St.  Andrew's,  had  formed  to  exclude 
her  from  the  government.  But  when  the  prior  of  St.  Andrew's  was 
sent  to  France  with  the  invitation,  he  urged  that  her  desisting  from 
the  celebation  of  mass  should  be  one  of  the  conditions  of  her  return; 
and  when  he  found  him  and  the  rest  of  the  council  disposed  to  grant 
her  this  liberty  within  her  own  chapel,  he  predicted  that  "her 
liberty  would  be  their  thraldom." 

Soon  after  her  arrival,  queen  Mary,  whether  of  her  own  accord  or 
by  advice  is  uncertain,  sent  for  Knox  to  the  palace,  and  held  a 
long  conversation  with  him,  in  the  presence  of  her  brother  the  prior 
of  St.  Andrew's.  She  seems  to  have  expected  to  awe  him  into 
submission  by  her  authority,  if  not  to  confound  him  by  her  argu- 
ments. But  the  bold  freedom  with  which  he  replied  to  all  her 
charges,  and  vindicated  his  own  conduct,  convinced  her  that  the  one 
expectation  Mas  not  more  vain  than  the  other  ;  and  the  impression 
which  Bhe  wished  to  make  was  left  on  her  own  mind.  She  accused 
him  of  raising  her  subjects  against  her  mother  and  herself;  of 
wilting  a  book  against  her  just  authority,  which,  she  said,  she  would 
cause  the  most  learned  men  in  Europe  to  answer;  of  being  the 
cause  of  sedition  and  bloodshed  when  he  was  in  England;  and  of 
accomplishing  his  purposes  by  magical  arts. 

To  these  heavy  charges  Knox  replied— that,  if  to  teach  the  truth 
of  God  in  sincerity,  to  rebuke  idolatry,  and  exhort  a  people  to 
worship  God  according  to  his  word,  were  to  excite  subjects  to  rise 
against  their  princes,  then  he  stood  convicted  of  that  crime;  for  it 
had  pleased  God  to  employ  him,  among  others,  to  disclose  unto  that 
realm  the  vanity  of  the  papistical  religion,  with  the  deceit,  pride, 
and  tyranny  of  the  Roman  Antichrist.     But  if  the  true  knowledge 


JOHN   KXOX. 


153 


of  God  and  his  right  worship  were  the  most  powerful  inducements 
to  subjects  cordially  to  obey  their  princes,  as  they  certainly  were,  he 
was  innocent.  Her  Grace,  he  was  persuaded,  had  at  present  as 
unfeigned  obedience  from  the  protestants  of  Scotland,  as  ever  her 
father  or  any  of  her  ancestors  had  from  those  called  bishops.  With 
respect  to  what  had  been  reported  to  her  majesty,  concerning  the 
fruits  of  his  preaching  in  England,  he  was  glad  that  his  enemies  laid 
nothing  to  his  charge  but  what  the  world  knew  to  be  false.  If  any 
of  them  could  prove,  that  in  any  of  the  places  where  he  had 
resided,  there  was  either  sedition  or  mutiny,  he  would  confess 
himself  to  be  a  malefactor.  So  far  from  this  being  the  case,  he  was 
not  ashamed  to  say,  that  in  Berwick,  where  bloodshed  among  the 
soldiers  had  formerly  been  so  common,  God  so  blessed  his  weak 
labours,  that  there  was  as  great  quietness  during  the  time  he  resided 
in  it,  as  there  was  at  present  in  Edinburgh.  The  slander  of  prac- 
tising magic  (an  art  which  he  had  condemned  wherever  he  preached,) 
he  could  more  easily  bear,  when  he  recollected  that  his  Master,  the 
Lord  Jesus,  had  been  defamed  as  one  in  league  with  Beelzebub. 
As  to  the  book  which  seemed  so  highly  to  offend  her  majesty,  he 
owned  that  he  wrote  it,  and  was  willing  that  all  the  learned  should 
judge  of  it.  He  understood  that  an  Englishman  had  written  against 
it ;  but  he  had  not  read  him.  If  he  had  sufficiently  confuted  his 
arguments,  and  established  the  contraiy  propositions,  he  would 
confess  his  error ;  but  to  that  hour  he  continued  to  think  himself 
alone  more  able  to  sustain  the  things  affirmed  in  that  work,  than  any 
ten  in  Europe  were  to  confute  them. 

"  You  think  I  have  no  just  authority,"  said  the  queen.  "  Please 
your  majesty,"  replied  he,  "  learned  men  in  all  ages  have  had  their 
judgments  free,  and  most  commonly  disagreeing  from  the  common 
judgment  of  the  world ;  such  also  have  they  published  both  with  pen 
and  tongue ;  notwithstanding,  they  themselves  had  lived  in  the 
common  society  with  others,  and  have  borne  patiently  with  the 
errors  and  imperfections  which  they  could  not  amend.  Plato  the 
philosopher  wrote  his  book  Of  the  Commonwealth,  in  which  he 
condemned  many  things  that  then  were  maintained  in  the  world, 
and  required  many  things  to  have  been  reformed ;  and  yet  notwith- 
standing, he  lived  under  such  policies  as  then  were  universally 
received,  without  further  troubling  of  any  state.  Even  so,  Madame, 
am  I  content  to  do,  in  uprightness  of  heart,  and  with  a  testimony 
of  a  good  conscience."  lie  added,  that  his  sentiments  on  that 
subject  should  be  confined  to  his  own  breast;  and  that, if  she  refrained 
from  persecution,  her  authority  would  be  hurt,  either  by  him  or  his 
book,  "  which  was  written  most  especially  against  the  wicked 
Jesabell  of  England." 

"  But  ye  speak  of  women  in  general,"  said  the  queen.  "Most  true 
it  is,  Madame  :  yet  it  appeareth  to  me,  that  wisdom  should  persuade 
your  Grace  never  to  raise  trouble  for  that  which  to  this  day  hath  not 
troubled  your  majesty,  neither  in  person  nor  in  authority  ;  for  of  late 
years  many  things,  which  before  were  held  stable,  have  been  called 
in  doubt ;  yea,  they  have  been  plainly  impugned.  But  yet,  Madame, 
I  am  assured  that  neither  protestant  nor  papist  shall  be  able  to  prove, 


154  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

that  any  Bucjb  question  was  at  any  time  moved  either  in  public  or  in 
secret.'  Now,  Madame,  if  I  had  intended  to  have  troubled  your 
state,  because  ye  are  a  woman,  I  would  have  chosen  a  time  more 
convenient  for 'that  purpose,  than  I  can  do  now,  when  your  presence 
is  within  the  realm." 

Changing  the  subject,  she  charged  him  with  having  taught  the 
people  to  receive  a 'religion  different  from  that  allowed  by  their 
princes;  and  asked,  if  this  was  not  contrary  to  the  divine  command, 
that  Bubjecta  should  obey  their  rulers?  He  replied,  that  true  religion 
derived  not  its  original  or  authority  from  princes,  but  from  the 
eternal  God ;  that  princes  were  often  most  ignorant  of  the  true 
religion;  and  that  subjects  were  not  bound  to  frame  their  religion 
according  to  the  arbitrary  will  of  their  rulers;  else  the  Hebrews 
would  have  been  bound  to  adopt  the  religion  of  Pharaoh;  Daniel 
and  his  associates  that  of  Nebuchadnezzar  and  Darius;  and  the 
primitive  Christians  that  of  the  Roman  emperors.  "Yea,"  replied 
the  queen,  qualifying  her  assertion;  "but  none  of  these  men  raised 
the  Bword  against  their  princes."  "Yet  you  cannot  deny,"  said  he, 
"that  they  resisted ;  for  those  who  obey  not  the  commandment  given 
them  d<  i  in  some  sort  resist,"  "  But  they  resisted  not  with  the  sword," 
rejoined  the  queen,  pressing  home  the  argument.  "  God,  Madame, 
had  net  given  unto  them  the  power  and  the  means."  "Think  you," 
said  the  queen,  "  that  subjects,  having  the  power,  may  resist  their 
princes  ?"  "If  princes  exceed  their  bounds,  Madame,  no  doubt  they 
may  be  resisted,  even  by  power.  For  no  greater  honours,  or  greater 
obedience,  is  to  be  given  to  kings  and  princes,  than  God  has 
commanded  to  be  given  to  father  and  mother.  But  the  father  may 
be  struck  with  a  phrensy,  in  which  he  would  slay  his  children. 
Now,  Madame,  if  the  children  arise,  join  together,  apprehend  the 
father,  take  the  sword  from  him,  bind  his  hands,  and  keep  him  in 
prison  till  the  phrensy  be  over;  think  you,  Madame,  that  the  children 
do  any  wrong  ?  Even  so,  Madame,  is  it  with  princes  that  would 
murder  the  children  of  God  that  are  subject  unto  them.  Their  blind 
zeal  is  nothing  but  a  mad  phrensy;  therefore,  to  take  the  sword  from 
them,  t>>  bind  their  hands,  and  to  cast  them  into  prison  till  they  be 
brought  to  a  more  sober  mind,  is  no  disobedience  against  princes, 
but  just  obedience;  because  it  agreeth  with  the  will  of  God." 

The  queen,  who  had  hitherto  maintained  her  courage  in  reasoning, 
was  coi npletely  overpowered  by  this  bold  answer:  her  countenance 
change'!,  and  she  continued  in  a  silent  stupor.  Her  brother  spoke 
to  her.  and  inquired  the  cause  of  her  uneasiness  ;  but  she  made  no 
reply.  At  length,  recovering  herself,  she  said,  "Well  then,  I 
perceive  that  my  subjects  shall  obey  you,  and  not  me,  and  will  do 
what  they  please,  and  not  what  I  command;  and  so  must  I  be 
Subject  to  them,  and  not  they  to  me."  "God  forbid!"  answered 
Knox,  '•  that  ever  I  take  upon  me  to  command  any  to  obey  me,  or  to 
set  subjects  at  liberty  to  do  whatever  pleases  them.  But  my  travel 
18,  thai  ''oth  princes  and  subjects  may  obey  God.  And  think  not, 
Madame,  that  wrong  is  done  you,  when  you  are  required  to  be  subject 
unto  God  ;  for  it  is  he  who  subjects  people  under  princes,  and  causes 
obedience  to  be  given  unto  them.     lie  craves  of  kings,  that  they  be 


JOHN   KNOX.  155 

as  foster-fathers  to  his  church,  and  commands  queens  to  be  nurses 
to  Lis  people.  And  this  subjection,  Madam,  unto  God  and  his 
church,  is  the  greatest  dignity  that  flesh  can  get  upon  the  face  of  the 
earth  ;  for  it  shall  raise  them  to  everlasting  glory." 

"  But  you  are  not  the  church  that  I  will  nourish,"  said  the  queen  : 
"I  will  defend  the  church  of  Rome  ;  for  it  is,  I  think,  the  true  church 
of  God."  "Your  will,  Madam,  is  no  reason;  neither  doth  your 
thought  make  the  Roman  harlot  to  be  the  true  and  immaculate 
spouse  of  Jesus  Christ.  Wonder  not,  Madam,  that  I  call  Rome  an 
harlot ;  for  that  church  is  altogether  polluted  with  all  kinds  of 
spiritual  fornication,  both  in  doctrine  and  manners."  He  added, 
that  he  was  ready  to  prove  that  the  Romish  church  had  declined 
farther  from  the  purity  of  religion  taught  by  the  apostles,  than  the 
Jewish  church  had  degenerated  from  the  ordinances  which  God  gave 
them  by  Moses  and  Aaron,  at  the  time  when  they  denied  and 
crucified  the  Son  of  God.  "My  conscience  is  not  so,"  said  the 
queen.  "  Conscience,  Madam,  requires  knowledge;' and  I  fear  that 
right  knowledge  you  have  none."  She  said  she  had  both  heard  and 
read.  "So,  Madam,  did  the  Jews  who  crucified  Christ;  they  read 
the  law  and  the  prophets,  and  heard  them  interpreted  after  their 
manner.  Have  you  heard  any  teach  but  such  as  the  pope  and 
cardinals  have  allowed  ? — and  you  may  be  assured,  that  such  will 
speak  nothing  to  offend  their  own  estate." 

"  You  interpret  the  Scriptures  in  one  way,"  said  the  queen, 
evasively,  "and  they  in  another:  whom  shall  I  believe,  and  who 
shall  be  judge  V  "  You  shall  believe  God,  who  plainly  speaketh  in 
his  word,"  replied  the  reformer,  "  and  farther  than  the  word  teacheth 
you,  you  shall  believe  neither  the  one  nor  the  other.  The  word  of 
God  is  plain  in  itself;  if  there  is  any  obscurity  in  one  place,  the 
Holy  Ghost,  who  is  never  contrary  to  himself,  explains  it  more 
clearly  in  other  places,  so  that  there  can  remain  no  doubt,  but  unto 
such  as  are  obstinately  ignorant."  As  an  example,  he  selected  one 
of  the  articles  in  controversy,  that  concerning  the  sacrament  of  the 
Supper,  and  proceeded  to  show,  that  the  popish  doctrine  of  the  sacri- 
fice of  the  Mass  was  destitute  of  all  foundation  in  Scripture.  But 
the  queen,  wdio  was  determined  to  avoid  all  discussion  of  the  articles 
of  her  creed,  interrupted  him,  by  saying,  that  she  was  unable  to 
contend  with  him  in  argument ;  but  if  she  had  those  present  whom 
she  had  heard,  they  would  answer  him.  "  Madam,"  replied  the 
reformer,  fervently,  "  would  to  God  that  the  learnedest  papist  in 
Europe,  and  he  whom  you  would  best  believe,  were  present  with  your 
Grace  to  sustain  the  argument,  and  that  you  would  wait  patiently  to 
hear  the  matter  reasoned  to  the  end  ! — for  then,  I  doubt  not,  Madam, 
but  you  would  hear  the  vanity  of  the  papistical  religion,  and  how 
little  ground  it  hath  in  the  word  of  God."  "  Well,"  said  she,  "  you 
may  perchance  get  that  sooner  than  you  believe."  "  Assuredly,  if 
ever  I  get  that  in  my  life,  I  get  it  sooner  than  I  believe;  for  the 
ignorant  papist  cannot  patiently  reason,  and  the  learned  and  crafty 
papist  will  never  come  in  your  audience,  Madam  to  have  the  ground 
of  their  religion  searched  out.  When  you  shall  let  me  see  the 
contrary,  I  shall  grant  myself  to  have  been  deceived  in  that  point." 


156  SCOTS  WORTHIES. 

The  hour  after  dinner  afforded  an  occasion  for  breaking  off  this 
singular  conversation;  and  at  taking  leave  of  her  majesty,  the 
reformer  said,  "I  pray  God,  Madam,  that  you  may  be  as  blessed 
within  the  commonwealth  of  Scotland,  as  ever  Deborah  was  m  the 
commonwealth  of  Israel."  »,./..     s  .  . i       ., 

The  reformer  was  not  ignorant  that  some  of  his  friends  thought 
him  too  severe  in  his  language,  but  he  was  persuaded  that  the  times 
required  the  utmost  plainness;  and  he  was  afraid  that  snares  lurked 
under  the  smoothness  which  was  recommended  and  practised  by 
courtiers.  The  abatement  of  zeal  which  he  dreaded  from  "  the  holy 
water  of  the  court,"  soon  began  to  appear  among  the  protestant 
leaders.  The  General  Assemblies  of  the  church  were  a  great  eye- 
sore  to  the  queen,  who  was  very  desirous  to  have  them  put  down. 
At  the  first  Assembly  after  her  arrival,  the  courtiers,  through  her 
influence,  absented  themselves,  and,  when  challenged  for  this,  began 
to  dispute  the  propriety  of  such  conventions  without  her  majesty's 
pleasure.  On  this  point,  there  was  sharp  reasoning  between  Knox 
and  Maitland,  who  was  now  made  secretary  of  state.  "  Take  from 
us  the  liberty  of  assemblies — and  take  from  us  the  gospel,"  said  the 
reformer.  "If  the  liberty  of  the  church  must  depend  upon  her 
allowance  or  disallowance,  we  shall  want  not  only  assemblies,  but 
also  the  preaching  of  the  gospel."  He  was  still  more  indignant  at 
their  management  in  settling  the  provision  for  the  ministers  of  the 
church.  Hitherto  they  had  lived  mostly  on  the  benevolence  of  their 
hearers,  and  many  of  them  had  scarcely  the  means  of  subsistence; 
but  repeated  complaints  having  obliged  the  priv}7  council  to  take  up 
the  affair,  they  came  at  last  to  a  determination,  that  the  ecclesiastical 
revenues  should  be  divided  into  three  parts ;  that  two  of  these 
should  be  given  to  the  ejected  popish  clergy  ;  and  that  the  other  part 
should  be  divided  between  the  court  and  the  protestant  ministry ! 
The  persons  appointed  to  modify  the  stipends  were  disposed  to  gratify 
the  queen  ;  and  the  sums  allotted  to  the  ministers  were  as  ill  paid  as 
they  were  paltry  and  inadequate.  "  We  all !"  exclaimed  Knox, 
when  he  heard  of  this  disgraceful  arrangement,  "  if  the  end  of  this 
ordour,  pretendit  to  be  takin  for  sustentatioun  of  the  ministers,  be 
happie,  my  judgment  failes  me.  I  sie  twapairtis  freeliegeven  to  the 
ill,  and  the  thrid  mon  be  devyded  betwix  God  and  the  devill. 
Quho  wald  have  thocht,  that  quhen  Joseph  reulled  in  Egypt,  his 
brethren  Bould  have  travellit  for  victualles ;  and  have  returned  with 
emptie  sackes  unto  thaii-  families  ?  O  happie  servands  of  the  devill, 
and  miserabill  servands  of  Jesus  Christ,  if  efter  this  lyf  thair  wer 
not  hell  and  heavin  I" 

He  vented  his  mind  more  freely  on  this  subject,  as  his  complaints 
could  not  be  imputed  to  personal  motives  ;  for  his  own  stipend, 
though  moderate,  was  liberal  when  compared  with  those  of  the  most 
of  his  brethren.  From  the  time  of  his  last  return  to  Scotland,  until 
the  conclusion  of  the  war,  he  had  been  indebted  to  the  liberality  of 
individuals  for  the  support  of  his  family.  After  that  period,  he 
lodged  for  sometime  in  the  house  of  David  Forrest,  a  burgess  of 
Edinburgh,  from  which  he  removed  to  the  lodging  which  had 
belonged  to  Durie,  abbot  of  Dunfermline.     As  soon  as  he  began  to 


JOHN  KNOX.  157 

preach  statedly  in  the  city,  the  town  council  assigned  him  an  annual 
stipend  of  two  hundred  pounds,  to  be  paid  quarterly ;  besides  dis- 
charging his  house-rent,  and  re-imbursing  some  individuals  the  money 
which  they  had  expended  in  maintaining  his  family.  Subsequent  to 
the  settlement  made  by  the  privy  council,  it  would  seem  that  he 
received  his  stipend  from  the  common  fund,  allotted  to  the  ministers 
of  the  church ;  but  the  good  town  had  still  an  opportunity  of  testi- 
fying their  generosity,  by  supplying  the  deficiencies  of  the  legal 
allowance.  Indeed,  the  uniform  attention  of  the  town  council  to  his 
external  accommodation  and  comfort  was  honourable  to  them,  and 
deserves  to  be  recorded  to  their  commendation. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1562,  he  went  to  Angus  to  preside  in 
the  election  and  admission  of  John  Erskine  of  Dun  as  superintendent 
of  Angus  and  Mearns.  That  respectable  baron  was  one  of  those 
whom  the  first  general  assembly  declared  "  apt  and  able  to  minister ;" 
and  having  already  contributed  in  different  ways  to  the  advancement 
of  the  reformation,  he  now  devoted  himself  to  the  service  of  the 
church,  in  a  laborious  employment,  at  a  time  when  she  stood  emi- 
nently in  need  of  the  assistance  of  all  the  learned  and  pious.  Knox 
had  formerly  presided  at  the  installation  of  John  Spottiswood,  as 
superintendent  of  Lothian. 

The  influence  of  our  reformer  appears  from  his  being  employed  on 
different  occasions  to  compose  variances  of  a  civil  nature,  which 
arose  among  the  protestants.  He  was  applied  to  frequently,  to  inter- 
cede with  the  town  council  in  behalf  of  some  of  the  inhabitants,  who 
had  subjected  themselves  to  punishment  by  their  disorderly  conduct. 
In  March,  this  year,  the  earl  of  Bothwell  urged  him  to  assist  in 
removing  a  deadly  feud  which  subsisted  between  him  and  the  earl 
of  Arran.  He  was  averse  to  interfere  in  this  business,  which  had 
already  baffled  the  authority  of  the  privy  council  ;  but,  at  the  desire 
of  some  friends,  he  yielded,  and,  after  considerable  pains,  had  the 
satisfaction  of  bringing  the  parties  to  an  amicable  interview,  at 
which  they  mutually  promised  to  bury  all  differences.  But  he  was 
exceedingly  mortified  by  the  information  which  Arran,  immediately 
on  the  back  of  this  agreement,  communicated  to  him,  of  a  conspiracy 
which  Bothwell  had  proposed  to  him,  which  produced  the  imprison- 
ment of  both ;  and,  notwithstanding  the  lunacy  of  the  informer, 
created  great  jealousies  in  the  minds  of  the  principal  courtiers. 

In  the  month  of  May,  Knox  had  another  interview  with  the  queen, 
on  the  following  occasion.  The  family  of  Guise  were  at  this  time 
making  the  most  vigourous  efforts  to  regain  that  influence  in  France 
which  they  had  been  deprived  of  since  the  death  of  Francis  II. ; 
and,  as  zeal  for  the  catholic  religion  was  the  cloak  by  which  they 
covered  their  ambitious  designs,  they  began  by  stirring  up  persecu- 
tion against  the  protestants.  The  massacre  of  Vassy,  in  the  begin- 
ning of  March,  this  year,  was  a  prelude  to  this  ;  in  which  the  duke 
of  Guise  and  cardinal  of  Lorraine  attacked,  with  an  armed  force,  a 
congregation  assembled  for  worship,  killed  a  number  of  them,  and 
wounded  and  mutilated  others,  not  excepting  women  and  children. 
Intelligence  of  the  success  which  attended  the  measures  of  her  uncles 
was  brought  to  queen  Mary,  who  immediately  after  gave  a  splendid 


153  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

ball  to  her  foreign  servants,  at  which  the  dancing  was  prolonged  to 
a  late  hour. 

Knox  was  advertised  of  the  festivities  in  the  palace,  and  the  occa- 
si.  m  of  them.  He  always  felt  a  lively  interest  in  the  concerns  of  the 
French  protestants,  with  many  of  whom  he  was  intimately  acquainted  ; 
and  lit'  entertained  a  very  bad  opinion  of  the  princes  of  Lorraine. 
In  his  sermon  on  the  following  Sabbath,  he  introduced  some  severe 
strictures  upon  the  vices  to  which  princes  were  addicted,  their  op- 
pression, ignorance,  hatred  to  virtue,  attachment  to  bad  company, 
and  loudness  for  foolish  pleasures.  Information  of  this  discourse 
was  quickly  conveyed  to  the  queen,  with  many  exaggerations  ;  and 
the  i ^readier  was  next  clay  ordered  to  attend  at  the  palace.  Being 
conveyed  into  the  royal  chamber,  where  the  queen  sat  with  her 
maids  of  honour  and  principal  counsellors,  he  was  accused  of  having 
spoken  of  her  majesty  irreverently,  and  in  such  a  manner  as  to  bring 
her  under  the  contempt  and  hatred  of  her  subjects. 

After  the  queen  had  made  a  long  speech  on  that  theme,  he  was 
allowed  to  state  his  defence.  He  told  her  majesty,  that  she  had 
been  treated  as  persons  usually  were  who  refused  to  attend  the 
preaching  of  the  word  of  God  :  she  had  been  obliged  to  trust  to  the 
false  reports  of  flatterers ;  for,  if  she  had  heard  the  calumniated  dis- 
course, he  did  not  believe  she  could  have  been  offended  with  any- 
thing that  he  had  said.  She  would  now,  therefore,  he  pleased  to 
hear  him  repeat,  as  exactly  as  he  could,  what  he  had  preached  yes- 
terday. Having  done  this,  he  added,  "  If  any  man,  Madam,  will 
say,  that  I  spake  more,  let  him  presently  accuse  me."  Several  of 
the  company  attested  that  he  had  given  a  just  report  of  the  sermon. 
The  queen,  after  turning  round  to  the  informers,  who  were  dumb, 
told  him,  that  his  words,  though  sharp  enough  as  related  by  himself, 
were  reported  to  her  in  a  different  way.  She  added,  that  she  knew 
that  her  uncles  and  he  were  of  a  different  religion,  and  therefore  did 
not  blame  him  fur  having  no  good  opinion  of  them ;  but  if  he  heard 
anything  about  her  conduct  which  displeased  him,  he  should  come 
to  herself,  and  she  would  be  willing  to  hear  him.  Knox  easily  saw 
through  the  artifice  of  this  fair  proposal.  He  replied,  that  he  was 
willing  to  do  anything  for  her  majesty's  contentment,  which  was 
consistent  with  his  office  ;  if  her  Grace  choosed  to  attend  the  public 
pennons,  she  would  hear  what  pleased  or  displeased  him  in  her  and 
in  others;  or  if  she  pleased  to  appoint  a  time  when  she  would  hear 
the  substance  of  the  doctrine  which  he  preached  in  public,  he  would 
most  gladly  wait  upon  her  Grace's  pleasure,  time,  and  place  ;  but  to 
conic  and  wait  at  her  chamber-door,  and  then  to  have  liberty  only  to 
whisper  in  her  ear  what  people  thought  and  said  of  her,  that  would 
neither  his  conscience  nor  his  office  permit  him  to  do.  "For,"  he 
added,  in  a  strain  which  he  sometimes  used  even  on  serious  occa- 
sions, "  albeil  at  your  Grace's  commandment,  I  am  heir  now,  yit  can 
J  not  tell  quhat  uther  men  shall  jud<;e  of  me,  that,  at  this  tyme  of 
da.v  am  absent  from  my  buke,  and  waiting  upoun  the  court."  "Ye 
will  not  alwayes  he  at  your  buke,"  said  the  queen  pettishly,  and 
turned  her  hack.  As  he  left  the  room  "  with  a  reasonable  merry 
countenance,"  some  of  the  popish  attendants  said  in  his  hearing, 


JOHN    KNOX. 


159 


"  he  is  not  afraid  !"  "  "Why  sould  the  plesing  face  of  a  gentil  woman 
affray  me?"  said  he,  regarding  them  with  a  sarcastic  scowl,  "  I  have 
luiked  in  the  faces  of  mony  angry  men,  and  yet  have  not  bene 
affrayed  above  measour." 

There  was  at  this  time  but  one  place  of  worship  in  the  city  of  Edin- 
burgh. The  number  of  inhabitants  was  indeed  small,  when  a  »mpared 
with  its  present  population;  but  still  they  must  have  formed  a  very 
large  congregation.  The  place  used  for  worship  in  St.  Giles*  church 
was  capacious  :  on  some  occasions,  three  thousand  persons  assembled 
in  it  to  hear  sermon.  In  this  church,  Knox  had,  since  1560,  perform- 
ed all  the  parts  of  ministerial  duty,  without  any  other  assistant  but 
John  Cairns,  who  acted  as  reader.  He  preached  twice  every  Sab- 
bath, and  thrice  on  other  days  of  the  week.  He  met  regularly  once 
every  week  with  the  session  of  the  parish,  for  discipline ;  and  with 
the  assembly  of  the  neighbourhood,  for  the  exercise  on  the  scriptures. 
He  attended,  besides,  the  meetings  of  the  provincial  synod,  and  gen- 
eral assembly ;  and  at  almost  every  meeting  of  the  last-mentioned 
court,  he  received  an  appointment  to  visit  and  preach  in  some  dis- 
tant part  of  the  country.  These  labours  must  have  been  oppressive 
to  a  constitution  which  was  already  impaired  ;  especially  as  he  did 
not  indulge  in  extemporaneous  effusions,  but  devoted  a  part  of  every 
day  to  study.  His  parish  were  sensible  of  this  ;  and,  in  April,  1562, 
the  town  council  came  to  an  unanimous  resolution  to  solicit  John 
Craig,  the  minister  of  Canongate,  or  Holyroodhouse,  to  undertake 
the  half  of  the  charge.  The  ensuing  general  assembly  approved  of 
the  council's  proposal,  and  appointed  Craig  to  remove  to  Edinburgh. 
His  translation  did  not,  however,  take  place  before  June.  1563, 
owing,  as  it  would  seem,  to  the  difficulty  of  obtaining  an  additional 
stipend. 

During  the  autumn  of  1562,  the  Roman  catholics  entertained  great 
hopes  of  a  change  in  their  favour.  After  several  unsuccessful 
attempts  to  cut  off  the  principal  protestant  courtiers,  the  earl  of 
Huntly  openly  took  arms  in  the  north,  to  rescue  the  queen  from  their 
hands ;  while  the  archbishop  of  St.  Andrew's  endeavoured  to  unite 
and  rouse  the  papists  of  the  south.  On  this  occasion,  our  reformer 
acted  with  his  usual  zeal  and  foresight.  Being  appointed  by  the 
general  assembly  as  commissioner  to  visit  the  churches  of  the  west, 
he  persuaded  the  gentlemen  of  that  quarter  to  enter  into  a  new  bond 
of  defence.  Hastening  into  Galloway  and  Nithsdale,  he  by  his  ser- 
mons and  conversation,  confirmed  the  protestants  of  these  places. 
He  employed  the  master  of  Maxwell  to  write  to  the  earl  of  Bothwell, 
who  had  escaped  from  confinement,  and  meant,  it  was  feared,  to  join 
Huntly.  He  himself  wrote  to  the  duke  of  Chatelherault,  warning 
him  not  to  listen  to  the  solicitations  of  his  brother,  the  archbishop, 
nor  accede  to  a  conspiracy  which  would  infallibly  prove  the  ruin  of 
his  house.  By  these  means,  the  southern  parts  of  the  kingdom  were 
preserved  in  a  state  of  peace,  while  the  vigourous  measures  of  the 
council  crushed  the  rebellion  in  the  north.  The  queen  expressed 
little  satisfaction  at  the  victory,  and  there  is  every  reason  to  think, 
that  if  she  was  not  privy  to  the  rising  of  Huntly,  she  expected  to  turn 
J  to  the  advancement  of  her  projects.     She  scrupled  not  to  say,  at 


160 


SCOTS   WORTHIES. 


this  time,  that  she  "  hoped,  before  a  year  was  expired,  to  have  the 
mass  and  catholic  profession  restored  through  the  whole  kingdom." 

While  these  hopes  were  indulged,  the  popish  clergy  thought  it 
necessary  to  gain  credit  to  their  cause,  by  appearing  more  openly  in 
defence  of  their  tenets  than  they  had  lately  done.  They  began  to 
preach  publicly,  and  boasted  that  they  were  ready  to  dispute  with 
the  protestant  ministers.  The  person  who  stepped  forward  as  their 
champion  was  Quintin  Kennedy,  uncle  of  the  earl  of  Cassilis,  and 
abbot  of  Oossraguel.  The  abbot  appears  to  have  spent  the  greater 
part  of  his  life  in  the  same  negligence  of  the  duties  of  his  office  with 
the  rest  of  his  brethren  ;  but  he  was  roused  from  his  inactivity  by 
the  success  of  the  protestant  preachers,  who,  in  the  years  1556  and 
1557,  attacked  the  popish  faith,  and  inveighed  against  the  idleness 
and  corruption  of  the  clergy.  At  an  age  when  others  retire  from  the 
field,  he  began  to  rub  up  his  long-neglected  theological  weapons,  and 
to  gird  on  his  armour. 

His  first  appearance  was  in  1558,  when  he  published  a  short  sys- 
tem of  catholic  tactics,  under  the  title  of  Ane  Compendious  Tractive, 
showing  "  the  nearest  and  onlie  way"  to  establish  the  conscience  of 
a  Christian  man,  in  all  matters  which  were  in  debate  concerning 
faith  and  religion.  This  way  was  no  other  than  that  of  implicit 
faith  in  the  decisions  of  the  church  or  clergy.  The  Scripture  was 
onl}T  a  witness ;  the  church  wTas  the  judge,  in  every  controversy, 
whose  determinations,  in  general  councils  canonically  assembled, 
were  to  be  humbly  received  and  submitted  to  by  all  the  faithful. 
This  was  no  doubt  the  most  compendious  and  nearest  way  of  estab- 
lishing the  conscience  of  every  Christian  man,  and  deciding  every 
controversy  which  might  arise,  without  examination,  reasoning,  and 
debate. 

But  as  the  stubborn  reformers  would  not  submit  to  this  easy  and 
short  mode  of  decision,  the  abbot  was  reluctantly  obliged  to  enter  the 
lists  of  argument  with  them.  Accordingly,  when  Wlllock  preached 
in  his  neighbourhood,  in  the  beginning  of  1559,  he  challenged  him 
to  a  dispute  on  the  sacrifice  of  the  mass.  The  challenge  was 
accepted— the  time  and  place  were  fixed  ;  but  the  abbot  refused  to 
appear,  unless  his  antagonist  would  previously  engage  to  submit  to 
the  interpretations  of  Scripture  which  had  been  given  by  the  ancient 
doctors  of  the  church.  From  this  time  he  seems  to  have  made  the 
mass  the  great  subject  of  his  study,  and  endeavoured  to  qualify  him- 
self tor  defending  this  keystone  of  the  popish  arch. 
_  George  Kay  having  been  sent  by  the  general  assembly  to  preach 
in  Carrick  and  Cunningham,  during  the  autumn  of  1562,  Kennedy 
ottered  to  dispute  with  him ;  but  no  meeting  took  place  between 
them  On  the  30th  of  August,  the  abbot  read  in  his  chapel  of  Kirk 
Oswald,  a  number  of  articles  respecting  the  mass,  purgatory,  pray- 
ing to  samts,  the  use  of  images,  &c,  which  he  said  he  would  defend 
against  any  who  should  impugn  them,  and  promised  to  declare  his 
mind  more  hilly  respecting  them  on  the  following  Sunday.  Knox, 
Who  was  in  the  vicinity,  came  to  Kirk  Oswald  on  that  day,  with  the 
design  of  hearing  the  abbot,  and  granting  him  the  disputation  which 
he  had  courted.     Ihe  abbot  not  making  his  appearance,  he  himself 


JOHN   KNOX.  1(31 

preached  in  the  chapel.  "When  he  came  down  from  the  pulpit, 
there  was  a  letter  from  Kennedy  put  into  his  hand,  stating  that  lie 
understood  he  had  come  to  that  country  to  seek  disputation,  and 
offering  to  meet  with  him  on  the  following  Sunday  in  any  house  in 
Maybole,  provided  there  were  not  more  than  twenty  persons  on  each 
side  admitted.  Knox  replied,  that  he  had  come,  not  purposely  to 
dispute,  but  to  preach  the  gospel ;  he  was,  however,  willing  to  meet 
with  him ;  he  was  under  a  previous  engagement  to  be  in  Dumfries 
on  the  day  mentioned  by  the  abbot ;  but  if  he  sent  him  his  articles, 
he  would,  with  all  convenient  speed,  return  and  fix  a  time. 

A  correspondence  was  carried  on  between  them  on  this  subject, 
which  is  fully  as  curious  as  the  dispute  which  ensued.  Knox  wished 
that  his  reasoning  should  be  as  public  as  the  abbot  had  made  his 
articles,  and  proposed  that  it  should  take  place  in  St.  John's  church 
in  Ayr;  but  the  abbot  refused  to  dispute  publicly.  The  earl  of 
Cassilis  wrote  to  Knox,  expressing  his  disapprobation  of  the  proposed 
disputation,  as  unlikely  to  do  any  good,  and  calculated  to  endanger 
the  public  peace ;  to  which  the  reformer  replied,  by  signifying,  that 
his  relation  had  given  the  challenge,  which  he  was  resolved  not  to 
decline,  and  that  his  lordship  ought  to  encourage  him  to  keep  the 
appointment,  from  which  no  bad  effects  were  to  be  dreaded.  Upon 
this,  the  abbot,  feeling  his  honour  touched,  wrote  a  letter  to  the 
reformer,  in  which  he  told  him  that  he  would  have  "  rencountered" 
him  the  last  time  he  was  in  the  country,  had  it  not  been  for  the  in- 
terposition of  the  earl  of  Cassilis,  and  charged  him  with  stirring  up 
his  nephew  to  write  that  letter,  in  order  to  bring  him  into  disgrace. 
"  Ye  sal  be  assured,"  says  he,  "  I  sal  keip  day  and  place  in  May- 
boill,  according  to  my  writing,  and  I  haif  my  life,  and  my  feit  louse  ;" 
and  in  another  letter  to  Knox,  and  the  bailies  of  Ayr,  he  says,  "  keip 
your  promes,  and  pretex  na  joukrie,  be  my  lorde  of  Cassilis  writing." 
The  abbot  being  in  this  state  of  mind,  the  conditions  of  the  combat 
were  speedily  settled.  They  agreed  to  meet  on  the  18th  of  Septem- 
ber, at  eight  o'clock,  ante  meridiem,  in  the  house  of  the  provost  of 
Maybole.  Forty  persons  on  each  side  were  to  be  admitted  as  wit- 
nesses of  the  dispute,  with  "  as  many  mo  as  the  house  might  goodly 
hold,  at  the  sight  of  my  lord  of  Cassilis."  And  notaries  or  scribes 
were  appointed  to  record  the  papers  which  might  be  given  in  by  the 
parties,  and  the  arguments  which  they  advanced  in  the  course  of 
reasoning,  to  prevent  unnecessary  repetition,  or  a  false  report  of  the 
proceedings.  These  conditions  were  formally  subscribed  by  the 
abbot  and  the  reformer,  on  the  day  preceding  the  meeting. 

They  met  and  disputed  for  three  days.  On  the  third,  Knox  pro- 
posed that  they  should  adjourn  to  Ayr,  and  finish  the  dispute,  which 
was  refused  by  the  abbot,  who  said  he  would  come  to  Edinburgh  for 
that  purpose,  provided  he  could  obtain  the  queen's  permission. 
Upon  this  the  company  dismissed. 

In  the  beginning  of  1563,  Knox  went  to  Jedburgh,  by  appoint- 
ment of  the  general  assembly,  to  investigate  a  scandal  which  had 
broken  out  against  Paul  Methven,  the  minister  of  that  place,  who 
was  suspected  of  adultery.  The  accused  was  found  guilty,  and 
excommunicated.  He  fled  to  England;  but  having  afterwards 
11 


1G2 


SCOTS   WORTHIES. 


returned  and  offered  to  submit  to  the  discipline  of  the  church,  a 
severe  and  humiliating  course  of  public  repentance  was  prescribed 
to  him.  He  went  through  a  part  of  it,  with  professions  of  _  deep 
Borrow;  but  overwhelmed  with  shame,  or  despairing  to  regain  his 
losl  reputation,  he  stopped  in  the  midst  of  it,  and  again  retired  to 

England. 

Li  the  month  of  May,  the  queen  sent  for  Knox  to  Lochleven.  The 
popish  priests,  presuming  upon  her  avowed  partiality  to  them,  and 
secret  promises  of  protection,  had  of  late  become  more  bold,  and 
during  the  late  Easter,  masses  had  been  openly  celebrated  in  the 
different  parts  of  the  kingdom.  The  queen  in  council  had  issued 
various  proclamations  against  this;  but  as  the  execution  had  hitherto 
been  left  to  her,  nothing  had  followed  upon  them.  The  protestants 
of  the  west,  who  were  the  most  zealous,  perceiving  that  the  laws  were 
eluded,  resolved  to  execute  them,  without  making  any  application  to 
the  court,  and  apprehended  some  of  the  offenders  by  way  of  example. 
These  decided  proceedings  highly  offended  the  queen,  as  they  were 
calculated  to  defeat  the  scheme  of  policy  which  she  had  formed  ;  but 
finding  that  the  signification  of  her  displeasure  had  not  the  effect  of 
stopping  them,  she  wished  to  avail  herself  of  the  reformer's  influence 
for  accomplishing  her  purpose. 

She  dealt  with  him  very  earnestly,  for  two  hours  before  supper,  to 
persuade  the  western  gentlemen  to  desist  from  all  interruption  of  the 
catholic  worship.  He  told  her  majesty,  that  if  she  would  exercise 
her  authority  in  executing  the  laws  of  the  land,  he  could  promise  for 
the  peaceable  behaviour  of  the  protestants;  but  if  her  majesty 
thought  to  elude  them,  he  feared  there  were  some  who  would  let  the 
papists  understand  that  they  should  not  offend  with  impunity. 
"  Will  ye  allow  that  they  shall  take  ray  sword  in  their  hands  V  said 
the  queen.  "  The  sword  of  justice  is  God's,"  replied  the  reformer 
with  equal  firmness,  "  and  is  given  to  princes  and  rulers  for  one  end, 
which  if  they  transgress,  sparing  the  wicked  and  oppressing  the 
innocent ;  they  who,  in  the  fear  of  God,  execute  judgment  where  God 
has  commanded,  offend  not  God,  although  kings  do  it  not."  He 
added,  that  the  gentlemen  of  the  west  were  acting  strictly  according 
to  law  ;  for  the  act  of  parliament  gave  power  to  all  judges  within 
their  hounds,  to  search  for  and  punish  those  who  should  transgress 
it>  enactments.  He  concluded  with  advising  her  majesty  to  consider 
the  terms  of  the  mutual  contract  between  her  and  her  subjects,  and 
that  Bhe  could  not  expect  to  receive  obedience  from  them,  if  she  did 
nol  grant  unto  them  protection,  and  the  execution  of  justice.  The 
queen  broke  off  the  conversation  with  evident  marks  of  displeasure. 

Having  communicated  what  had  passed  between  them  to  the  Earl 
of  .Moray,  (which  was  the  title  now  conferred  on  the  prior  of  St. 
Aiidrew*.-,i  Knox  meant  to  return  to  Edinburgh  next  day,  without 
waiting  for  any  further  communication  with  the  queen.  But  a 
message  was  delivered  him  early  in  the  morning,  desiring  him  not 
to  depart  until  he  had  again  spoken  to  her  majesty.  He  accord- 
ing met  w  ith  her  wot  from  Kinross,  where  she  took  the  amusement 
of  hawking.  This  interview  was  very  different  from  that  of  th^ 
preceding  evening.    Waiving  entirely  the  subject  on  which  they  hact 


JOHN   KNOX.  163 

differed,  she  introduced  a  variety  of  topics,  upon  which  she  conversed 
with  the  greatest  familiarity  and  apparent  confidence.  Lord  Ruth- 
ven,  she  said,  had  offered  her  a  ring;  but  she  could  not  love  him. 
She  knew  that  he  used  enchantment ;  and  yet  he  was  made  one  of 
her  privy  council.  Lethington,  she  said,  was  the  sole  cause  of  that 
appointment.  "  I  understand,"  said  she,  introducing  another  subject 
of  discourse,  "  that  ye  are  appointed  to  go  to  Dumfries,  for  the 
election  of  a  superintendent  to  be  established  in  these  countries."  He 
answered  in  the  affirmative.  "  But  I  understand  the  bishop  of 
Athens  would  be  superintendent."  "  He  is  one,  Madam,  that  is  put 
in  election."  "  If  you  knew  him  as  well  as  I  do,  you  would  not 
promote  him  to  that  office,  nor  yet  to  any  other  within  your  kirk." 
Knox  said  that  he  deceived  many  more  than  him,  if  he  did  not  fear 
God.     "  Well,  do  as  you  will ;  but  that  man  is  a  dangerous  man." 

When  Knox  was  about  to  take  his  leave  of  her  majesty,  she  pressed 
him  to  stay.  "  I  have  one  of  the  greatest  matters  that  have  touched 
me  since  I  came  into  this  realm  to  open  to  you,  and  I  must  have 
your  help  in  it,"  said  she,  with  an  air  of  condescension  and  confidence 
as  enchanting  as  if  she  had  put  a  ring  on  his  finger.  She  then 
entered  into  a  long  discourse  concerning  a  domestic  difference 
between  the  earl  of  Argyle  and  his  lady.  Her  ladyship  had  not,  she 
said,  been  so  circumspect  in  everything  as  she  could  have  wished, 
but  still  she  was  of  opinion  that  his  lordship  had  not  treated  her  in 
an  honest  and  godly  manner.  Knox  said  that  he  was  not  unac- 
quainted with  the  disagreeable  variance  which  had  subsisted  between 
that  honourable  couple ;  and,  before  her  majesty's  arrival  in  this 
country,  he  had  effected  a  reconciliation.  On  that  occasion,  the 
countess  had  promised  not  to  complain  to  any  creature  before 
acquainting  him  ;  and  as  he  had  never  heard  from  her,  he  concluded 
that  there  was  nothing  but  concord.  "  Well,"  said  the  queen,  "  it  is 
worse  than  ye  believe.  But  do  this  much,  for  my  sake,  as  once  again 
to  put  them  at  unity,  and  if  she  behave  not  herself  as  she  ought  to 
do,  she  shall  find  no  favour  of  me  ;  but  in  anywise  let  not  my  lord 
know  that  I  have  requested  you  in  this  matter."  Then  introducing 
the  subject  of  their  reasoning  on  the  preceding  evening,  she  said, 
"  I  promise  to  do  as  ye  required.  I  shall  cause  summon  all  offend- 
ers ;  and  ye  shall  know  that  I  shall  minister  justice."  "  I  am 
assured  then,"  said  he,  "  that  ye  shall  please  God,  and  enjoy  rest  and 
tranquillity  within  your  realm,  which  to  your  majesty  is  more  profit- 
able than  all  the  pope's  power  can  be."  Upon  this  he  took  his  leave 
of  the  queen. 

On  the  19th  of  May,  in  order  to  allay  the  general  discontent,  the 
archbishop  of  St.  Andrew's  and  a  number  of  the  principal  papists 
were  arraigned  by  the  queen's  orders,  before  the  lord  justice-general, 
for  transgressing  the  laws  ;  but  having  come  in  her  majesty's  will, 
were  only  committed  to  ward.  This,  however,  was  merely  a  stroke 
of  policy,  to  enable  her  more  easily  to  carry  her  measures  in  the 
parliament  which  met  on  the  following  day.  This  was  the  first 
parliament  since  the  queen's  arrival  in  Scotland ;  and  it  was  very 
natural  to  expect  that  they  would  proceed  to  ratify  the  treaty  ot 
peace  made  in  July,  1560,  and  the  establishment  of  the  protestant 


164 


SCOTS   WORTHIES. 


religion.  But  so  well  had  she  laid  her  plans,  such  was  the  effect  of 
her  insinnating  address,  and,  above  all,  so  powerful  was  the  tempta- 
tion of  self  interest  on  the  minds  of  the  protestant  leaders,  that,  by 
general  consent,  they  passed  from  this  demand,  and  lost  the  only 
favourable  opportunity,  during  the  reign  of  Mary,  for  giving  a  legal 
security  to  the  reformed  religion,  and  thereby  removing  one  principal 
source  of  jealousies.  An  act  of  oblivion,  securing  indemnity  to 
those  who  had  been  engaged  in  the  late  civil  war,  was  indeed 
passed  ;  but  the  mode  of  its  enactment  virtually  implied  the  invalidity 
of  the  treaty  in  which  it  had  been  originally  imbodied;  and  the 
protestants,  on  their  bended  knees,  supplicated  as  a  boon  from  their 
sovereign,  what  they  had  formerly  won  with  their  swords,  and 
repeatedly  demanded  as  their  right. 

Knox  was  deeply  affected  with  this  selfishness  and  servility  of  the 
protestant  leaders,  and  so  hot  was  the  altercation  between  the  earl 
of  Moray  and  him  on  that  subject,  that  an  open  rupture  ensued. 
He  had  long  looked  upon  that  nobleman  as  one  of  the  most  steady 
and  sincere"  adherents  to  the  reformed  cause  ;  and  therefore  felt  the 
greater  disappointment  at  his  conduct.  Under  his  first  irritation,  he 
wrote  a  letter  to  the  earl,  in  which,  after  reminding  him  of  his 
condition  at  the  time  when  they  first  became  acquainted  in  London, 
and  the  honours  to  which  Providence  had  now  raised  him,  he 
solemnly  renounced  friendship  with  him  as  one  who  preferred  his 
own  interest  and  the  pleasure  of  his  sister  to  the  advancement  of 
religion,  left  him  to  the  guidance  of  the  new  counsellors  which  he 
had  chosen,  and  exonerated  him  from  all  future  concern  in  his  affairs. 
This  variance,  which  continued  nearly  two  years,  was  very  gratifying 
to  the  queen  and  others,  who  disliked  their  former  familiarity,  and 
failed  not,  as  Knox  informs  us,  to  "  cast  oil  into  the  flame,  until  God 
did  quench  it  by  the  water  of  affliction." 

Before  the  dissolution  of  the  parliament,  the  reformer  embraced 
an  opportunity  of  disburdening  his  mind  in  the  presence  of  the 
greater  part  of  the  members  assembled  in  his  church.  After 
discoursing  of  the  great  mercy  of  God  shown  to  Scotland,  in 
marvellously  delivering  them  from  bondage  of  soul  and  body,  and 
of  the  deep  ingratitude  which  he  perceived  in  all  ranks  of  persons, 
he  addressed  himself  particularly  to  the  nobility.  He  praised  God 
that  he  had  an  opportunity  of  pouring  out  the  sorrows  of  his  heart 
in  their  presence,  who  could  attest  the  truth  of  all  he  had  spoken. 
lie  appealed  to  their  consciences  if  he  had  not,  in  their  greatest 
extremities,  exhorted  them  to  depend  upon  God,  and  assured  them 
of  preservation  and  victory,  if  they  preferred  his  glory  to  their  own 
lives  and  secular  interests.  "I  have  been  with  you  in  your  most 
desperate  temptations,"  continued  he,  in  a  strain  of  impassioned 
eloquence  :  "  in  your  most  extreme  dangers  I  have  been  with  you. 
St.  Johnston,  Cupar-moor,  and  the  Crags  of  Edinburgh,  are  yet 
recent  in  my  heart ;  yea,  that  dark  and  dolorous  night  wherein  all 
ye,  my  lords,  with  shame  and  fear,  left  this  town,  is  yet  in  my  mind, 
and  God  forbid  that  ever  I  forget  it !  What  was,  I  say,  my  exhor- 
tation to  you,  and  what  has  lallen  in  vain  of  all  that  ever  God 
promised  unto  you  by  my  mouth,  ye  yourselves  yet  live  to  testify. 


JOHN  KNOX.  165 

There  is  not  one  of  you  .against  whom  was  death  and  destruction 
threatened  perished  ;  and  how  many  of  your  enemies  has  God 
plagued  before  your  eyes  ?  Shall  this  be  the  thankfulness  that  ye 
shall  render  unto  your  God  ?  To  betray  his  cause,  when  ye  have  it 
in  your  hands  to  establish  it  as  you  please  ?"  He  saw  nothing,  he 
said,  "  but  a  cowardly  desertion  of  Christ's  standard.  Some  had 
even  the  effrontery  to  say  that  they  had  neither  law  nor  parliament 
for  their  religion.  They  had  the  authority  of  God  for  their  religion, 
the  truth  of  which  was  independent  of  human  laws  ;  but  it  was  also 
accepted  within  this  realm  in  public  parliament ;  and  that  parliament 
he  would  maintain  to  have  been  as  lawful  as  any  ever  held  in  the 
kingdom." 

In  the  conclusion  of  his  discourse,  he  adverted  to  the  reports  of 
her  majesty's  marriage,  and  the  princes  who  courted  this  alliance ; 
and,  desiring  the  audience  to  mark  his  words,  predicted  the  conse- 
quences which  were  to  be  dreaded,  if  ever  the  nobility  consented 
that  their  sovereign  should  marry  a  papist. 

Protestants  as  well  as  papists  were  offended  with  the  freedom  of 
this  sermon,  and  some  who  had  been  most  familiar  with  the  preacher 
now  shunned  his  company.  Flatterers  were  not  wanting  to  run  to 
the  queen,  and  inform  her  that  John  Knox  had  preached  against  her 
marriage.  After  surmounting  the  opposition  to  her  measures,  and 
managing  so  successfully  the  haughty  and  independent  barons  of  her 
kingdom,  Mary  was  incensed  that  there  should  yet  be  one  man  of 
obscure  condition,  who  ventured  to  condemn  her  proceedings  ;  and 
as  she  could  not  tame  his  stubbornness,  she  determined  to  punish  his 
temerity.  Knox  was  ordered  instantly  to  appear  before  her.  Lord 
Ochiltree,  with  several  other  gentlemen,  accompanied  him  to  the 
palace  ;  but  the  superintendent  of  Angus  alone  was  allowed  to  go 
with  him  into  the  royal  presence. 

Her  majesty  received  him  in  a  very  different  manner  from  what 
she  had  done  at  Lochleven.  Never  had  prince  been  handled,  she 
passionately  exclaimed,  as  she  was  :  she  had  borne  with  him  in  all 
his  rigourous  speeches  against  herself  and  her  uncles  ;  she  had  sought 
his  favour  by  all  means  ;  she  had  offered  unto  him  audience  when- 
ever he  pleased  to  admonish  her.  "  And  yet,"  said  she,  "  I  cannot 
be  quit  of  you.  I  vow  to  God  I  shall  be  once  revenged." — On 
pronouncing  these  words  with  great  violence,  she  burst  into  a  flood 
of  tears  which  interrupted  her  speech.  When  the  queen  had 
composed  herself,  he  proceeded  calmly  to  make  his  defence.  Her 
Grace  and  he  had,  he  said,  at  different  times  been  engaged  in 
controversy,  and  he  never  before  perceived  her  offended  with  him. 
"When  it  should  please  God  to  deliver  her  from  the  bondage  of  error 
in  which  she  had  been  trained  through  want  of  instruction  in  the 
truth,  he  trusted  that  her  majesty  would  not  find  the  liberty  of  his 
tongue  offensive.  Out  of  the  pulpit  he  thought  few  had  occasion  to 
be  offended  with  him ;  but  there  he  was  not  master  of  himself,  but 
bound  to  obey  him  who  commanded  him  to  speak  plainly,  and  to 
flatter  no  flesh  on  the  face  of  the  earth. 

"But  what  have  you  to  do  with  my  marriage  ?"  said  the  queen. 
He   was   proceeding   to  state  the   extent  of  his   commission  as  a 


Iqq  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

preacher,  and  the  reasons  which  led  him  to  touch  on  that  delicate 
subject  ;  but  she  interrupted  him  by  repeating- her  question  :  "  What 
have  ye  to  do  with  my  marriage  ?  Or  what  are  you  in  this  common- 
wealth  r — "  A  subject  born  within  the  same,  Madam,"  replied  the 
reformer,  piqued  by  the  last  question,  and  the  contemptuous  tone  in 
which  it  was  proposed.  "And  albeit  I  be  neither  earl,  lord,  nor 
baron  in  it,  yet  has  God  made  me  (how  abject  that  ever  I  be 
in  your  eyes)  a  profitable  member  within  the  same.  Yea,  Madam, 
to  me  it  appertains  no  less  to  forewarn  of  such  things  as  may  hurt  it, 
if  I  foresee  them,  than  it  doth  to  any  of  the  nobility  ;  for  both  my 
vocation  and  conscience  require  plainness  of  me.  And  therefore, 
Madam,  to  yourself  I  say  that  which  I  spake  in  public  place  : 
k  Whensoever  the  nobility  of  this  realm  shall  consent  that  ye 
be  subject  to  an  unfaithful  husband,  they  do  as  much  as  in  them  lieth 
to  renounce  Christ,  to  banish  his  truth  from  them,  to  betray  the 
freedom  of  this  realm,  and  perchance  shall  in  the  end  do  small 
comfort  to  yourself."  At  these  words,  the  queen  began  to  weep  and 
sob  with  great  bitterness.  The  superintendent,  who  was  a  man  of 
mild  and  gentle  spirit,  tried  to  mitigate  her  grief  and  resentment; 
he  praised  her  beauty  and  her  accomplishments  ;  and  told  her,  that 
there  was  not  a  prince  in  Europe  wdio  would  not  reckon  himself 
happy  in  gaining  her  hand.  During  this  scene,  the  severe  and 
inflexible  mind  of  the  reformer  displayed  itself.  He  continued 
silent,  and  with  unaltered  countenance,  until  the  queen  had  given 
vent  to  her  feelings.  He  then  protested,  that  he  never  took  delight 
in  the  distress  of  any  creature  ;  it  wTas  with  great  difficulty  that  he 
could  see  his  own  boys  weep  when  he  corrected  them  for  their  faults, 
far  less  could  he  rejoice  in  her  majesty's  tears  :  but  seeing  he  had 
given  her  no  just  reason  of  offence,  and  had  only  discharged  his 
duty,  he  was  constrained,  though  unwillingly,  to  sustain  her  tears, 
rather  than  hurt  his  conscience,  and  betray  the  commonwealth 
through  his  silence. 

This  apology  inflamed  the  queen  still  more  ;  she  ordered  him 
immediately  to  leave  her  presence,  and  wait  the  signification  of  her 
pleasure  in  the  adjoining  room.  There  he  stood  as  "  one  whom  men 
had  never  seen ;"  all  his  friends  (lord  Ochiltree  excepted),  being 
afraid  to  show  him  the  smallest  countenance.  In  this  situation  he 
addressed  himself  to  the  court-ladies,  who  sat  in  their  richest  dress 


in  the  chamber.  "  O  lair  ladies,  how  plesing  war  this  lyfe  of  yours 
if  it  BOuld  ever  abyde,  and  then,  in  the  end,  that  we  might  pas  t( 
heyin  with  all  this  gay  gear  !"  Having  engaged  them  in  a  conver 
sal  ion,  he  passed  the  time  till  Erskine  came  and  informed  him,  that 
lie  was  allowed  to  go  home  until  her  majesty  had  taken  further 
advice.  The  queen  insisted  to  have  the  judgment  of  the  lords  of 
articles,  whether  the  words  he  had  used*  in  the  pulpit  were  not 
actionable:  but  she  was  persuaded  to  desist  from  a  prosecution. 
k>  Ajadso  that  .-tonne  quietit  in  appearance,  but  nevir  in  the  hart." 

During  the  queen's  residence  at  Stirling,  in  the  month  of  August, 
the  domestics,  whom  she  had  left  behind  her  in  Ilolyroodhouse, 
celebrated  the  popish  worship  with  greater  publicity  than  had  been 
usual  when  she  herself  was  present;  and  at  the  time  when  the  sacra- 


JOHN   KNOT. 


167 


ment  of  the  Supper  was  dispensed  in  Edinburgh,  they  revived  cer- 
tain superstitious  practices  which  had  been  laid  aside  by  the  Roman 

catholics  since  the  establishment  of  the  reformation.  This  boldness 
offended  the  protestants,  and  some  of  them  went  down  to  the  palace 
to  mark  the  inhabitants  who  repaired  to  the  service.  Perceiving 
numbers  entering,  they  burst  into  the  chapel ;  and  presenting  them- 
selves at  the  altar,  which  was  prepared  for  mass,  asked  the  priest, 
how  he  durst  be  so  malapert  as  to  proceed  in  that  manner,  when  the 
queen  was  absent.  Alarmed  at  this  intrusion,  the  mistress  of  the 
household  despatched  a  messenger  to  the  comptroller,  who  was 
attending  sermon  in  St.  Giles's  church,  desiring  him  to  come  instantly 
to  save  her  life  and  the  palace.  Having  hurried  down,  accompanied 
with  the  magistrates,  and  a  guard,  the  comptroller  found  everything 
quiet,  and  no  appearance  of  tumult,  except  what  was  occasioned  by 
the  company  which  he  brought  along  with  him.  When  the  report 
of  this  affair  was  conveyed  to  the  queen,  she  declared  her  resolution 
not  to  return  to  Edinburgh  unless  this  riot  was  punished,  and  indicted 
two  of  the  protestants,  who  had  been  most  active,  to  stand  trial  "  for 
forethought  felony,  hamesuckin,  and  invasion  of  the  palace."  Fearing 
that  she  intended  to  proceed  to  extremities  against  these  men,  and 
that  their  condemnation  was  a  preparative  to  some  hostile  attempts 
against  their  religion,  the  protestants  in  Edinburgh  resolved  that 
Knox,  agreeably  to  a  commission,  should  write  a  circular  letter  to 
the  principal  gentlemen  of  their  persuasion,  informing  them  of  the 
circumstances,  and  requesting  their  presence  on  the  day  of  trial. 
He  wrote  the  letter  according  to  their  request.  A  copy  of  it  having 
come  into  the  hands  of  Sinclair,  bishop  of  Ross,  and  president  of  the 
court  of  session,  who  was  a  great  personal  enemy  to  Knox,  he  con- 
veyed it  immediately  to  the  queen  at  Stirling.  She  communicated 
it  to  the  privy  council,  who,  to  her  great  satisfaction,  pronounced  it 
treasonable  ;  but  to  give  the  greater  solemnity  to  the  proceedings,  it 
was  resolved  that  an  extraordinary  convention  of  the  counsellors  and 
other  noblemen  should  be  called  to  meet  at  Edinburgh,  in  the  end  of 
December,  to  try  the  cause.  The  reformer  was  summoned  to  appear 
before  this  convention. 

On  the  day  appointed  for  the  trial,  the  public  anxiety  was  greatly 
raised,  and  the  palace-yard,  with  all  the  avenues,  was  crowded  with 
people,  who  waited  to  learn  the  result.  The  pannel  was  conducted 
to  the  chamber  in  which  the  lords  were  already  assembled,  and  en- 
gaged in  consultation.  When  the  queen  had  taken  her  seat,  and 
perceived  Knox  standing  uncovered  at  the  foot  at  the  table,  she 
burst  into  a  loud  fit  of  laughter.  "  That  man,"  she  said,  "  had 
made  her  weep,  and  shed  never  a  tear  himself;  she  would  now  see 
if  she  could  make  him  weep."  The  secretary  opened  the  proceed- 
ings, by  stating  in  a  speech  addressed  to  the  reformer,  the  reasons 
why  the  queen  had  convened  him  before  her  nobility.  "Let  him 
acknowledge  his  own  handwriting,"  said  the  queen,  "  and  then 
we  shall  judge  of  the  contents  of  the  letter."  A  copy  of  the  cir.  liar 
letter  being  handed  to  him,  he  looked  at  the  subscription,  and  -aid 
that  it  was  his  ;  and  though  he  had  subscribed  a  number  of  blanks, 
he    had   such    confidence   in   the   fidelity    of    the    scribe,   that    he 


103  SCOTS  WORTHIES. 

was  ready  to  acknowledge  both  the  subscription  and  the  contents. 
k>  Fou  have  done  more  than  I  would  have  done,"  said  Maitland. 
"  Charity  is  nol  suspicious,"  replied  the  other.  "  Well,  well,"  said 
the  queen,  "  read  your  own  letter,  and  then  answer  to  such  things 
as  shall  be  demanded  of  you."  "  I  will  do  the  best  I  can,"  said  he  ; 
and  having  read  the  letter  with  an  audible  voice,  returned  it  to  the 
queen's  advocate,  who  was  commanded  to  accuse  him. 

"  Heard  you  ever,  my  lords,  a  more  despiteful  and  treasonable 
letter  ?"  said  the  queen,  looking  round  the  table.  "  Mr.  Knox,  are 
you  not  sorry  from  your  heart,  and  do  you  not  repent  that  such  a 
letter  has  passed  your  pen,  and  from  you  has  come  to  the  knowledge 
of  others  P>  said  Maitland.  "  My  lord  secretary,  before  I  repent,  I 
must  be  taught  my  offence." — "  Offence!  if  there  were  no  more  but 
the  convocation  of  the  queen's  lieges,  the  offence  cannot  be  denied." 
— "  Remember  yourself,  my  lord,  there  is  a  difference  between  a 
lawful  convocation  and  an  unlawful.  If  I  have  been  guilty  in  this, 
I  offended  oft  since  I  came  last  into  Scotland,  for  what  convocation 
of  the  brethren  has  ever  been  to  this  hour,  unto  which  my  pen  served 
not?" — "  Then  was  then,  and  now  is  now,"  said  the  secretary;  "  we 
have  no  need  of  such  convocations  as  sometimes  we  have  had." — 
"  The  time  that  has  been  is  even  now  before  my  eyes,"  rejoined  the 
reformer ;  "  for  I  see  the  poor  flock  in  no  less  danger  than  it  has 
been  at  any  time  before,  except  that  the  devil  has  got  a  vizor  upon 
his  face.  Before,  he  came  in  with  his  own  face,  discovered  by  open 
tyranny,  seeking  the  destruction  of  all  that  refused  idolatry ;  and 
then,  I  think,  you  will  confess  the  brethren  lawfully  assembled  them- 
selves for  defence  of  their  lives  ;  and  now,  the  devil  comes  under  the 
cloak  of  justice,  to  do  that  which  God  would  not  suffer  him  to  do  by 
strength" — 

"  What  is  this  ?"  interrupted  her  majesty,  who  was  offended  that 
the  paiinel  should  be  allowed  such  liberty  of  speech,  and  thought 
that  she  could  bring  him  more  closely  to  the  question.  "  What  is 
tins  J  Methinks  you  trifle  with  him.  Who  gave  him  authority  to 
make  convocation  of  my  lieges?  Is  not  that  treason?"  "No, 
Madam,"  replied  Lord  Ruthven,  displeased  at  the  active  keenness 
which  the  queen  showed  in  the  cause;  "  for  he  makes  convocation 
of  the  people  to  hear  prayer  and  sermon  almost  daily;  and  whatever 


for 
„  the 

secretary  (whom  L  take  to  be  a  better  dialectician  than  your  Grace) 
that  all  convocations  are  not  unlawful;  and  now  my  lord  Ruthven 
has  given  the  instance."—"  I  will  say  nothing  against  your  religion, 
noragamsl  your  convening  to  your  sermons;  but  what  authority 

com- 


con^ 


baveyou  to  convocate  my  subjects  when  you  will,  without  my 
mandment  i  He  answered,  that  at  his  own  will  he  had  never  . 
vened  iuur  persons  in  Scotland  ;  but  at  the  orders  of  his  brethren  he 
bad  given  many  advertisements,  and  great  multitudes  had  assem- 
l|'"1 !  and  if  her  Grace  complained  that  this  had  been  done  without 
ber  command,  he  would  answer,  so  was  all  that  had  been  done  as  to 
the  reformation  oi  religion  in  this  kingdom.     He  must,  therefore,  be 


JOHN   KNOX. 


160 


convicted  by  a  just  law,  before  he  would  profess  sorrow  for  what  he 
had  done.     He  thought  he  had  done  no  wrung. 

"  You  shall  not  escape  so,"  said  the  queen.  "  Is  it  not  treason,  my 
lords,  to  accuse  a  prince  of  cruelty  ?  I  think  there  be  acts  of  parlia- 
ment against  such  whisperers."  Several  of  their  lordships  said  that 
there  were  such  laws.  "  But  wherein  can  I  be  accused  of  this?" — 
"  Read  this  part  of  your  own  bill,"  said  the  queen,  who  showed  her- 
self an  acute  prosecutor.  She  then  caused  the  following  sentence  to 
be  read  from  his  letter. — "This  fearful  summons  is  directed  against 
them  [the  two  persons  who  were  indicted]  to  make  no  doubt  a 
preparative  on  a  few,  that  a  door  may  be  opened  to  execute  cruelty 
upon  a  greater  multitude." — "  Lo !"  exclaimed  the  queen  exultingly  ; 
"  what  say  you  to  that  ?" — The  eyes  of  the  assembly  were  fixed  on 
the  pannel,  anxious  to  know  what  answer  he  would  make  to  this 
charge. 

"  Is  it  lawful  for  me,  Madam,  to  answer  for  myself?  or,  shall  I  be 
condemned  unheard  V — "  Say  what  you  can  :  for  I  think  you  have 
enough  to  do." — I  will  first  then  desire  of  your  Grace,  Madam,  and 
of  this  most  honourable  audience,  Whether  your  Grace  knows  not, 
that  the  obstinate  papists  are  deadly  enemies  to  all  such  as  profess 
the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  that  they  most  earnestly  desire  the 
extermination  of  them,  and  of  the  true  doctrine  that  is  taught 
within  this  realm  ?"  The  queen  was  silent :  but  the  lords,  with  one 
voice,  exclaimed,  "  God  forbid,  that  ever  the  lives  of  the  faithful,  or 
yet  the  staying  of  the  doctrine,  stood  in  the  power  of  the  papists! 
for  just  experience  has  taught  us  what  cruelty  lies  in  their  hearts." 
"  I  must  proceed,  then,"  said  the  reformer.  "  Seeing  that  I  perceive 
that  all  will  grant,  that  it  were  a  barbarous  thing  to  destroy  such  a 
multitude  as  profess  the  gospel  of  Christ  within  this  realm,  which 
oftener  than  once  or  twice  they  have  attempted  to  do  by  force — they, 
by  God  and  by  his  providence  being  disappointed,  have  invented 
more  crafty  and  dangerous  practices ;  to  wit,  to  make  the  priuce  a 
party  under  colour  of  law ;  and  so  what  they  could  not  do  by  open 
force,  they  shall  perform  by  crafty  deceit.  For  who  thinks,  my 
lords,  that  the  insatiable  cruelty  of  the  papists  (within  this  realm  I 
mean,)  shall  end  in  the  murdering  of  these  two  brethren,  now 
unjustly  summoned,  and  more  unjustly  to  be  accused? — And  there- 
fore, Madam,  cast  up,  when  you  list,  the  acts  of  your  parliament ;  I 
have  offended  nothing  against  them ;  for  I  accuse  not,  in  my  letter, 
your  Grace,  nor  yet  your  nature,  of  cruelty.  But  I  affirm  yet  again, 
that  the  pestilent  papists,  who  have  inflamed  your  Grace  against 
these  poor  men  at  this  present,  are  the  sons  of  the  devil,  and  there- 
fore must  obey  the  desires  of  their  father,  who  has  been  a  liar  and 
manslayer  from  the  beginning." — "  You  forget  yourself  !  you  are  not 
now  in  the  pulpit,"  said  one  of  the  lords.  "  I  am  in  the  place  where 
I  am  demanded  of  conscience  to  speak  the  truth  ;  and  therefore  the 
truth  I  speak,  impugn  it  whoso  list."  He  added,  again  a.ldivssin" 
the  queen,  that  persons  who  appeared  to  be  of  honest,  gentle,  and 
meek  natures,  had  often  been  corrupted  by  wicked  counsel ;  that  the 
papists  who  had  her  ear  were  dangerous  counsellors,  and  such  her 
mother  had  found  them  to  be. 


170  SCOTS  WORTHIES. 

Mary  perceiving  that  nothing  was  to  be  gained  by  reasoning,  began 
to  upbraid  him  with  his  harsh  behaviour  to  her,  at  their  last  interview. 
Ee  spake  "  fair  enough"  at  present  before  the  lords,  she  said,  but  on 
that  occasion  he  caused  her  to  shed  many  salt  tears,  and  said,  "  he 
set  not  by  her  weeping."  This  drew  from  him  a  vindication  of  bis 
conduct,  in  which  he  gave  a  narration  of  that  conference.  After 
this,  the  secretary  having  spoken  with  the  queen,  told  Knox  that  he 
was  at  liberty  to  return  home  for  that  night.  "I  thank  God  and  the 
queen's  majesty,"  said  he. 

Wheu  Knox  had  withdrawn,  the  judgment  of  the  nobility  was 
taken  respecting  his  conduct.  All  of  them,  with  the  exception  of 
the  immediate  dependents  of  the  court,  voted,  that  he  was  not  guilty 
of  any  breach  of  the  laws.  The  secretary,  who  had  assured  the  queen 
of  hi-  condemnation,  was  enraged  at  this  decision.  He  brought  her 
majesty,  who  had  retired  before  the  vote,  again  into  the  room,  and 
proceeded  to  call  the  votes  a  second  time  in  her  presence.  This 
attempt  to  overawe  them  incensed  the  nobility.  "What !"  said  they, 
"shall  the  laird  of  Lethington  have  power  to  control  us?  or  shall  the 
presence  of  a  woman  cause  us  to  offend  God,  and  to  condemn  an 
innocent  man,  against  our  consciences  ?"  With  this  they  repeated 
their  votes,  absolving  him  from  all  offence,  and  praising  his  modest 
appearance  and  judicious  defences. 

Mary  was  unable  to  conceal  her  mortification  and  displeasure,  at 
this  unexpected  acquittal.  When  the  bishop  of  Ross,  who  had  been 
the  informer,  gave  his  vote  on  the  'same  side  with  the  rest,  she 
taunted  him  openly  in  the  presence  of  the  court.  "Trouble  not  the 
child!  1  pray  you  trouble  him  not!  for  he  is  newly  awakened  out 
of  his  sleep.  Why  should  not  the  old  fool  follow  the  footsteps  of 
those  that  passed  before  him  ?"  The  bishop  replied  coldly,  that  her 
majesty  might  easily  know,  that  his  vote  was  not  influenced  by  par- 
tiality to  the  accused.  "  That  nicht  was  nyther  dancing  nor  fiddleing 
in  the  court ;  the  madam  was  disappoynted  of  hir  purpose,  quhilk 
was  to  have  had  Johne  Knox  in  hir  will,  be  vote  of  hir  nobility." 

The  indignation  of  the  queen  at  the  reformer's  escape  from  punish- 
ment did  not  soon  abate,  and  the  effects  of  it  fell  both  upon  the  cour- 
tiers who  had  voted  for  his  exculpation,  and  upon  those  who  had 
opposed  it.  The  earl  of  Moray  was  among  the  former;  Maitland 
among  the  latter.  In  order  to  appease  her,  they  again  attempted  to 
persuade  him  to  condescend  to  some  voluntary  submission  to  her; 
and  they  engaged  that  all  the  punishment  which  should  be  inflicted 
on  him  would  merely  be  to  go  within  the  walls  of  the  castle,  and 
return  again  to  his  own  house.  ^  But  he  refused  to  make  any  such 

of 
iave 
...  /oured 
injure  him  bv  whispers  and  detraction,  circulating  that  he  had  no 
authority  from  his  brethren  for  what  he  had  done;  and  that  he  arro- 
gated a  papal  and  arbitrary  power  ove*  the  Scottish  church,  issuing 
ma  letters,  and  exacting  obedience  to  them.  These  charges  were 
very  groundless  and  injurious  ;  for  there  never  was  perhaps  any  one 
*ho  had   as  much  influence,  that  was  so  careful  in  avoiding  all 


JOHN    KNOX. 


171 


appearance  of  assuming  superiority  over  his  brethren,  or  acting  by 
bis  own  authority,  in  matters  of  public  and  common  concern. 

In  the  general  assembly  which  met  in  the  close  of  this  year,  he 
declined  taking  any  share  in  the  debates.  When  their  principal 
business  was  settled,  he  requested  liberty  to  speak  on  an  affair  which 
concerned  himself.  lie  stated  what  he  had  done  in  writing  the  late 
circular  letter,  the  proceedings  to  which  it  had  given  rise,  and  the 
surmises  which  were  still  circulated  to  his  prejudice  ;  and  insisted 
that  the  church  should  now  examine  his  conduct  in  that  matter,  and 
particularly  that  they  should  declare  whether  or  not  they  had  given 
him  a  commission  to  advertise  the  brethren,  when  he  foresaw  any 
danger  threatening  their  religion,  or  any  difficult  case  which  required 
their  advice.  The  courtiers  strenuously  opposed  the  decision  of  this 
question ;  but  it  was  taken  up,  and  the  assembly,  by  a  great  ma- 
jority, found  that  he  had  been  burthened  with  such  a  commission, 
and  in  the  advertisement  which  he  had  lately  given,  had  not  gone 
beyond  the  bounds  of  his  commission. 

Knox  had  remained  a  widower  upwards  of  three  years.  But  in 
March,  1564,  he  contracted  a  second  marriage  with  Margaret 
Stewart,  daughter  of  Lord  Ochiltree,  a  nobleman  of  amiable  dispo- 
sition, who  had  been  long  familiar  with  our  reformer,  and  steadily 
adhered  to  him  when  he  was  deserted  by  his  other  friends.  She  con- 
tinued to  discharge  the  duties  of  a  wife  to  him,  with  pious  and 
affectionate  assiduity,  until  the  time  of  his  death.  The  popish 
writers,  who  envied  the  honours  of  the  Scottish  reformer,  have  re- 
presented this  marriage  as  a  proof  of  his  great  ambition ;  and,  in 
the  excess  of  their  spleen,  have  ridiculously  imputed  to  him  the  pro- 
ject of  aiming  to  raise  his  progeny  to  the  throne  of  Scotland  ; 
because  the  family  of  Ochiltree  were  of  the  blood  royal !  They  are 
quite  clear,  too,  that  he  gained  the  heart  of  the  young  lady  by  meant, 
of  sorcery,  and  the  assistance  of  the  devil.  But  it  seems,  that  power- 
ful as  his  black -footed  second  was,  he  could  not  succeed  in  another 
attempt  Mdiich  he  had  previously  made  ;  for  the  same  writers  inform 
us,  that  he  had  paid  his  addresses  to  the  lady  Fleming,  eldest  daugh- 
ter to  the  duke  of  Chatelherault,  and  was  repulsed. 

In  the  month  of  August,  Knox  went,  by  appointment  of  the 
general  assembly,  as  visitor  of  the  churches  in  Aberdeen  and  the 
north,  where  he  remained  six  or  seven  weeks.  The  subsequent 
assembly  gave  him  a  similar  appointment  to  Fife  and  Perthshire. 

Our  reformer's  predictions  at  the  last  meeting  of  parliament  were 
now  fully  realised.  Another  parliament  was  held  in  the  end  of  15G-4; 
but  nothing  was  done  for  securing  the  protestant  religion.  The 
queen's  marriage  approached,  and  the  lords  demanded  this  as  the 
condition  of  their  consent ;  but  she  artfully  evaded  the  demand,  and 
accomplished  her  object.  While  she  was  arranging  her  plans  for  the 
marriage,  she  sent  for  the  superintendents  of  Lothian,  Glasgow,  and 
Fife  (for  Knox  was  now  inadmissible  to  her  presence),  and  amused 
them  with  fair  words.  She  was  not  yet  persuaded,  she  said,  of  the 
truth  of  their  religion;  but  she  was  willing  to  hear  conference  and 
reasoning  on  the  subject;  she  was  even  content  to  attend  the  public 
sermons  of  some  of  them  ;  and,  "  above  all  others,  she  would  gladly 


172  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

hear  the  superintendent  of  Angus,  for  he  was  a  mild  and  sweet- 
natured  man,  with  true  honesty  and  uprightness,  Sir  John  Erskine 
of  Dun."  But  as  soon  as  her  marriage  with  lord  Darnley  was  over, 
she  told  them  in  very  plain  and  determined  language,  "  her  majesty 
neither  will,  nor  may  leave  the  religion  wherein  she  has  been  nourish- 
ed, and  1  irought  up."  And  there  was  no  more  word  of  hearing  either 
sermon  or  conference. 

The  friendship  between  the  earl  of  Moray  and  the  reformer  was 
renewed  in  the  beginning  of  1565.  The  latter  was  placed  in  a  very 
delicate  predicament,  by  the  insurrection  under  Moray,  and  the 
other  lords  who  opposed  the  queen's  marriage.  His  father-in-law 
was  one  of  the  number.  They  professed  that  the  security  of  the  pro- 
tectant religion  was  the  principal  ground  of  their  taking  arms ;  and 
they  came  to  Edinburgh  to  collect  men  to  their  standard.  But 
whatever  favour  he  might  have  for  them,  he  kept  himself  clear  from 
any  engagement.  If  he  had  taken  part  in  this  unsuccessful  revolt, 
we  need  not  doubt  that  her  majesty  would  have  embraced  the  oppor- 
tunity of  punishing  him  for  it,  when  his  principal  friends  had  lied 
the  kingdom. 

"We  find,  in  fact,  that  she  immediately  proceeded  against  him  on 
a  different  but  far  more  slender  pretext.  The  young  king,  who  could 
be  either  papist  or  protestant  as  it  suited,  went  sometimes  to  mass 
with  the  queen,  and  sometimes  attended  the  reformed  sermons.  To 
silence  the  suspicions  of  his  alienation  from  the  reformed  religion, 
circulated  by  the  insurgent  lords,  he,  on  the  19th  of  August,  made  a 
solemn  appearance  in  St.  Giles's  church,  sitting  on  a  throne,  which 
had  been  prepared  for  his  reception.  Knox  preached  that  day  on 
Isaiah  xxvi.  13,  &c.,  and  happened  to  prolong  the  service  beyond  his 
usual  time.  In  one  part  of  the  sermon,  he  quoted  these  words  of 
Scripture  :  "  I  will  give  children  to  be  their  princes,  and  babes  shall 
rule  over  them  ;  children  are  their  oppressors,  and  women  rule  over 
them  ;"  and  in  another  part  of  it,  he  mentioned  that  God  punished 
Ahab,  because  he  did  not  correct  his  idolatrous  wife  Jezebel.  Though 
no  particular  application  was  made  by  the  preacher,  the  king  applied 
these  passages  to  himself  and  the  queen,  and  returning  to  the  palace 
in  great  wrath,  refused  to  taste  dinner.  The  papists,  who  had 
accompanied  him  to  the  church,  inflamed  his  resentment  and  that  of 
the.  queen,  by  their  representations. 

That  very  afternoon  Knox  was  taken  from  bed,  and  carried  before 
the  privy  council.  Some  respectable  inhabitants  of  the  city,  under- 
standing his  situation,  accompanied  him  to  the  palace.  He  was  told 
that  he  had  offended  the  king,  and  must  desist  from  preaching  as 
long  as  their  majesties  were  in  Edinburgh.  He  replied,  that  "  he 
had  Bpoken  nothing  but  according  to  his  text;  and  if  the  church 
would  command  him  to  speak  or  abstain,  he  would  obey,  so  far  as 
the  word  of  God  would  permit  him."  Spottiswood  says,  that  he  not 
only  stood  to  what  he  had  said  in  the  pulpit,  but  added,  "That  as 
the  king,  for"  the  queen's  "pleasure,  had  gone  to  mass,  and  dis- 
honoured the  Lord  God,  so  should  he  in  his  justice,  make  her  the 
instrument  of  his  overthrow.  This  speech,"  continues  the  arch- 
bishop's manuscript,  "  esteemed  too  bold  at  the  time,  came  afterwards 


JOHN  KNOX. 


173 


to  be  remembered,  and  was  reckoned  among  other  his  prophetical 
sayings,  which  certainly  were  marvellous.  The  queen,  enraged  at 
this  answer,  burst  forth  into  tears." 

The  report  of  the  inhibition  laid  upon  the  reformer,  created  great 
agitation  in  the  city.  His  colleague,  who  was  appointed  to  supply 
his  place  during  the  suspension,  threatened  to  desist  entirely  from 
preaching.  The  town  council  met,  and  appointed  a  deputation  to 
wait  on  their  majesties,  and  request  the  removal  of  the  inhibition  ; 
and  in  a  second  meeting,  on  the  same  day,  they  came  to  an  unani- 
mous resolution,  that  they  would  "  in  no  manner  of  way  consent  or 
grant  that  his  mouth  be  closed,"  but  that  he  should  be  desired,  "  at 
his  pleasure,  and  as  God  should  move  his  heart,  to  proceed  forward 
to  true  doctrine  as  before,  which  doctrine  they  would  approve  and 
abide  at  to  their  life's  end." 

It  does  not  appear  that  he  continued  any  time  suspended  from 
preaching.  For  the  king  and  queen  left  Edinburgh  before  the  next 
Sabbath,  and  the  prohibition  extended  only  to  the  time  of  their 
residence  in  the  city.  Upon  their  return,  it  is  probable  that  the 
court  judged  it  unadvisable  to  enforce  an  order  which  had  already 
created  much  discontent,  and  might  alienate  the  minds  of  the  people 
still  farther  from  the  present  administration.  Accordingly,  we  find 
him  exercising  his  ministry  in  Edinburgh  with  the  same  boldness  as 
formerly.  Complaints  were  made  to  the  council  of  the  manner  in 
which  he  prayed  for  the  exiled  noblemen ;  but  secretary  Maitland, 
who  had  formerly  found  so  much  fault  with  his  prayers,  defended 
them  on  the  present  occasion,  saying  that  he  had  heard  them,  and 
they  were  such  as  nobody  could  blame. 

Christopher  Goodman  had  officiated  with  much  acceptance  as 
minister  of  St.  Andrew's,  since  the  year  1560  ;  but  he  was  prevailed 
on,  by  the  solicitations  of  his  friends  in  England,  to  return,  about 
this  time,  to  his  native  country.  The  commissioners  from  St. 
Andrew's  were  instructed  to  petition  the  general  assembly,  -which 
met  in  December  this  year,  that  Knox  should  be  translated  from 
Edinburgh  to  their  city.  They  claimed  a  right  to  him,  as  he  had 
commenced  his  ministry  among  them  ;  and  they  might  think  that 
the  dissensions  between  the  court  and  him  would  induce  him  to 
prefer  a  more  retired  situation.     But  the  petition  was  refused. 

This  assembly  imposed  on  him  several  important  services.  ITe 
was  commissioned  to  visit  the  churches  in  the  south  of  Scotland,  and 
appointed  to  write  "  a  comfortable  letter,"  exhorting  the  ministers, 
extorters,  and  readers,  throughout  the  kingdom,  to  persevere  in  the 
discharge  of  their  functions,  which  many  of  them  were  threatening 
to  throw  up,  on  account  of  the  non-payment  of  their  Btipends,  and 
exciting  the  people  among  wrhom  they  laboured  to  relieve  their 
necessities.  He  had  formerly  received  an  appointment  to  draw  up 
the  Form  of  Excommunication  and  Public  Repentance.  At  this  time 
be  was  required  to  compose  a  Treatise  of  Fasting.  The  assembly, 
having  taken  into  consideration  the  troubles  of  the  country,  and  the 
dangers  which  threatened  the  whole  protestant  interest,  appointed  a 
general  fast  to  be  kept  through  the  kingdom.  The  form  and  order 
to  be  observed  on  that  occasion  they  left  to  be  drawn  out  by  Knox 


174:  SCOTS  WORTHIES. 

and  his  eolleftgne.  As  notfekg  had  been  hitherto  published  expressly 
on  this  subject,  they  were  authorized  to  explain  the  duty,  as  weU  as 
state  the  reasons  which  at  this  time  called  for  that  solemn  exercise. 
The  whole  was  appointed  to  be  ready  before  the  time  of  the  fast,  to 
serve  as  a  directory  to  ministers  and  people. 

When  the  queen  came  to  Edinburgh,  Knox  left  it,  and  retired  to 
Kyle.  There  is  no  reason  to  think  that  he  was  privy  to  the  conspir- 
acy which  proved  fatal  to  Eizzio.  But  it  is  probable  that  he  had 
expressed  his  satisfaction  at  an  event  which  contributed  to  the  safety 
of  religion  and  the  commonwealth,  if  not  also  his  approbation  of  the 
conduct  of  the  conspirators.  At  any  rate,  he  was,  on  other  grounds, 
sufficiently  obnoxious  .to  the  queen;  and  as  her  resentment,  on  "the 
present  occasion,  was  exceedingly  inflamed,  it  was  deemed  prudent 
for  him  to  withdraw. 

Having,  at  last,  "got  quit"  of  one  who  had  long  been  troublesome 
to  her,  she  was  determined  to  prevent  his  return  to  the  capital.  We 
need  not  doubt  that  the  town  council  and  inhabitants,  who  had  for- 
merly refused  to  agree  to  his  suspension  from  preaching  for  a  short 
time,  would  exert  themselves  to  obtain  his  restoration.  But  she 
resisted  the  importunities  of  all  his  friends.  She  was  even  unwilling 
that  he  should  find  a  refuge  within  the  kingdom,  and  wrote  to  a 
nobleman  in  the  west  country,  with  whom  he  resided,  to  banish  him 
from  his  house.  It  does  not  appear  that  he  returned  to  Edinburgh, 
or,  at  least,  that  he  resumed  his  ministry  in  it,  until  the  queen  was 
deprived  of  the  government. 

Being  banished  from  his  flock,  he  judged  this  a  favourable  oppor- 
tunity for  paying  a  visit  to  England.  Parental  affection,  on  the  pre- 
sent occasion,  increased  the  desire  which  he  had  long  felt  to  accom- 
plish this  journey.  His  two  sons  had  some  time  ago  been  sent  by 
him  into  that  kingdom,  probably  at  the  desire  of  their  mother's  rela- 
tions, to  obtain  their  education  in  some  of  the  English  seminaries. 
Having  obtained  the  queen's  safe-conduct,  he  applied  to  the  general 
assembly,  which  met  in  December,  1566,  for  their  liberty  to  remove. 
They  readily  granted  it,  upon  condition  of  his  returning  against  the 
time  of  their  next  meeting  in  June  ;  and,  at  the  same  time,  gave  him 
a  most  ample  and  honourable  testimonial,  in  which  they  described 
him  as  "a  true  and  faithful  minister,  in  doctrine  pure  and  sincere,  in 
life  and  conversation  in  our  sight  inculpable,"  and  one  who  "has  so 
fruitfully  used  that  talent  granted  to  him  by  the  Eternal,  to  the 
advancement  of  the  glory  of  his  godly  name,  to  the  propagation  of 
the  kingdom  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  edifying  of  them  who  heard  his 
preaching,  that  of  duty  we  most  heartily  praise  his  godly  name,  for 
that  so  great  a  benefit  granted  unto  him  for  our  utility  and  profit. 

The  reformer  was  charged  with  a  letter  from  the  assembly,  to  the 
bishops  and  ministers  of  England,  interceding  for  lenity  to  such  of 
their  brethren  as  scrupled  to  use  the  sacerdotal  dress,  enjoined  bv 
the  laws.  The  controversy  on  that  subject  was  at  this  time  carried 
"ti  with  great  warmth  among  the  English  clergy.  It  is  not  impro- 
bable, that  the  assembly  interfered  in  this  business  at  the  desire  of 
Knox,  to  whom  the  composition  of  the  letter  was  committed  He 
could  not  have  forgotten  the  trouble  which  he  himself  had  suffered 


JOHN   KNOX.  175 

on  a  similar  ground,  and  he  had  a  high  regard  for  many  of  the 
scruplers.  This  interposition  did  not  procure  for  them  any  relief. 
Even  though  the  superior  clergy  had  been  more  zealous  to  obtain  it 
than  they  were,  Elizabeth  was  inflexible,  and  would  listen  neither  to 
the  supplications  of  her  bishops,  nor  the  advice  of  her  counsellors. 
Knox's  good  opinion  of  the  English  queen  does  not  seem  to  have 
been  improved  by  this  visit. 

There  was  one  piece  of  public  service  which  he  performed,  before 
undertaking  his  journey  to  England.  On  the  23d  of  December,  the 
queen  granted  a  commission  to  the  archbishop  of  St.  Andrew's,  under 
the  privy  seal,  restoring  him  to  his  ancient  jurisdiction,  which  had 
been  abolished,  in  1560,  by  act  of  parliament.  This  step  was  taken, 
partly  to  prepare  for  the  restoration  of  the  popish  religion,  and  partly 
to  facilitate  another  dark  design  which  was  soon  after  disclosed. 
The  protestants  could  not  fail  to  be  both  alarmed  and  enraged  at  this 
daring  measure.  The  reformer,  moved  both  by  his  own  zeal,  and 
the  advice  of  his  brethren,  addressed  a  circular  letter  to  the  principal 
protestants  in  the  kingdom,  requesting  their  immediate  advice  on 
the  measures  most  proper  to  be  adopted  on  this  occasion,  and 
enclosing  a  copy  of  a  proposed  supplication  to  the  queen.  This  letter 
discovers  all  the  ardour  of  the  writer's  spirit,  called  forth  by  such  an 
occurrence. 

liizzio's  assassination  was  acted  during  the  time  that  Knox  was  in 
England,  which  led  to  a  complete  revolution  in  the  government  of 
the  kingdom,  and  contrary  to  the  designs  of  the  actors,  threw  the 
power  solely  into  the  hands  of  the  protestants. 

Knox  was  absent  from  Edinburgh  at  the  time  of  the  queen's  mar- 
riage with  Bothwell ;  but  his  colleague  ably  supported  the  honour  of 
his  place  and  order  on  that  occasion.  Being  required  to  publish  the 
banns,  he  reluctantly  agreed,  by  the  advice  of  his  session,  to  make 
known  the  purpose  ;  but  at  the  same  time  protested  from  the  pulpit, 
on  three  several  days,  that  he  abhorred  and  detested  the  intended 
marriage  as  unlawful  and  scandalous,  and  solemnly  charged  the 
nobility  to  use  their  influence  to  prevent  the  queen  from  taking  a  step 
which  would  cover  her  with  infamy.  Being  called  before  the  coun- 
cil, and  accused  of  having  exceeded  the  bounds  of  his  commission, 
he  boldly  replied,  that  the  bounds  of  his  commission  were  the  word 
of  God,  good  laws,  and  natural  reason,  to  all  of  which  the  proposed 
marriage  was  contrary.  And  Bothwell  being  present,  he  charged 
him  with  the  crime  of  adultery,  the  precipitancy  with  which  the 
process  of  divorce  had  been  carried  through,  the  suspicions  enter- 
tained of  collusion  between  him  and  his  wife,  of  his  having  murdered 
the  king,  and  ravished  the  queen,  all  of  which  would  be  continued, 
if  they  carried  their  purpose  into  execution. 

The  events  which  followed  in  rapid  succession  upon  this  infamous 
marriage  ;  the  confederation  of  the  nobility  for  revenging  the  king's 
death,  and  preserving  the  person  of  the  infant  prince;  the  flight  of 
Bothwell;  the  surrender  and  imprisonment  of  Mary ;  her  resigna- 
tion of  the  government ;  the  coronation  of  her  son  ;  and  the  appoint- 
ment of  the  earl  of  Moray  as  regent  during  his  minority,  are  all  well 
'"  iowu  to  the  readers  of  Scottish  history. 


176  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

Knox  seems  to  have  returned  to  his  charge  at  the  time  that  the 
queen  lied  with  Bothwell  to  Dunbar.  He  was  present  in  the  general 
assembly  which  met  at  Edinburgh  on  the  25th  of  June,  and  was 
delegated  by  them  to  go  to  the  west  country,  and  endeavour  to  per- 
suade the  llamiltons,  and  others  who  still  stood  aloof  from  the 
confederated  lords,  to  join  with  them  in  settling  the  distracted  affairs 
of  the  country,  and  to  attend  a  general  convention  of  the  delegates 
of  the  churches,  to  be  held  on  the  20th  of  July  following.  He  was 
unsuccessful  in  this  negotiation.  But  the  convention  was  held,  and 
the  nobles,  barons,  and  other  commissioners,  who  were  present, 
subscribed  a  number  of  articles,  with  reference  to  religion  and  the 
state  of  the  nation. 

On  the  29th  of  July,  the  reformer  preached  the  sermon  at  the 
coronation  of  king  James  VI.,  in  the  parish  church  of  Stirling.  He 
objected  to  the  ceremony  of  unction,  as  a  Jewish  rite,  abused  under 
the  papacy ;  but  it  was  deemed  inexpedient  to  depart  from  the  accus- 
tomed ceremonial  on  the  present  occasion.  It  was  therefore  performed 
by  the  bishop  of  Orkney,  the  superintendents  of  Lothian  and  Angus 
assisting  him  to  place  the  crown  on  the  king's  head.  After  the  coro- 
nation, Knox,  along  with  some  others,  took  instruments,  and  craved 
extracts  of  the  proceedings. 

When  the  queen  was  confined  by  the  lords  in  the  castle  of  Loch- 
leven,  they  had  not  resolved  in  what  manner  they  should  dispose  of 
her  person  for  the  future.  Some  proposed  that  she  should  be  allowed 
to  leave  the  kingdom  ;  some  that  she  should  be  imprisoned  during 
life ;  while  others  insisted  that  she  ought  to  suffer  capital  punishment. 
Of  this  last  opinion  was  Knox,  with  almost  all  the  ministers,  and  the 
great  body  of  the  people.  The  chief  ground  upon  which  they 
insisted  for  this,  was  not  her  maladministration  in  the  government, 
or  the  mere  safety  and  peace  of  the  commonwealth — which  were  the 
reasons  upon  which  the  parliament  of  England,  in  the  following 
century,  proceeded  to  the  execution  of  her  grandson ; — but  they 
grounded  their  opinion  upon  the  personal  crimes  with  which  Mary 
was  charged.  Murder  and  adultery,  they  reasoned,  were  crimes  to 
which  the  punishment  of  death  was  allotted  by  the  law  of  God  and 
of  nations.  From  this  penalty  persons  of  no  rank  could  plead 
exemption.  The  ordinary  forms  of  judicial  procedure,  indeed,  made 
no  provision  for  the  trial  of  a  supreme  magistrate  for  these  crimes  ; 
because  the  laws  did  not  suppose  that  such  enormous  offences  would 
be  committed  by  them.  But  extraordinary  cases  required  extraor- 
dinary remedies  ;  and  new  offences  gave  birth  to  new  laws.  There 
were  examples  in  Scripture  of  the  capital  punishment  of  princes, 
and  precedents  for  it  in  the  history  of  their  own  country. 

Upon  these  grounds,  Knox  scrupled  not  publicly  to  maintain,  that 
the  estates  of  the  kingdom  ought  to  bring  Mary  to  a  trial,  and  if  she 
was  found  guilty  of  the  murder  of  her  husband,  and  an  adulterous 
connexion  with  Bothwell,  that  she  ought  to  be  put  to  death.  Throck- 
morton, the  English  ambassador,  had  a  conference  with  him,  with  the 
view  of  mitigating  the  rigour  of  this  judgment ;  but  though  he 
acquiesced  in  the  resolution  adopted  by  the  lords  to  detain  her  in 
prison,  he  retained  his  sentiment,  and,  after  the  civil  war  was  kindled 


JOHN   KNOX.  17- 

by  her  escape,  repeatedly  said,  that  he  considered  the  nation  as 
suffering  for  their  criminal  lenity. 

The  earl  of  Moray,  being  established  in  the  regency,  directed  his 
attention,  at  an  early  period,  to  the  settlement  of  religion,  and  the 
redressing  of  the  principal  grievances  of  which  the  church  had  lono- 
complained.  A  parliament  being  summoned  to  meet  in  the  middle 
of  December,  he,  with  the  advice  of  the  privy  council,  previously 
nominated  certain  barons,  and  commissioners  of  boroughs,  to  consult 
upon  and  digest  such  overtures  as  were  proper  to  be  laid  before  that 
assembly.  With  these  he  joined  Knox,  and  other  four  ministers  to 
assist  in  matters  which  related  to  the  church.     This  committee  met 


propos 

were  not  adopted  by  the  parliament,  it  is  valuable  as  a  declaration 
of  the  sentiments  of  a  number  of  the  most  able  men  in  the  kingdom. 

On  the  15th  of  December,  Knox  preached  at  the  opening  of  the 
parliament,  and  exhorted  them  to  begin  with  the  affairs  of  religion 
in  which  case  they  would  find  better  success  in  their  other  business. 
The  parliament  ratified  all  the  acts  which  had  been  passed  in  1560, 
in  favour  of  the  protestant  religion,  and  against  popery.  Xew 
statutes  of  a  similar  kind  were  added.  It  was  provided  that  no 
prince  should  afterwards  be  admitted  to  the  exercise  of  authoritv 
in  the  kingdom,  without  taking  an  oath  to  maintain  the  protestant 
religion  ;  and  that  none  but  protestants  should  be  admitted  to  any 
office,  not  hereditary  nor  held  for  life.  The  ecclesiastical  jurisdic- 
tion, exercised  by  the  different  assemblies  of  the  church,  was  formally 
ratified,  and  commissioners  appointed  to  define  more  exactly  the 
causes  which  properly  came  within  the  sphere  of  their  judgment. 
The  thirds  of  benefices  were  appointed  to  be  paid  immediately  to 
collectors  appointed  by  the  church,  who  were  to  account  to  the 
exchecjuer  for  the  overplus  after  paying  the  stipends  of  the  minis- 
ters. And  the  funds  of  provostries,  prebendaries,  and  chaplainries, 
were  appropriated  to  maintain  bursars  in  colleges. 

In  the  act  ratifying  the  jurisdiction  of  the  church,  Knox  was 
appointed  one  of  the  commissioners  for  drawing  out  the  particular 
points  which  pertained  to  ecclesiastical  jurisdiction,  to  be  presented 
to  next  meeting  of  parliament.  The  general  asscmbl}r,  which  met 
about  the  same  time,  gave  him  a  commission,  along  with  some  others, 
to  act  for  them  in  this  matter,  and,  in  general,  to  consult  with  the 
regent  and  council  on  such  ecclesiastical  questions  as  occurred  after 
the  dissolution  of  that  assembly.  He  was  also  appointed  to  assist  the 
superintendent  of  Lothian  in  his  visitation,  and  afterwards  to  visit 
the  churches  in  Kyle,  Carrick,  and  Cunningham. 

Our  reformer  had  now  reached  that  point  from  which  he  could 
take  a  calm  and  deliberate  view  of  the  dangerous  and  bustling  scene 
through  which  he  had  passed,  and  the  termination  to  which  the 
arduous  struggle  in  which  he  had  been  so  long  engaged,  was  now 
happily  brought.  Superstition  and  ignorance  were  overthrown  and 
dispelled;  true  religion  was  established;  the  supreme  government 
of  the  nation  was  in  the  hands  of  one  in  whose  wisdom  and  integrity 
12 


178  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

lie  had  the  greatest  confidence ;  the  church  was  freed  from  many  of 
those  grievances  under  which  she  had  hitherto  groaned,  and  enjoyed 
the  prospect  of  obtaining  the  redress  of  such  as  still  remained.  The 
work  on  which  his  heart  had  been  so  ardently  set  for  such  a  long 
period,  and  for  the  success  of  which  he  had  so  often  trembled,  had 
prospered  beyond  his  utmost  expectation.  He  now  congratulated 
himself  on  being  released  from  all  burden  of  public  affairs,  and 
spending  the  remainder  of  his  days  in  religious  meditation,  and  pre- 
paration for  that  event  of  which  his  increasing  infirmities  admon- 
ished him.  He  even  secretly  cherished  the  wish  of  resigning  his 
charge  in  Edinburgh,  and  retiring  to  that  privacy,  from  which  he 
had  been  drawn  at  the  commencement  of  the  Scottish  reformation. 

Uut  "  the  way  of  man  is  not  in  himself."  Providence  had  allotted 
to  him  further  trials  of  a  public  nature  ;  he  was  yet  to  see  the  secu- 
rity of  the  reformed  religion  endangered,  and  the  country  involved 
in  another  civil  war,  even  more  distressing  than  the  former,  inas- 
much as  the  principal  persons  on  each  side  were  professed  protest- 
ants.  From  the  time  that  the  government  was  transferred  from 
Mary  to  her  infant  son,  and  the  earl  of  Moray  appointed  to  the 
regency,  a  number  of  the  nobility,  with  the  house  of  Hamilton  at 
their  head,  had  stood  aloof,  and,  from  other  motives  as  much  as 
attachment  to  the  queen,  had  refused  to  acknowledge  the  authority 
of  the  regent.  Upon  the  escape  of  the  queen  from  imprisonment, 
they  collected  to  her  standard,  and  avowed  their  design  to  restore 
her  to  the  full  exercise  of  the  royal  authority.  In  consequence  of  the 
defeat  at  Langside,  Mary  was  driven  from  the  kingdom,  and  her 
party  broken  ;  and  the  regent,  by  his  vigorous  measures,  reduced 
the  whole  kingdom  to  a  state  of  obedience  to  the  king's  authority. 
Despairing  to  accomplish  their  object  during  his  life,  the  partisans 
of  Mary  resolved  to  cut  him  off  by  private  means. 

The  regent  was  assassinated  on  Saturday,  23d  January,  1570,  and 
the  intelligence  was  conveyed  early  next  morning  to  Edinburgh.  It 
is  impossible  to  describe  the  anguish  which  the  reformer  felt  on  this 
occasion.  A  cordial  and  intimate  friendship  had  long  subsisted 
between  them.  Of  all  the  Scottish  nobility,  he  placed  the  greatest 
confidence  in  Moray's  attachment  to  religion;  and  his  conduct  after 
his  elevation  to  the  regency,  had  served  to  heighten  the  good  opinion 
which  he  formerly  entertained  of  him.  He  looked  upon  his  death  as 
the  greatest  calamity  which  could  befall  the  nation,  and  the  forerun- 
ner of  other  evils.  When  the  shock  produced  by  the  melancholy 
tidings  had  subsided,  the  first  thought  that  rushed  into  his  mind  was 
that  he  had  himself  been  the  instrument  of  obtaining,  from  his 
clemency,  a  pardon  to  the  man  who  had  become  his  murderer, — a 
thought  which  naturally  produced  a  very  different  impression  on  him 
from  what  it  did  on  the  dying  regent. 

In  his  sermon  that  day,  he  introduced  the  subject ;  and  after  say- 
ing, that  God  in  his  great  mercy  had  raised  up  godly  rulers,  and 
took  them  away  in  his  displeasure  on  account  of  the  sins  of  a  nation, 
he  thus  poured  out  the  sorrows  of  his  heart  in  an  address  to  God. 
"  O  Lord,  in  what  misery  and  confusion  found  he  this  realm  !  To 
what  rest  and  quietness  now  by  his  labours  suddenly  he   brought  the 


JOHN  KNOX.  17q 

same,  all  estates,  but  especially  the  poor  commons,  can  witness. 
Thy  image,  O  Lord,  did  so  clearly  shine  in  that  personage,  that  the 
devil,  and  the  wicked  to  whom  he  is  prince,  could  not  abide  it ;  and 
so  to  punish  our  sins  and  our  ingratitude  (who  did  not  rightly  esteem 
so  precious  a  gift),  thou  hast  permitted  him  to  fall,  to  our  great  grief 
in  the  hands  of  cruel  and  traitorous  murderers.  lie  is  at  rest  O 
Lord — we  are  left  in  extreme  misery." 

Only  a  few  days  before  this,  when  the  murder  was  fully  concerted, 
the  abbot  of  Kilwinning  applied  to  Knox  to  intercede  with  the  regent 
in  behalf  of  his  kinsmen,  who  were  confined  for  practising  against 
the  government.  He  signified  his  readiness  to  do  all  in  his  power 
for  the  relief  of  any  of  that  family  who  were  willing  to  own  the 
authority  of  the  king  and  regent ;  but  he  entreated  him  not  to  abuse 
him,  by  employing  his  services,  if  any  mischief  were  intended, 
against  the  regent ;  for,  "  I  protest,"  said  he,  "  before  God,  who  is 
the  only  witness  now  betwixt  us,  that  if  there  be  anything  attempt- 
ed, by  any  of  that  surname,  against  the  person  of  that  man,  in  that 
case,  I  discharge  myself  to  you  and  them  for  ever."  After  the 
assassination,  the  abbot  sent  to  desire  another  interview  ;  but  Knox 
refused  to  see  him,  and  desired  the  messenger  to  say  to  him,  "  I 
have  not  now  the  regent  to  make  suit  unto  for  the  Hamiltons." 

At  this  time  there  was  handed  about  a  fabricated  account  of 
a  pretended  conference  held  by  the  late  regent  with  lord  Lindsav, 
Wishart  of  Pittarrow,  the  tutor  of  Pitcur,  James  Macgill,  and 
Knox,  in  which  they  were  represented  as  advising  him  to  set  aside 
the  young  king,  and  place  the  crown  on  his  own  head.  The  modes 
of  expression  peculiar  to  each  of  the  persons  were  carefully  imitated 
in  the  speeches  put  into  their  mouths,  to  give  it  the  greater  air  of 
credibility.  The  design  of  it  evidently  was  to  lessen  the  odium  of 
the  murder,  and  the  veneration  of  the  people  for  the  memory  of 
Moray  ;  but  it  was  universally  regarded  as  an  impudent  and  gross 
forgery.  Its  fabricator  was  Thomas  Maitland,  a  young  man  of 
talents,  but  corrupted  by  his  brother  the  secretary,  who  before  this 
had  engaged  himself  to  the  queen's  party,  and  was  suspected  of 
having  a  deep  hand  in  the  plot  for  cutting  off  the  regent, 

On  the  day  on  which  the  weekly  conference  was  held  in 
Edinburgh,  the  same  person  slipped  into  the  pulpit  a  schedule, 
containing  words  to  this  effect :  "  Take  up  now  the  man  whom  you 
accounted  another  God,  and  consider  the  end  to  which  his  ambition 
hath  brought  him."  Knox,  whose  turn  it  was  to  preach  that  day, 
took  up  the  paper  on  entering  the  pulpit,  supposing  it  to  be  a  note 
requesting  the  prayers  of  the  congregation  for  a  sick  person,  and, 
having  read  it,  laid  it  aside  without  any  apparent  emotion.  Put 
towards  the  conclusion  of  his  sermon,  having  deplored  the  loss 
which  the  church  and  commonwealth  had  recently  sustained,  and 
declared  the  account  of  the  conference,  which  had  been  circulated, 
to  be  false  and  calumnious,  he  said  that  there  -were  persons  who 
rejoiced  at  the  treasonable  murder,  and  scrupled  not  to  make  it  the 
subject  of  their  merriment ;  particularly  there  was  one  present  who 
had  thrown  in  a  writing  insulting  over  an  event  which  was  the 
cause  of  grief  to  all  good  men.     u  That  wicked  man,  whosoever  ho 


I  SO  SCOTS  WORTHIER 

be,  shall  not  go  unpunished,  and  shall  die  where  there  shall  be  none 
to  lament  him."  Maitland,  when  he  went  home,  said  to  his  sister, 
that  the  preacher  was  raving,  when  he  spake  in  such  manner  of  a 
person  who  was  unknown  to  him  ;  but  she,  understanding  that  her 
brother  had  written  the  line,  reproved  him,  saying  with  tears,  that 
none  of  that  man's  denunciations  were  wont  to  prove  idle.  Spottis- 
wood,  who  had  his  information  personally  from  the  mouth  of  that 
lady,  says,  that  Maitland  died  in  Italy,  "having  no  known  person  to 
attend  him." 

Upon  Tuesday,  the  14th  of  February,  the  regent's  corpse  was 
brought  from  the  palace  of  Holyroodhouse,  and  interred  in  the 
south  aisle  of  the  collegiate  church  of  St.  Giles.  Before  the  funeral, 
Knox  preached  a  sermon  on  these  words,  "Blessed  are  the  dead 
which  die  in  the  Lord."  Three  thousand  persons  were  dissolved  in 
tears  before  him,  while  he  described  the  regent's  virtues,  and 
bewailed  his  loss.  Buchanan  paid  his  tribute  to  the  memory  of  the 
deceased,  by  writing  the  inscription  placed  on  his  monument,  with 
that  expressive  simplicity  and  brevity  which  are  dictated  by  genuine 
grief.  A  convention  of  the  nobility  was  held  after  the  funeral,  at 
which  it  was  resolved  to  avenge  his  death  ;  but  different  opinions 
were  entertained  as  to  the  mode  of  doing  this,  and  the  commons 
complained  loudly  of  the  remissness  with  which  it  was  carried 
into  execution.  The  general  assembly,  at  their  first  meeting,  testified 
their  detestation  of  the  crime,  by  ordering  the  assassin  to  be  publicly 
excommunicated  in  all  the  chief  towns  of  the  kingdom,  and 
appointed  the  same  process  to  be  used  against  all  who  should 
afterwards  be  convicted  of  accession  to  the  conspiracy. 

During  the  sitting  of  the  convention,  Knox  received  a  number  of 
letters  from  his  acquaintances  in  England,  expressive  of  their  high 
regard  for  the  character  of  the  regent,  and  their  sorrow  at  so  grievous 
a  loss.  One  of  his  correspondents,  Dr.  Laurence  Humphrey,  urged 
him  to  write  a  memoir  of  the  deceased.  Had  he  done  this,  he 
would  no  doubt,  from  his  intimate  acquaintance  with  him,  have 
communicated  a  number  of  particulars  of  which  we  must  now  be 
content  to  remain  ignorant.  But  though  he  had  been  disposed  to 
undertake  this  task,  the  state  of  his  health  must  have  prevented  its 
execution. 

The  grief  which  he  indulged,  in  consequence  of  this  mournful 
event,  and  the  confusions  which  followed  it,  preyed  upon  his  spirits, 
and  injured  his  health.  In  the  month  of  October,  he  had  a  stroke 
of  apoplexy,  which  affected  his  speech  to  a  considerable  degree. 
Upon  this  occasion,  his  enemies  exulted,  and  circulated  the  most 
exaggerated  tales.  The  report  ran  through  England  as  well  as 
Scotland,  that  John  Knox  would  never  preach  nor  speak  more  ;  that 
his  face  was  turned  into  his  neck  ;  that  he  was  become  the  most 
deformed  creature  ever  seen ;  that  he  was  actually  dead ; — a  most 
unequivocal  expression  of  the  high  consideration  in  which  he  was 
held,  which  our  reformer  received  in  common  with  some  other  great 
men  of  his  age. 

Those  who  flattered  themselves  that  the  reformer's  disorder  was 
mortal  were  disappointed  ;  for  he  convalesced,  recovered  the  use  of 


JOHN   KNOX. 


181 


his  speech,  and  was  able,  in  the  course  of  a  few  days,  to  resume 
preaching,  at  least  on  Sabbath  days.  He  never  recovered,  however 
from  the  debility  which  was  produced  by  the  stroke.  He  never  went 
abroad  except  on  Sabbath  days,  to  preach  in  the  forenoon.  He  had 
given  up  attendance  upon  church  courts.  He  had,  previous  to 
the  breaking  out  of  the  last  disturbances,  weaned  his  heart  from 
public  affairs.  But  whenever  he  saw  the  welfare  of  the  church  and 
commonwealth  threatened,  he  forgot  his  resolutions  and  his  infirm- 
ities, and  entered  into  the  cause  with  all  the  keenness  of  his  more 
vigorous  clays.  Whether  the  public  proceedings  of  the  nation,  or 
his  own  conduct,  were  arraigned  and  condemned,  whether  the 
attacks  upon  them  were  open  or  clandestine,  he  stood  prepared  to 
repel  them,  and  convinced  the  adversaries,  that  they  could  not 
accomplish  their  designs  without  opposition,  as  long  as  he  was  able 
to  move  a  tongue. 

His  situation  in  Edinburgh  became  very  critical  in  April,  1571, 
when  Grange  received  the  Hamiltons,  with  their  forces,  into  the 
castle.  Their  inveteracy  against  him  was  so  great,  that  his  friends 
were  obliged  to  watch  his  house  during  the  night.  They  wished  to 
form  a  guard  for  his  protection  when  he  went  abroad  ;  but  the 
governor  of  the  castle  forbade  this,  as  implying  a  suspicion  of  him, 
and  offered  to  send  Melvill,  one  of  his  officers,  to  conduct  him  to  and 
from  church.  "  He  wold  gif  the  woulf  the  wedder  to  keip,"  says 
Bannatyne.  The  duke  and  his  friends  refused  to  pledge  their  word 
for  his  safety,  because  "  there  were  many  rascals  among  them  who 
loved  him  not."  Intimations  were  often  given  him  of  threatenings 
against  his  life  ;  and  one  evening,  as  he  sat  in  his  house,  a  musket- 
ball' was  fired  in  at  the  window,  and  lodged  in  the  roof  of  the  room. 
It  happened  that  he  sat  at  the  time  in  a  different  part  of  the  room 
from  his  usual,  otherwise  the  ball,  from  the  direction  which  it  took, 
must  have  struck  him.  Upon  this  a  number  of  the  inhabitants, 
along  with  his  colleague,  repaired  to  him,  and  renewed  a  request 
which  they  had  formerly  made,  that  he  would  remove  from  Edin- 
burgh, to  a  place  where  his  life  would  be  in  greater  safety,  until 
such  time  as  the  queen's  party  should  evacuate  the  town.  But  he 
refused  to  yield  to  them,  apprehending  that  his  enemies  wished  to 
intimidate  him  into  flight,  that  they  might  carry  on  their  designs 
more  quietly,  and  then  accuse  him  of  cowardice.  Being  unable  to 
persuade  him  by  any  other  means,  the}7  at  last  had  recourse  to  an 
argument  which  prevailed.  They  told  him  that  they  were  deter- 
mined to  defend  him,  if  attacked,  at  the  peril  of  their  lives,  and  if 
blood  was  shed  in  the  quarrel,  which  was  highly  probable,  they 
would  leave  it  on  his  head.  Upon  this,  he  consented,  u  sore  against 
his  will,"  to  leave  that  city. 

On  the  fifth  of  May  he  left  Edinburgh,  and  crossing  the  frith  at 
Leith,  travelled  by  short  stages  to  St.  Andrew's,  which  he  had  chosen 
as  the  place  of  his  retreat.  Alexander  Gordon,  bishop  of  Galloway, 
occupied  his  pulpit.  He  preached  and  prayed  in  a  manner  more 
acceptable  to'the  queen's  party  than  his  predecessor,  but  little  to  the 
satisfaction  of  the  people,  who  despised  him  on  account  of  his  weak- 
ness, and  disliked  him  for  supplanting  their  favourite  pastor.     The 


1S2  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

church  of  Edinburgh  was  for  a  time  dissolved.  A  great  number  of 
its  most  respectable  members  either  were  driven  from  the  city,  or 
left  it  through  dissatisfaction.  The  celebration  of  the  Lord's  Supper 
was  suspended.  During  a  whole  week  "there  was  neither  preach- 
ing nor  prayer,  neither  was  there  any  sound  of  bell  heard  in  all  the 
town,  except  the  ringing  of  the  cannon." 

Amidst  the  extreme  hostility  by  which  both  parties  were  inflamed, 
and  which  produced  several  disgraceful  acts  of  mutual  retaliation, 
many  proofs  were  exhibited  of  the  personal  antipathy  which  the 
queen's  adherents  bore  to  the  reformer.  An  inhabitant  of  Leith  was 
assaulted,  and  his  body  mutilated,  because  he  was  of  the  same  name 
with  him.  A  servant  of  Juhn  Craig  being  met  one  day  by  a  recon- 
noitering  party,  and  asked  who  was  his  master,  answered  in  his 
trepidation,  Mr.  Knox,  upon  which  he  was  seized  ;  and,  although  he 
immediately  corrected  his  mistake,  they  desired  him  to  "  hold  at 
his  first  master,"  and  haled  him  to  prison.  Having  fortified  St. 
Giles's  steeple,  to  overawe  the  town,  the  soldiers  baptized  one  of  the 
cannons  by  the  name  of  Knox,  which  they  were  so  fond  of  firing, 
that  it  burst,  killed  two  of  the  party,  and  wounded  others.  They 
circulated  the  most  ridiculous  tales  respecting  his  conduct  at  St. 
Andrew's.  John  Law,  the  letter-carrier  of  St.  Andrew's,  being  in  the 
castle  of  Edinburgh,  "the  ladie  Home  and  utheris  wald  neidis  thraip 
in  his  lace,  that"  John  Knox  "  was  banist  the  said  toune,  becaus  that 
in  the  yarde  he  had  reasit  sum  Sanctis,  amongis  whome  thair  came  up 
the  devill  with  homis,  which  when  his  servant  Bichart  sawe,  [he] 
ran  woode,  and  so  died." 

Although  he  was  free  from  personal  clanger,  Knox  did  not  find  St. 
Andrew's  that  peaceful  retreat  which  he  had  expected.  The  Kircal- 
dies  and  Balfours  were  a  considerable  party  in  that  quarter,  and  the 
Hamiltons  had  their  friends  both  in  the  university  and  among  the 
ministry.  These  were  thorns  in  the  reformer's  side,  and  made  his 
situation  uneasy,  as  long  as  he  resided  among  them.  Having  left 
Edinburgh,  because  he  could  not  be  permitted  to  discharge  his  con- 
science, in  testifying  against  the  designs  of  persons  whom  he  re- 
garded as  conspirators  against  the  legal  government  of  the  country, 
and  the  security  of  the  reformed  religion,  it  was  not  to  be  expected 
that  lie  would  preserve  silence  on  this  subject  at  St.  Andrew's.  In 
the  discourses  which  he  preached  on  the  eleventh  chapter  of  Daniel's 
prophecy,  he  frequently  took  occasion  to  advert  to  the  transactions 
of  his  own  time,  and  to  inveigh  against  the  murder  of  the  late  king 
andthe  regent.  This  was  very  grating  to  the  ears  of  the  opposite 
faction,  particularly  to  Robert  and  Archibald  Hamilton,  the  former  a 
minister  of  the  city,  and  the  latter  a  professor  in  one  of  the  colleges. 
Displeased  with  his  censures  of  his  relations,  and  aware  of  his  popu- 
larity in  the  pulpit,  Robert  Hamilton  circulated  in  private,  that  it 
did  not  become  Knox  to  exclaim  so  loudly  against  murderers;  for 
he  had  seen  his  subscription,  along  with  that  of  the  earl  of  Moray, 
to  a  bond  for  assassinating  Darnley.  But  when  the  reformer  replied 
to  him,  Hamilton  denied  that  he  had  ever  spoken  such  words. 

During  his  stay  at  St.  Andrew's,  he  published  a  vindication  of  the 
reformed  religion,  in  answer  to  a  letter  written  by  a  Scots  Jesuit, 


JOHN   KNOX. 


183 


called  Tyrie.  The  argumentative  part  of  the  work  was  finished  by 
him  in  15G8  ;  but  he  sent  it  abroad  at  this  time,  with  additions,  as  a 
farewell  address  to  the  world,  and  a  dying  testimony  to  the  truth 
which  he  had  so  long  taught  and  defended.  Along  with  it  he  pub- 
lished one  of  his  religious  letters  to  his  mother-in-law,  Mrs.  Bowes  ; 
and,  in  an  advertisement  prefixed  to  this,  he  informs  us  that  she  had 
lately  departed  this  life,  and  that  he  could  not  allow  the  opportunity 
to  slip  of  acquainting  the  public,  by  means  of  this  letter,  with  the 
principal  cause  of  that  intimate  Christian  friendship  which  had  so 
long  subsisted  between  them. 

The  ardent  desire  which  he  felt  to  be  released,  by  death,  from  the 
troubles  of  the  present  life,  appears  in  all  that  he  wrote  about  this 
time.  "  Wearie  of  the  world,"  and  "  thristing  to  depart,"  are  ex- 
pressions frequently  used  by  him.  The  dedication  of  the  above 
work  is  thus  inscribed  :  "  John  Knox,  the  servant  of  Jesus  Christ, 
now  wearie  of  the  world,  and  daylie  luiking  for  the  resolution  of  this 
my  earthly  tabernakle,  to  the  faithful  that  God  of  his  mercie  shall 
appoint  to  fight  after  me."  In  the  conclusion  of  it  he  says,  "  Call  for 
me,  deir  brethren,  that  God,  in  his  mercie,  will  pleas  to  put  end  to 
my  long  and  paneful  battell.  For  now  being  unable  to  fight,  as  God 
sumtymes  gave  strength,  I  thrist  an  end,  befoir  I  be  more 
troublesum  to  the  faithful].  And  yet,  Lord,  let  my  desyre  be 
moderat  be  thy  Holy  Spirit."  In  a  prayer  subjoined  to  the  dedica- 
tion are  these  words,  "  To  thee,  O  Lord,  I  commend  my  spirit.  For 
I  thrist  to  be  resolved  from  this  body  of  sin,  and  am  assured  that  I 
shall  rise  agane  in  glorie ;  howsoever  it  be  that  the  wicked  for  a  tyme 
sail  trode  me  and  others  thy  servandes  under  their  feit.  Be  merciful, 
O  Lord,  unto  the  kirk  within  this  real  me ;  continew  with  it  the  light 
of  thy  evangell ;  augment  the  number  of  true  preicheris.  And  let 
thy  mercyfull  providence  hike  upon  my  desolate  bedfellow,  the  fruit 
of  hir  bosome,  and  my  two  deir  children,  Nathaneal  and  Eleazer. 
Now,  Lord,  put  end  to  my  miserie."  The  advertisement  "  to  the 
Faithful  Header,"  dated  from  St.  Andrew's,  12th  July,  1572,  con- 
cludes in  the  following  manner  :  "  I  hartly  salute  and  take  my  good 
night  of  all  the  faithful  in  both  realmes,  earnestly  desyring  the 
assistance  of  their  prayers,  that,  without  any  notable  slander  to  the 
evangel  of  Jesus  Christ,  I  may  end  my  battell.  For  as  the  world  is 
wearie  of  me,  so  am  I  of  it." 

The  general  assembly  being  appointed  to  meet  at  Perth  on  the  6th 
August,  he  took  his  leave  of  them  in  a  letter,  along  with  which  he 
transmitted  certain  articles  and  questions  which  he  recommended  to 
their  consideration.  The  assembly  returned  him  an  answer,  declar- 
ing their  approbation  of  his  propositions,  and  their  earnest  desires 
for  his  preservation  and  comfort.  The  last  piece  of  public  service 
which  he  performed  at  their  request,  was  examining  and  approving 
a  sermon  which  had  been  lately  preached  by  David  Ferguson, 
minister  of  Dunfermline.  His  subscription  to  this  sermon,  like 
everything  which  proceeded  from  his  mouth  or  pen,  about  this  time, 
is  uncommonly  striking.  "John  Knox,  with  my  dead  hand,  hut 
glaid  heart,  praising  God,  that  of  his  mercy  he  levis  such  light  to  his 
kirk  in  this  desolatioun." 


lgi  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

From  the  rapid  decline  of  our  reformer's  health,  in  spring  1572, 
there  was  every  appearance  of  his  ending  his  days  in  St.  Andrew's ; 
but  it  pleased  God  that  lie  should  be  restored  once  more  to  his  flock, 
and  allowed  to  die  peaceably  in  his  own  bed.  In  consequence  of  a  ces- 
sation of  arms  agreed  to,  in  the  end  of  July,  between  the  regent  and 
the  adherents  of  the  queen,  the  city  of  Edinburgh  was  abandoned 
by  the  forces  of  the  latter,  and  secured  from  the  annoyance  of  the 
garriBon  in  the  castle.  As  soon  as  the  banished  citizens  returned  to 
their  houses,  they  sent  a  deputation  to  St.  Andrew's,  with  a  letter  to 
their  minister,  expressive  of  their  earnest  desire  "that  once  again  his 
voice  might  be  heard  among  them,"  and  intreating  him  immediately 
to  come  to  Edinburgh,  if  his  health  would  at  all  permit  him.  After 
reading  the  letter,  and  conversing  with  the  commissioners,  he  agreed 
to  return,  but  under  the  express  condition,  that  he  should  not  be 
urged  to  observe  silence  respecting  the  conduct  of  those  who  held 
the  castle  against  the  regent ;  "  whose  treasonable  and  tyrannical 
deeds,"  he  said,  "  he  would  cry  out  against,  as  long  as  he  was  able 
to  speak."  He  therefore  desired  them  to  acquaint  their  constituents 
with  this,  lest  they  should  afterwards  repent  of  his  austerity,  and  be 
apprehensive  of  ill  treatment  on  his  account.  This  he  repeated  upon 
his  return  to  Edinburgh,  before  he  entered  the  pulpit.  Both  the 
commissi  oners  and  the  rest  of  their  brethren  assured  him,  that  they 
did  not  mean  to  put  a  bridle  in  his  mouth  ;  but  wished  him  to  dis- 
charge his  duty  as  he  had  been  accustomed  to  do. 

On  the  17th  of  August,  to  the  great  joy  of  the  queen's  faction, 
whom  he  had  overawed  during  his  residence  among  them,  the  re- 
former left  St.  Andrew's,  along  with  his  family,  and  was  accompa- 
nied on  his  journey  by  a  number  of  his  brethren  and  acquaintances. 
Being  obliged  by  his  weakness  to  travel  slowly,  it  was  the  23d  of 
the  month  before  he  reached  Leith,  from  which,  after  resting  a  day 
or  two,  he  came  to  Edinburgh.  The  inhabitants  enjoyed  the  satis- 
faction of  seeing  him  again  in  his  own  pulpit,  on  the  first  Sabbath 
after  he  arrived  ;  but  his  voice  was  now  so  enfeebled  that  he  could 
not  be  heard  by  the  half  of  the  congregation.  Nobody  was  more 
sensible  of  this  than  himself.  He  therefore  requested  his  session  to 
provide  a  smaller  house  in  which  he  could  be  heard,  if  it  were  only 
by  a  hundred  persons;  for  his  voice,  even  in  its  best  time,  was  not 
able  to  extend  over  the  multitude  which  assembled  in  the  large 
church,  much  less  now  when  he  was  so  debilitated.  This  was  done 
accordingly. 

During  his  absence,  a  coolness  had  taken  place  between  his  col- 
league and  the  parish,  who  found  fault  with  him  for  temporizing 
dining  the  time  that  the  queen's  faction  retained  possession  of  the 
city,  in  consequence  of  this,  they  had  separated,  and  Craig  was 
gone  to  another  part  of  the  country.  Knox  perceiving  that  he  would 
not  long  he  able  to  preach,  and  that  he  was  already  incapacitated 
for  all  other  ministerial  duties,  was  extremely  solicitous  to  have  one 
settled  as  his  colleague,  that  the  congregation  might  not  be  left  "as 
sheep  without  a  shepherd,"  when  he  was  called  away.  The  last 
general  assembly  having  granted  to  the  church  of  Edinburgh  liberty 
to  choose   any  minister  within   the  kingdom,  those  of  Dundee  ancf 


JOHN    KNOX.  185 

Perth  excepted,  tl>ey  now  unanimously  fixed  upon  James  Lawson, 
sub-principal  of  the  college  of  Aberdeen.  This  choice  was  very 
agreeable  to  the  reformer,  who,  in  a  letter  sent  along  with  those  of 
the  superintendent  and  session,  urged  him  to  comply  with  the  call 
without  delay.  Though  this  letter  has  already  appeared  in  print, 
yet  as  it  is  not  long,  and  is  very  descriptive  of  his  frame  of  mind  at 
this  interesting  period,  we  shall  lay  it,  before  the  reader. 

"All  worldlie  strenth,  yea  ewin  in  thingis  spirituall,  decayes  ;  and 
yit  sail  never  the  work  of  God  decay.  Belovit  brother,  seeing  that 
God  of  his  mercie,  far  above  my  expectatione,  has  callit  me  ones 
agane  to  Edinburgh,  and  yet  that  I  feill  nature  so  decayed,  and  day- 
lie  to  decay,  that  I  hike  not  for  a  long  continewance  of  my  battel], 
I  wald  gladlie  anes  discharge  my  conscience  into  your  bosome,  and 
into  the  bosome  of  vtheris,  in  whome  I  think  the  feare  of  God  re- 
inanes.  Gif  I  had  had  the  habilitie  of  bodie,  I  suld  not  have  put 
you  to  the  pane  to  the  whilk  I  now  requyre  you,  that  is,  anes  to  visit 
me,  that  we  may  conferre  together  of  heawinlie  things  ;  for  into 
earth  there  is  no  stabilitie,  except  the  kirk  of  Jesus  Christ,  ever 
iightand  vnder  the  crosse,  to  whose  myghtie  protectione  I  hartlie 
comit  yeu.  Of  Edinburgh  the  vii  of  September,  1572.  Jhoxe 
Knox." 

In  a  postscript  these  expressive  words  were  added,  "  Haste,  bro- 
ther, lest  you  come  too  late." 

In  the  beginning  of  September,  intelligence  came  to  Edinburgh,  that 
the  admiral  of  France,  the  brave,  the  generous,  the  pious  Coligni  was 
murdered  in  the  city  of  Paris  by  the  orders  of  Charles  IX.  Imme- 
diately on  the  back  of  this,  tidings  arrived  of  that  most  detestable  and 
unparalleled  scene  of  barbarity  and  treachery,  the  general  massacre 
of  the  protestants  throughout  that  kingdom.  Post  after  post  brought 
fresh  accounts  of  the  most  shocking  and  unheard-of  cruelties.  Hired 
cut-throats,  and  fanatical  cannibals  marched  from  city  to  city,  par- 
aded the  streets,  and  entered  into  the  houses  of  those  that  were 
marked  out  for  destruction.  Xo  reverence  was  shown  to  the  hoary 
head,  no  respect  to  rank  or  talents,  no  pity  to  tender  age  or  sex. 
Aged  matrons,  women  upon  the  point  of  their  delivery,  and  children, 
were  trodden  under  the  feet  of  the  assassins,  or  dragged  with  hooks 
into  the  rivers ;  others,  after  being  throwi  into  prison,  were  instantly 
brought  out,  and  butchered  in  cold  blood.  Seventy  thousand  persons 
were  murdered  in  one  week.  For  several  days  the  streets  of  Paris 
literally  ran  with  blood.  The  savage  monarch,  standing  at  the  win- 
dows of  the  palace,  with  his  courtiers,  glutted  his  eyes  with  the  in- 
human spectacle,  and  amused  himself  with  firing  upon  the  miserable 
fugitives  who  sought  shelter  at  his  merciless  gates. 

The  intelligence  of  this  massacre  (for  which  a  solemn  thanksgiving 
was  offered  up  at  Rome  by  order  of  the  pope,)  produced  the  same 
horror  and  consternation  in  Scotland  as  in  every  other  protestant 
country.  It  inflicted  a  deep  wound  on  the  exhausted  spirit  of  Knox. 
Besides  the  blow  struck  at  the  whole  reformed  bodies,  he  had  to 
lament  the  loss  of  many  individuals  eminent  for  piety,  learning,  and 
rank,  whom  he  numbered  among  his  acquaintances,  being  conveyed 
to  the  pulpit,  and  summoning  up  the  remainder  of  his  strength,  ho 


!SG  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

thundered  the  vengeance  of  Heaven  against  that  cruel  murderer  and 
false  traitor,  the  king  of  France,  and  desired  Le  Croc,  the  French. 
ambassador,  to  tell  Ins  master,  that  sentence  was  pronounced  against 
him  in  Scotland,  that  the  divine  vengeance  would  never  depart  from 
him,  nor  from  his  house,  if  repentence  did  not  ensue  ;  but  his  name 
would  remain  an  execration  to  posterity,  and  none  proceeding  from 
his  loins  would  enjoy  that  kingdom  in  peace.  The  ambassador  coin- 
plained  of  the  indignity  offered  to  his  master,  and  required  the  re- 
gent to  silence  the  preacher;  but  this  was  refused,  upon  which  he 
left  Scotland. 

Lawson,  having  received  the  letters  of  invitation,  hastened  to 
Edinburgh,  and  had  the  satisfaction  to  find  that  Knox  was  still  able 
to  receive  him.  Having  preached  to  the  people  he  gave  universal 
satisfaction.  On  the  following  Sabbath,  21st  September,  Knox 
began  to  preach  in  the  Tolbooth  church,  which  was  now  fitted  up  for 
him.  lie  chose  for  the  subject  of  his  discourses,  the  account  of  our 
Saviour's  crucifixion,  as  recorded  in  the  27th  chapter  of  the  gospel 
according  to  Matthew,  a  theme  upon  which  he  often  expressed  a 
wish  to  close  his  ministry.     On  Sabbath,  the  9th  of  November,  he 

Presided  in  the  installation  of  Lawson  as  his  colleague  and  successor, 
he  sermon  was  preached  by  him  in  the  Tolbooth  church  ;  after  it 
was  ended,  he  removed,  with  the  audience,  to  the  large  church, 
where  he  went  through  the  accustomed  form  of  admission,  by  pro- 
posing the  questions  to  the  minister  and  people,  addressing  an  exhor- 
tation to  both,  and  praying  for  the  divine  blessing  upon  the  connexion. 
Upon  no  former  occasion  did  he  deliver  himself  more  to  the  satis- 
faction of  those  who  were  able  to  hear  him.  After  declaring  the 
mutual  duties  of  pastor  and  congregation,  he  protested  in  the  presence 
of  Him  before  whom  he  expected  soon  to  appear,  that  he  had  walked 
among  them  with  a  good  conscience,  preaching  the  gospel  of  Jesus 
Christ  in  all  sincerity,  not  studying  to  please  men  nor  to  gratify  his 
own  affections ;  he  praised  God,  that  he  had  been  pleased  to  give 
them  a  pastor  in  his  room,  when  he  was  now  unable  to  teach  ;  he 
fervently  prayed,  that  any  gifts  which  had  been  conferred  on  himself 
might  be  augmented  a  thousand  fold  to  his  successor ;  and  in  a  most 
serious  and  impressive  manner,  he  exhorted  and  charged  all  present 
to  adhere  steadfastly  to  the  faith  which  they  had  professed.  Havino- 
finished  the  service,  and  pronounced  the  blessing  with  a  cheerful 
but  exhausted  voice,  he  came  down  from  the  pulpit,  and,  leaning 
upon  his  staff,  crept  down  the  street,  which  was  lined  with  the 
audience,  who,  as  if  anxious  to  take  the  last  sight  of  their  beloved 
pastor,  followed  him  until  he  entered  his  house  He  never  again 
came  out  alive. 

On  the  Tuesday  following  (Nov.  11),  he  was  seized  with  a  severe 
cough,  which,  together  with  the  deimxion,  greatly  affected  his 
breathing.  When  his  friends,  anxious  to  prolong  his  life,  proposed 
to  call  in  the  assistance  of  physicians,  he  readily  acquiesced,  saying, 
that  he  would  not  neglect  the  ordinary  means  of  health,  although  he 
was  persuaded  that  the  Lord  would  soon  put  an  end  to  all  his  troubles. 
It  was  his  ordinary  practice  to  read  every  day  some  chapters  of  the 
Old  and  New  Testaments ;  to  which  he  added  a  certain  number  of 


JOHN   KNOX. 


187 


the  Psalms  of  David,  the  whole  of  which  he  perused  regularly  once 
a-month.  On  Thursday  the  13th,  he  sickened,  and  was  obliged  to 
desist  from  his  course  of  reading,  but  he  gave  directions  to  his  wife, 
and  to  his  secretary,  Richard  Bannatyne,  that  one  of  them  Bhould 
every  day  read  to  him,  with  a  distinct  voice,  the  17th  chapter  of  the 
Gospel  according  to  John,  the  53d  of  Isaiah,  and  a  chapter  of  the 
Epistle  to  the  Ephesians.  This  was  punctually  complied  with  during 
the  whole  time  of  his  sickness;  so  that  scarcely  an  hour  passed  in 
which  some  part  of  the  Scripture  was  not  read.  Besides  the  above 
passages,  he  at  different  times  fixed  on  certain  Psalms,  and  some  of 
Calvin's  French  sermons  on  the  Ephesians.  Sometimes  as  they  were 
reading  these  sermons,  thinking  him  to  be  asleep,  they  asked  him  if 
he  heard,  to  which  he  answered,  "  I  hear  (I  praise  God),  and  under- 
stand far  better,"  which  words  he  uttered  for  the  last  time,  about 
four  hours  before  his  death. 

The  same  day  on  which  he  sickened,  he  desired  his  wife  to 
discharge  the  servants'  wages ;  and  next  day  wishing  to  pay  one  of 
his  men-servants  himself,  he  gave  him  twenty  shillings  above  his  fee, 
adding,  u  Thou  wilt  never  receive  more  of  me  in  this  life."  To  all 
his  servants  he  gave  suitable  exhortations  to  walk  in  the  fear  of  God, 
and  as  became  Christians  who  had  been  educated  in  his  family. 

On  Friday  the  11th,  he  rose  from  bed  sooner  than  his  usual  hour; 
and,  thinking  that  it  was  the  Sabbath,  said  that  he  meant  to  go  to 
church,  and  preach  on  the  resurrection  of  Christ,  upon  which  he  had 
meditated  through  the  whole  night.  This  was  the  subject  upon 
which  he  should  have  preached  in  his  ordinary  course.  But  he  was 
so  weak,  that  he  needed  to  be  supported  from  his  bed-side,  by  two 
men,  and  it  was  with  great  difficulty  that  he  could  sit  on  a  chair. 

Next  day  at  noon,  John  Durie,  and  Archibald  Steward,  two  of  his 
intimate  acquaintances,  came  into  his  room,  not  knowing  that  he  was 
so  sick.  He  rose,  however,  on  their  account ;  and  having  prevailed 
on  them  to  stay  dinner,  he  came  to  the  table,  which  was  the  last 
time  that  he  ever  sat  at  it.  He  ordered  a  hogshead  of  wine  which 
was  in  his  cellar  to  be  pierced :  and,  with  a  hilarity  which  he 
delighted  to  indulge  among  his  friends,  desired  Archibald  Steward 
to  send  for  some  of  it  as  long  as  it  lasted,  for  he  would  not  tarry 
until  it  wras  all  drunk. 

On  Sabbath  he  kept  his  bed,  and  mistaking  it  for  the  first  day  of 
the  fast  appointed  on  account  of  the  French  massacre,  refused  to 
take  any  dinner.  Fairley  of  Braid,  who  was  present,  informed  him 
that  the  fast  did  not  commence  until  the  following  Sabbath,  and 
sitting  down,  and  dining  before  his  bed,  prevailed  on  him  to  take  a 
little  food. 

He  was  very  anxious  to  meet  once  more  with  the  session  of  his 
church,  to  leave  them  his  dying  charge,  and  bid  them  a  last  fore- 
well.  In  compliance  with  this  wish,  his  colleague,  the  ciders,  and 
deacons,  with  David  Lindsay,  one  of  the  ministers  of  Leith,  assem- 
bled in  his  room  on  Monday,  the  17th,  when  he  addressed  them  in 
the  following  words,  which  made  a  deep  and  lasting  impression  on 
the  minds  of  all.  "  The  day  now  approaches  and  is  before  the  door, 
for  which  I  have  frequently  and  vehemently  thirsted,  when  I  shall 


188 


SCOTS   WORTHIES. 


but  the  true  and  solid  doctrine  of  the  gospel  of  the  Son  of  God,  and 
have  had  it  for  my  only  object  to  instruct  the  ignorant,  to  confirm 
the  faithful,  to  comfort  the  weak,  the  fearful,  and  the  distressed,  by 
the  promises  of  grace,  and  to  fight  against  the  proud  and  rebellious, 
by  the  divine  threatenings.  I  know  that  many  have  frequently  and 
loudly  complained,  and  do  yet  complain,  of  my  too  great  severity  ; 
but  God  knows  that  my  mind  was  always  void  of  hatred  to  the  per- 
sons of  those  against  whom  I  thundered  the  severest  judgments.  I 
cannot  deny  but  that  I  felt  the  greatest  abhorrence  at  the  sins  in 
which  they  indulged,  but  I  still  kept  this  one  thing  in  view,  that  if 
possible  I 'might  "gain  them  to  the  Lord.  What  influenced  me  to 
utter  whatever  the  Lord  put  into  my  mouth  so  boldly,  without 
respect  of  persons,  was  a  reverential  fear  of  my  God,  who  called,  and 
of  his  grace  appointed  me  to  be  a  steward  of  divine  mysteries,  and  a 
belief  that  he  will  demand  an  account  of  my  discharge  of  the  trust 
committed  unto  me,  when  I  shall  stand  before  his  tribunal.  I 
profess,  therefore,  before  God,  and  before  his  holy  angels,  that  I 
never  made  merchandise  of  the  sacred  word  of  God,  never  studied  to 
please  men,  never  indulged  my  own  private  passions  or  those  of 
others,  but  faithfully  distributed  the  talent  intrusted  to  me,  for  the 
edification  of  the  church  over  which  I  watched.  Whatever  obloquy 
wicked  men  may  cast  on  me  respecting  this  point,  I  rejoice  in  the 
testimony  of  a  good  conscience.  In  the  mean  time,  my  dearest 
brethren,  do  you  persevere  in  the  eternal  truth  of  the  gospel ;  wait 
diligently  on  the  flock  over  which  the  Lord  hath  set  you,  and  which 
he  redeemed  with  the  blood  of  his  only  begotten  Son.  And  thou, 
my  brother  Lawson,  fight  the  good  fight,  and  do  the  work  of  the 
Lord  joyfully  and  resolutely.  The  Lord  from  on  high  bless  you,  and 
the  whole  church  of  Edinburgh,  against  whom,  as  long  as  they 
persevere  in  the  word  of  truth  which  they  have  heard  of  me,  the 
gates  of  hell  shall  not  prevail."  Having  warned  them  against  coun- 
tenancing those  who  disowned  the  king's  authority,  and  made  some 
observations  on  a  complaint  which  Maitland  had  lodged  against  him 
before  the  session,  he  was  so  exhausted  that  he  was  obliged  to  desist 
from  speaking.  Those  who  were  present  were  filled  with  both  joy 
and  grief  by  this  affecting  address.  After  reminding  him  of  the 
warfare  which  he  had  endured,  and  the  triumph  which  awaited  him, 
and  joining  in  prayer,  they  took  their  leave  of  him  in  tears. 

When  they  were  going  out,  he  desired  his  colleague  and  Lindsay 
to  remain  behind,  to  whom  he  said  :  "There  is  one  thing  that  greatly 
grieves  me.  You  have  been  witnesses  of  the  former  courage  and 
constancy  of  Grange  in  the  cause  of  God  ;  but  now,  alas  !  into  what 
a  gulf  has  he  precipitated  himself?  I  entreat  you  not  to  refuse  to 
go,  and  tell  him  from  me,  that  John  Knox  remains  the  same  man 
now,  when  he  is  going  to  die,  that  ever  he  knew  him  when  able  in 
body,  and  wills  him  to  consider  what  he  was,  and  the  estate  in  which 
he  now  stands,  which  is  a  great  part  of  his  trouble.  Neither  the 
craggy  rock  in  which  he  miserably  confides,  nor  the  carnal  prudence 


JOHN   KNOX. 


1S9 


of  that  man  (Maitland),  whom  he  esteems  a  demigod,  nor  the  assist- 
ance of  strangers,  shall  preserve  him ;  but  he  shall  be  disgracefully 
dragged  from  his  nest  to  punishment,  and  hung  on  a  gallows  before 
the  face  of  the  sun,  unless  he  speedily  amend  his  life,  and  flee  to  the 
mercy  of  God.  That  man's  soul  is  dear  to  me,  and  I  would  not  have 
it  perish,  if  I  could  save  it."  The  ministers  undertook  to  execute 
this  commission,  and  going  up  to  the  castle,  obtained  an  interview 
with  the  governor,  and  delivered  their  message.  He  at  first  exhi- 
bited some  symptoms  of  relenting,  but  having  consulted  with  Mait- 
land, he  returned  and  gave  them  a  very  unpleasant  answer.  This 
being  reported  to  Knox,  he  was  much  grieved,  and  said,  that  he  had 
been  very  earnest  in  prayer  for  that  man,  and  he  still  trusted  that  his 
soul  would  be  saved,  although  his  body  should  come  to  a  miserable 
end. 

After  this  interview  with  the  session,  he  was  much  worse ;  his 
difficulty  of  breathing  increased,  and  he  could  not  speak  without 
obvious  and  great  pain.  Yet  he  continued  still  to  receive  persons 
of  every  rank,  who  came,  in  great  numbers,  to  visit  him,  and  he 
suffered  none  to  go  away  without  exhortations,  which  he  uttered  with 
such  variety  and  suitableness  as  astonished  those  who  waited  upon 
him.  Lord  Boyd  came  in  and  said,  "  I  know,  Sir,  that  I  have 
offended  you  in  many  things,  and  am  now  come  to  crave  your 
pardon."  His  answer  was  not  heard,  as  the  attendants  retired  and 
left  them  alone.  But  his  lordship  returned  next  day,  in  company 
with  the  earl  of  Morton  and  the  laird  of  Drumlanrig.  His  conver- 
sation with  Morton  was  very  particular,  as  related  by  the  earl 
himself  before  his  death.  He  asked  him,  if  he  was  previously 
acquainted  with  the  design  to  murder  the  late  king.  Morton 
having  answered  in  the  negative,  he  said,  "  "Well,  God  has  beauti- 
fied you  with  many  benefits  which  he  has  not  given  to  every  man ; 
as  he  has  given  you  riches,  wisdom,  and  friends,  and  now  is  to 
prefer  you  to  the  government  of  the  realm.  And  therefore,  in  the 
name  of  God,  I  charge  you  to  all  these  benefits  aright,  and  better  in 
time  to  come  than  ye  have  done  in  times  bypast ;  first,  to  God's 
glory,  to  the  furtherance  of  the  evangel,  the  maintenance  of  the 
church  of  God,  and  his  ministry  ;  next  for  the  weal  of  the  king,  and 
his  realm,  and  true  subjects.  If  so  ye  shall  do,  God  shall  bless  you, 
and  honour  you ;  but  if  ye  do  it  not,  God  shall  spoil  you  of  these 
benefits,  and  your  end  shall  be  ignominy  and  shame." 

On  Thursday,  the  20th,  lord  Lindsay,  the  bishop  of  Caithness,  and 
several  gentlemen  visited  him.  He  exhorted  them  to  continue  in 
the  truth  which  they  had  heard,  for  there  was  no  other  word  of  sal- 
vation, and  besought  them  to  have  nothing  to  do  with  those  in  the 
castle.  The  earl  of  Glencairn  (who  had  often  visited  him),  came  in, 
with  lord  Buthven.  The  latter,  who  called  only  once,  said,  "  If 
there  be  anything,  Sir,  that  I  am  able  to  do  for  you,  I  pray  yon 
charge  me."  His  reply  was,  "  I  care  not  for  all  the  pleasure  and 
friendship  of  the  world." 

A  religious  lady  of  his  acquaintance  desired  him  to  praise  God  for 
what  good  he  had  done,  and  was  beginning  to  speak  in  his  commen- 
dation, when  he  interrupted  her.      "  Tongue,  tongue,  lady,  flesh  of 


190  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

itself  is  over  proud,  and  needs  no  means  to  esteem  itself."  He  put 
her  in  mind  of  what  had  been  said  to  her  long  ago,  "  Lady,  lady,  the 
black  one  has  never  trampit  on  your  fate,"  and  exhorted  her  to  lay 
aside  pride,  and  be  clothed  with  humility.  He  then  protested  as  to 
himself,  as  he  had  often  done  before,  that  he  relied  wholly  on  the 
free  mercy  of  God,  manifested  to  mankind  through  his  dear  Son 
Jesus  Christ,  whom  alone  he  embraced  for  wisdom,  and  righteous- 
ness, and  sanctification,  and  redemption.  The  rest  of  the  company 
having  taken  their  leave  of  him,  he  said  to  the  laird  of  Braid, 
"  Every  one  bids  me  good  night,  but  when  will  you  do  it?  I  have 
been  greatly  indebted  unto  you,  for  which  I  shall  never  be  able  to 
recompense  you  ;  but  I  commit  you  to  one  that  is  able  to  do  it,  to  the 
eternal  God." 

Upon  Friday,  the  21st,  he  desired  Richard  Bannatyne  to  order  his 
coffin  to  be  made.  During  that  day  he  was  much  engaged  in  medi- 
tation and  prayer.  These  words  were  often  in  his  mouth  :  "  Come, 
Lord  Jesus.  Sweet  Jesus,  into  thy  hands  I  commend  my  spirit.  Be 
merciful,  Lord,  to  thy  church  which  thou  hast  redeemed.  Give 
peace  to  this  afflicted  commonwealth.  Raise  up  faithful  pastors 
who  will  take  the  charge  of  thy  church.  Grant  us,  Lord,  the  perfect 
hatred  of  sin,  both  by  the  evidences  of  thy  wrath  and  mercy."  In 
the  midst  of  his  meditations,  he  would  often  address  those  who  stood 
by,  in  such  sentences  as  these  : — "  O  serve  the  Lord  in  fear,  and 
death  shall  not  be  terrible  to  you.  Nay,  blessed  shall  death  be  to 
those  who  have  felt  the  power  of  the  death  of  the  only  begotten  Son 
of  God." 

On  Sabbath  23d,  (which  was  the  first  day  of  the  national  fast,) 
during  the  afternoon  sermon,  he,  after  lying  a  considerable  time 
quiet,  suddenly  exclaimed,  "  If  any  be  present,  let  them  come  and 
see  the  work  of  God.  Richard  Bannatyne  thinking  that  his  death 
was  at  hand,  sent  to  the  church  for  Johnston  of  Elphingston.  "When 
they  came  to  his  bed-side,  he  burst  out  in  these  rapturous  expres- 
sions :  "  I  have  been  these  two  last  nights  in  meditation  on  the  trou- 
bled state  of  the  church  of  God,  the  spouse  of  Jesus  Christ,  de- 
spised of  the  world,  but  precious  in  the  sight  of  God.  I  have 
called  to  God  for  her,  and  have  committed  her  to  her  head,  Jesus 
Christ.  I  have  fought  against  spiritual  wickedness  in  heavenly 
things^  and  have  prevailed.  I  have  been  in  heaven,  and  have 
possession.  I  have  tasted  of  the  heavenly  joys,  where  presently  I 
am."  lie  then  repeated  the  Lord's  prayer  and  creed,  interjecting 
6ome  devout  aspiration  at  the  end  of  every  petition,  and  article. 

After  Bermon  many  came  in  to  visit  him.  Perceiving  that  he 
breathed  with  great  difficulty,  some  of  them  asked,  if  he  felt  much 
pain,  lie:  answered  that  lie  was  willing  to  lie  there  for  years,  if 
God  so  pleased,  and  if  he  continued  to  shine  upon  his  soul,  through 
Jesus  Christ.  "When  they  thought  him  asleep,  he  was  employed 
in  meditation,  and  at  intervals  exhorted  and  prayed.  "Live  in 
Christ.  Live  in  Christ,  and  then  flesh  need  not  fear  death.  Lord, 
graii t  true  pastors  to  thy  church,  that  purity  of  doctrine  may  be 
retained.  Restore  peace  again  to  this  commonwealth,  with  godly 
rulers  and  magistrates.     Once,  Lord,  make  an  end  of  my  trouble." 


JOHN   KNOX.  19! 

Stretching  his  hands  toward  heaven,  he  said,  "  Lord,  I  commend  my 
spirit,  soul,  and  body,  and  all,  into  thy  bands.  Thou  knowest, 
O  Lord,  my  troubles :  I  do  not  murmur  against  tbee.'1  His  pious 
ejaculations  were  so  numerous,  that  those  who  waited  on  him  could 
recollect  only  a  part  of  them,  for  seldom  was  be  silent,  when  they 
were  not  employed  in  reading  or  in  prayer. — During  the  course  of 
that  night  bis  trouble  greatly  increased. 

Monday,  the  24th  of  November,  was  the  last  day  that  lie  spent 
on  earth.  That  morning  he  would  not  be  persuaded  to  lie  in  bed, 
but,  though  unable  to  stand  alone,  rose  between  nine  and  ten  o'clock, 
and  put  on  his  stockings  and  doublet.  Being  conducted  to  a  chair, 
he  sat  about  half  an  hour,  and  then  went  to  bed  again.  In  the 
progress  of  the  day,  it  appeared  evident  that  his  end  drew  near. 
Besides  his  wife  and  Richard  Bannatyne,  Campbell  of  Kinzean- 
cleugh,  Johnston  of  Elphingston,  and  Dr.  Preston,  three  of  his 
most  intimate  acquaintances,  waited  by  his  bed-side.  Mr.  Campbell 
asked  him  if  he  had  any  pain.  "  It  is  no  painful  pain,  but  such 
as  shall,  I  trust,  put  an  end.  to  the  battle.  I  must  leave  the  care 
of  my  wife  and  children  to  you,"  continued  he,  "  to  whom  you 
must  be  a  husband  in  my  room."  About  three  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon, one  of  his  eyes  failed,  and  his  speech  was  considerably  affect- 
ed. He  desired  his  wife  to  read  the  15th  chapter  of  1st  Corinthians. 
"Is  not  that  a  comfortable  chapter?"  said  he,  when  it  was  finished. 
"  O,  what  sweet  and  salutary  consolation  the  Lord  hath  afforded  me 
from  that  chapter !"  A  little  after,  he  said,  "  Now,  for  the  last 
time,  I  commend  my  soul,  spirit,  and  body,"  touching  three  of  his 
fingers,  "  into  thy  hand,  O  Lord."  About  five  o'clock  he  said  to 
his  wife,  "  Go  read  where  I  cast  my  first  anchor ;"  upon  which  she 
read  the  17th  chapter  of  John's  gospel,  and  afterwards  a  part  of 
Calvin's  sermons  on  the  Ephesians. 

After  this  he  appeared  to  fall  into  a  slumber,  during  which  he 
uttered  heavy  groans.  The  attendants  looked  every  moment  for  his 
dissolution.  At  length  he  awaked  as  if  from  sleep,  ami  being 
asked  the  cause  of  his  sighing  so  deeply,  replied,  "  I  have  formerly, 
during  my  frail  life,  sustained  many  contests,  and  many  assaults 
of  Satan ;  but  at  present  that  roaring  lion  has  assailed  me  most 
furiously,  and  put  forth  all  his  strength  to  devour,  and  make  an 
end  of  me  at  once.  Often  before  has  he  placed  my  sins  before 
my  eyes,  often  tempted  me  to  despair,  often  endeavoured  to  en- 
snare me  by  the  allurements  of  the  world ;  but  with  these  wea- 
pons, broken  by  the  sword  of  the  Spirit,  the  word  of  God, 
he  could  not  prevail.  Now  he  has  attacked  me  in  another  way; 
the  cunning  serpent  has  laboured  to  persuade  me  that  I  have 
merited  heaven  and  eternal  blessedness,  by  the  faithful  discharge 
of  my  ministry.  But  blessed  be  God  who  has  enabled  me  to  beat 
down  and  quench  this  fiery  dart,  by  suggesting  to  me  such  passages 
of  scripture  as  these  :  What  hast  thou  that  thou  hast  not  received  I 
By  the  grace  of  God  I  am  what  I  am  :  Not  I,  but  the  grace  of  ( [od 
in  me.  Being  thus  vanquished,  he  left  me.  Wherefore  I  give 
thanks  to  my  God  through  Jesus  Christ,  who  was  pleased  to  give 
"ie  the  victory  ;  and  I  am   persuaded  that  the  tempter  shall  not 


192  SC0TS  WORTHIES. 

again  attack  me,  but,  within  a  short  time,  I  shall,  without  any  great 
bodily  pain,  or  anguish  of  mind,  exchange  this  mortal  and  miser- 
able life,  for  a  blessed  immortality  through  Jesus  Christ.' 

lie  then  lay  quiet  for  some  hours,  except  that  now  and  then  he 
desired  them  to  wet  his  mouth  with  a  little  weak  ale.  At  ten  o'clock 
they  read  the  evening  prayer,  which  they  had  delayed  beyond  their 
usual  hour,  from  an  apprehension  that  he  was  asleep.  After  they 
concluded,  Dr.  Preston  asked  him,  if  he  had  heard  the  prayers. 
"  Would  to  God,"  said  he,  "  that  you  and  all  men  had  heard  them  as 
I  have  heard  them  :  I  praise  God  for  that  heavenly  sound."  The 
doctor  rose  up,  and  Mr.  Campbell  sat  down  before  the  bed.  About 
eleven  o'clock,  he  gave  a  deep  sigh,  and  said,  "  Now  it  is  come." 
Richard  Bannatyne  immediately  drew  near,  and  desired  him  to 
think  upon  those  comfortable  promises  of  our  Saviour  Jesus  Christ, 
which  he  had  so  often  declared  to  others ;  and,  perceiving  that  he 
was  speechless,  requested  him  to  give  them  a  sign  that  he  heard 
them,  and  died  in  peace.  Upon  this  he  lifted  up  one  of  his  hands, 
and  sighing  twice,  expired  without  a  struggle. 

He  died  in  the  sixty-seventh  year  of  his  age,  not  so  much  op- 
pressed with  years,  as  worn  out  and  exhausted  by  his  extraordinary 
labours  of  body  and  anxieties  of  mind.  Few  men  ever  were  ex- 
posed to  more  dangers,  or  underwent  such  hardships.  From  the 
time  that  he  embraced  the  reformed  religion,  till  he  breathed  his 
last,  seldom  did  he  enjoy  a  respite  from  these,  and  he  emerged  from 
one  scene  of  difficulties,  only  to  be  involved  in  another,  and  a  more 
distressing  one.  Obliged  to  flee  from  St.  Andrew's  to  escape  the 
fury  of  cardinal  Beaton,  he  found  a  retreat  in  East  Lothian,  from 
which  he  was  hunted  by  archbishop  Hamilton.  He  lived  for 
several  }Tears  an  outlaw,  in  daily  apprehension  of  falling  a  prey  to 
those  who  eagerly  sought  his  life.  The  few  months  during  which 
he  enjoyed  protection  in  the  castle  of  St.  Andrew's  were  succeeded 
by  a  long  and  rigorous  captivity.  After  enjoying  some  repose  in 
England,  he  was  again  driven  into  banishment,  and  for  five  years 
wandered  as  an  exile  on  the  continent.  When  he  returned  to  his 
native  country,  it  was  to  engage  in  a  struggle  of  the  most  perilous 
and  arduous  kind.  After  the  reformation  was  established,  and  he 
was  settled  in  the  capital,  he  was  involved  in  a  continual  contest 
with  the  court.  When  he  had  retired  from  warfare,  and  thought 
only  of  ending  his  days  in  peace,  he  Avas  again  called  into  the  field  ; 
and,  although  scarcely  able  to  walk,  was  obliged  to  remove  from  his 
flock,  and  to  avoid  the  hatred  of  his  enemies,  by  submitting  to  a 
new  banishment.  Often  had  his  life  been  threatened;  a  price  was 
publicly  set  upon  his  head  ;  and  persons  were  not  wanting  who 
were  disposed  to  attempt  his  destruction.  No  wonder  that  he  was 
weary  of  the  world,  and  anxious  to  depart.  With  great  propriety 
might  it  be  said,  at  his  decease,  that  he  rested  from  Ins  labours. 

On  Wednesday  the  20th  of  November,  he  was  interred  in  the 
churchyard  of  St.  Giles.  His  funeral  was  attended  by  the  newly 
elected  regent,  Morton,  the  nobility  who  were  in  the  city,  and  a 
great  concourse  of  people.    When  his  body  was  laid  in  the  grave, 


JOHN    KNOX. 


193 


the   regent  pronounced  his   eulogium,   in   the   well-known    words, 
"There  lies  he,  who  never  feared  the  face  of  man." 

Our  reformer  left  behind  him  a  widow,  and  five  children.  His 
two  sons,  Nathanael  and  Eleazar,  were  born  to  him  by  his  first  wife, 
Mrs.  Marjory  Bowes.  We  have  already  seen  that,  about  the  year 
1566,  they  went  to  England,  where  their  mother's  relations  resided. 
They  received  their  education  at  St.  John's  college,  in  the  univer- 
sity of  Cambridge,  and  after  finishing  it,  died  in  the  prime  of  life. 
It  appears  that  they  died  without  issue,  and  the  family  of  the  re 
former  became  extinct  in  the  male  line.  His  other  three  children 
were  daughters  by  his  second  wife.  Dame  Margaret  Stewart,  his 
widow,  afterwards  married  Sir  Andrew  Ker  of  Fadounside,  a 
strenuous  supporter  of  the  reformation.  One  of  his  daughters  was 
married  to  Mr.  Robert  Pont,  minister  of  St.  Cuthbert's  ;  another  of 
them  to  Mr.  James  Fleming,  also  a  minister  of  the  church  of  Scot- 
land ;  Elizabeth,  the  third  daughter,  was  married  to  Mr.  John 
Welch,  minister  of  Ayr. 

13 


191  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 


GEORGE  BUCHANAN. 


George  Buchanan  was  born  about  the  beginning  of  February,  in  the 
year  1 500.  His  lather  was  Thomas,  the  second  son  of  Thomas  Buchanan 
of  Drummikill,  his  mother  Agnes  Heriot,  of  the  family  of  Trabroun. 
The  house  from  which  he  descended,  he  has  himself  characterized  as 
more  remarkable  for  its  antiquity,  than  for  its  opulence.  The  only 
patrimony  which  his  father  inherited,  was  the  farm  of  Mid-Leowen, 
or,  as  it  is  more  commonly  denominated,  the  Moss,  situated  in  the 
parish  of  Killearn  and  county  of  Stirling.  The  farm-house  in  which 
Buchanan  was  born,  has  twice  been  rebuilt ;  but  on  each  occasion, 
its  original  dimensions  and  characteristics  have  been  studiously 
preserved,  and  an  oak  beam,  together  with  an  intermediate  wall,  has 
even  retained  its  ancient  position.  The  present  building,  which  may 
be  considered  as  a  correct  model  of  Buchanan's  paternal  residence, 
is  a  lowly  cottage  thatched  with  straw ;  but  this  cottage  is  still  visited 
with  a  kind  of  religious  veneration.  A  fragment  of  the  oak  is 
regarded  fts  a  precious  relic;  and  an  Irish  student,  who  thirsted  for  a 
portion  of  Buchanan's  inspiration,  is  known  to  have  travelled  from 
Glasgow,  for  the  purpose  of  visiting  the  house,  and  passing  a  night 
directly  under  the  original  beam. 

Buchanan's  father  died  at  a  premature  age  ;  and,  about  the  same 
period,  his  grandfather  found  himself  in  a  state  of  insolvency.  The 
family,  which  had  never  been  opulent,  was  thus  reduced  to  extreme 
poverty ;  but  his  mother  struggled  hard  with  the  misery  of  her 
condition ;  and  all  her  children,  five  sons  and  three  daughters, 
arrived  at  the  age  of  maturity.  The  third  son,  wdiose  extraordinary 
attainments  have  rendered  the  family  illustrious,  is  reported  by  oral 
tradition,  which  must  not  however  be  too  rashly  credited,  to  have 
been  indebted  for  the  rudiments  of  learning  to  the  public  school  of 
Killearn,  which  long  continued  to  maintain  a  very  considerable 
degree  of  celebrity.  Mid-Leowen,  which  stands  on  the  banks  of  the 
Blane,  is  situated  at  the  distance  of  about  two  miles  from  the  village  ; 
and  it  may  be  conjectured  that  the  future  poet  and  statesman  daily 
walked  to  school,  and  bore  along  with  him  his  meridian  repast.  A 
considerable  number  of  trees,  which  he  is  said  to  have  planted  in  his 
school-boy  days,  are  still  to  be  seen  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  his 
native  cottage:  one  of  which,  a  mountain  ash,  conspicuous  for  its 
magnitude,  was  lately  torn  from  its  roots  by  the  violence  of  a  storm  ; 
but  two  fresh  scions  which  arose  from  its  ruins,  have  been  nourished 
«Uid  protected  with  anxious  care.     Nor  is  the  name  of  his  mother 


GEORGE   BUCHANAN.  195 

without  its  rural  memorial ;  a  place  which  had  been  adapted  to  the 
purpose  of  shielding  her  fiock,  is  still  denominated  Heriot's  Shiels. 

Buchanan  was  afterwards  removed  to  the  school  of  Dumbarton. 
His  unfolding  genius  recommended  him  to  the  favour  and  protection 
of  his  maternal  uncle  James  Ileriot,  who,  in  the  year  1520,  sent  him 
to  prosecute  his  studies  in  the  university  of  Paris.  It  was  here  that 
he  began  to  cultivate  his  poetical  talents;  partly  impelled,  as  he 
informs  us,  by  the  natural  temperament  of  his  mind,  partly  by  the 
necessity  of  performing  the  usual  exercises  prescribed  to  younger 
students.  Buchanan  did  not  profess  to  be  one  of  those  bright 
geniuses  who  can  acquire  a  new  language  every  six  weeks, — he 
incidentally  suggests  that  his  knowlegde  of  Latin  was  the  result  of 
much  juvenile  labour.  The  Greek  tongue,  in  which  he  likewise 
attained  to  proficiency,  he  acquired  without  the  aid  of  a  preceptor. 
Within  the  space  of  two  years  after  his  arrival  at  Paris,  his  uncle 
died,  and  left  him  exposed  to  want  in  a  foreign  country.  His  misery 
was  increased  by  a  violent  distemper,  which  had  perhaps  been 
occasioned  by  poverty  and  mortification.  In  this  state  of  hopeless 
langour,  he  returned  to  Scotland  at  the  critical  age  of  sixteen. 

Having  devoted  the  best  part  of  a  year  to  the  care  of  his  health, 
he  next  assumed  the  character  of  a  soldier,  and  served  along  with 
the  auxiliaries  whom  the  duke  of  Albany  had  conducted  from 
France,  and  he  marched  with  them  against  England  in  the  end  of 
the  year  1523.  This  fruitless  expedition  terminated  in  an  attack  on 
the  castle  of  Werk,  from  which  they  were  repulsed  and  compelled 
to  retreat ;  and  repassed  the  Tweed,  towards  Lauder,  during  mid- 
nigh  t,  in  the  midst  of  a  severe  snow  storm.  His  experience  in  the  course 
of  this  campaign,  did  not  render  him  more  enamoured  of  a  military 
life :  the  hardships  which  he  had  undergone  reduced  him  to  his 
former  state  of  languor,  and  during  the  rest  of  the  winter  he  was 
confined  to  bed. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  ensuing  spring,  when  he  had  completed 
the  eighteenth  year  of  his  age,  he  was  sent  to  the  university  of  St. 
Andrew's.  Patrick  Buchanan,  his  eldest  brother,  was  matriculated 
at  the  same  time.  On  the  third  of  October,  1525,  George  Buchanan 
received  the  degree  of  bachelor  of  arts ;  and  it  appears  from  the 
faculty  register  that  he  was  then  a  pauper,  or  exhibitioner.  At  this 
period  the  famous  John  Mair  taught  logic  in  St.  Salvador's  college. 
Buchanan  informs  us  that  it  was  to  attend  his  prelections  that  he 
had  been  sent  to  St.  Andrew's,  and  that  he  afterwards  followed  Mair 
to  France. 

Upon  his  return  to  France,  he  became  a  student  in  the  Scottish 
college  of  Paris.  On  the  10th  of  October,  1527,  he  was  incorpora- 
ted a  bachelor  of  arts,  and  he  received  the  higher  degree  next  March. 
During  the  following  year,  1529,  he  was  a  candidate  for  the  office  of 
procurator  of  the  German  nation ;  but  his  blind  compatriot,  Robert 
Wauchope,  afterwards  archbishop  of  Armagh,  was  elected  fur  the 
ninth  time.  Buchanan  was  thus  repulsed  on  the  5th  of  May,  but  on 
the  3d  of  June  he  was  more  successful.  The  university  of  Paris 
being  frequented  by  students  from  various  countries,  they  were  dis- 


100 


SCOTS   WORTHIES. 


uted  into  four  classes  or  nations.  What  was  termed  the  German 
nation  comprehended  the  Scottish  academics. 

At  this  period,  the  principles  of  the  Eeformation  had  begun  _  to  be 
widely  disseminated,  and  were  eagerly  discussed  on  the  continent. 
Buchanan,  on  his  return  to  Paris,  was  caught  by  the  spreading  flame. 
Jli.s  Lutheranism  seems  to  have  exposed  him  to  new  mortifications; 
for,  after  he  had  discovered  his  attachment,  he  continued  for  the 
space  of  nearly  two  years  to  struggle  with  adverse  fortune.  At  the 
expiration  of  that  term,  he  was  appointed  a  regent  or  professor  in  the 
college  of  St.  Barbe,  where  he  taught  grammar  for  about  three  years. 
Notwithstanding  his  eminent  qualifications  for  such  a  situation,  his 
services  seem  to  have  procured  him  very  inadequate  remuneration; 
but  still  he  represents  his  situation  as  comparatively  comfortable 
when  contrasted  with  the  miseries  Parisian  professors  of  humanity 
were  then  exposed  to.  At  the  time  that  he  entered  on  the  duties  at 
St.  Barbe,  he  was  twenty-three  years  of  age. 

About  this  time,  Gilbert  Kennedy,  earl  of  Cassilis,  who  was  resid- 
ing near  the  college  of  St.  Barbe,  having  become  acquainted  with 
Buchanan,  admired  his  literary  talents,  and  was  delighted  with  his 
conversation.  lie  therefore  retained  him  as  preceptor.  The  first 
work  that  Buchanan  committed  to  the  press,  was  a  translation  of  the 
famous  Thomas  Linacre's  rudiments  of  Latin  grammar,  which  he 
inscribed  to  lord  Cassilis,  "  a  youth  of  the  most  promising  talents,  and 
of  an  excellent  disposition."  This  Latin  version  was  printed  by  R. 
Stephanus,  in  1533. 

After  he  had  resided  with  his  pupil  for  the  term  of  five  years, 
they  both  returned  to  Scotland.  While  he  was  residing  at  the  earl's 
seat  in  the  country,  he  composed  a  short  poem,  which  rendered  him 
extremely  obnoxious  to  the  ecclesiastics,  an  order  of  men  whom  it 
is  generally  hazardous  to  provoke.  He  expresses  his  own  abhorrence 
of  a  monastic  life,  and  stigmatizes  the  impudence  and  hypocrisy  of 
the  monks,  particularly  those  of  the  order  of  St.  Francis.  The  holy 
fathers,  when  they  became  acquainted  with  this  specimen  of  his  sar- 
castic wit,  speedily  forgot  their  professions  of  meekness,  and  resolved 
to  convince  him  of  his  heterodox  presumption  in  disparaging  the 
sacred  institutions  of  the  church. 

Buchanan  had  determined  to  resume  his  former  occupations  in 
France;  but  king  James  V.  retained  him  in  the  capacity  of  precep- 
tor to  one  of  his  natural  sons.  This  son  was  not,  as  has  generally 
been  supposed,  the  celebrated  James  Stuart,  who  afterwards  obtained 
the  regency,  but  another  who  bore  the  same  baptismal  name. 

But  he  soon  experienced  the  danger  of  extending  his  ridicule  to 
the  orthodox.  The  preferment  of  a  profane  scoffer  at  priests  must 
have  augmented  their  spleen  ;  and  the  Franciscan  friars,  still  smarting 
from  his  Somnium,  found  means  of  representing  him  to  the  king  as 
8  man  of  depraved  morals,  and  of  dubious  faith.  But  on  this  occa- 
sion their  zeal  recoiled  upon  themselves.  By  comparing  the  humility 
of  their  professions  with  the  arrogance  of  their  deportment,  James 
had  formerly  begun  to  discover  their  genuine  character;  and  the 
part  which  he  supposed  them  to  have  acted  in  a  late  conspiracy 
against  his  own  life,  had  not  contributed  to  diminish  his  antipathy. 


GEORGE   BUCHANAN.  19  7 

Instead  of  consigning  the  poet  to  disgrace  or  punishment,  the  lung, 
who  was  aware  that  private  resentment  would  improve  the  edge  of 
his  satire,  enjoined  him,  in  the  presence  of  many  courtiers,  to  renew 
his  well-directed  attack  on  the  same  pious  fathers. 

Buchanan's  late  experience,  however,  had  taught  him  the  impor- 
tance of  caution  ;  he  determined  at  once  to  gratify  the  king,  and  to 
avoid  increasing  the  resentment  of  the  friars  against  himself.  In 
pursuance  of  this,  he  composed  a  kind  of  recantation,  which  he  sup- 
posed might  delude  the  Franciscans  by  its  ambiguity  of  phrase. 
But  he  found  himself  doubly  deceived:  the  indignation  of  the  king, 
who  was  himself  a  satirical  poet,  could  not  so  easily  be  gratified ; 
and  the  friars  were  now  impelled  to  a  higher  pitch  of  resentment. 
James  requested  him  to  compose  another  satire,  which  should  exhibit 
their  vices  in  a  more  glaring  light.  The  subject  was  copious,  and 
well  adapted  to  the  poet's  talents  and  views.  lie  accordingly  ap- 
plied himself  to  the  composition  of  the  poem  afterwards  published 
under  the  title  of  Franciscanus — the  Franciscan  ;  and  to  satisfy  the 
king's  impatience,  soon  presented  him  with  a  specimen.  This  pro- 
duction, as  it  now  appears  in  its  finished  state,  may  without  hazard 
be  pronounced  the  most  skilful  and  pungent  satire,  which  any  nation 
or  language  can  exhibit.  He  has  not  servilely  adhered  to  the  model 
of  any  ancient  poet,  but  is  himself  original  and  unequalled.  To  a 
masterly  command  of  classical  phraseology,  he  unites  uncommon 
felicity  of  versification  ;  and  his  diction  often  rises  with  his  increas- 
ing indignation,  to  majesty  and  splendour.  The  combinations  of  his 
wit  are  variegated  and  original ;  and  he  evinces  himself  a  most 
sagacious  observer  of  human  life.  No  class  of  men  was  ever  more 
completly  exposed  to  ridicule  and  infamy;  nor  is  it  astonishing  that 
the  popish  clergy  afterwards  regarded  the  author  with  implacable 
hatred.  Of  the  validity  of  his  poetical  accusations,  many  historical 
documents  still  remain.  Buchanan  has  himself  related  in  plain 
prose,  that  about  this  period  some  of  the  Scottish  ecclesiastics  were 
so  deplorably  ignorant,  as  to  suppose  Martin  Luther  to  be  the  author 
of  a  dangerous  book  called  the  New  Testament. 

But  the  church  being  infallible,  he  speedily  recognised  the  hazard 
of  accosting  its  retainers  by  their  proper  names.  At  the  commence- 
ment of  the  year  1539,  many  individuals  suspected  of  reformed 
principles  were  involved  in  the  horrible  scenes  of  persecution. 
Towards  the  close  of  February,  five  were  committed  to  the  flames  ; 
nine  made  a  formal  recantation  of  their  supposed  errors,  and  many 
were  driven  into  exile.  Buchanan  had  been  comprehended  in  the 
general  arrest.  After  he  was  committed  to  custody,  cardinal  Beaton 
endeavoured  to  accelerate  his  doom,  by  tendering  to  the  king  a  sum 
of  money  as  the  price  of  his  innocent  blood.  Of  this  circumstance 
Buchanan  was  apprized  by  some  of  his  friends  at  court;  and  Ins 
knowledge  of  the  king's  unfortunate  propensity  to  avarice,  must  have 
augmented  all  the  horrors  of  his  situation.  Stimulated  by  the 
thoughts  of  increasing  danger,  he  made  a  successful  effort  to  regain 
his  liberty  :  while  his  keepers  were  fast  asleep,  he  escaped  through 
the  window  of  the  apartment  in  which  he  was  confined.  Directing 
his  steps  toward  the  south,  he  had  soon  to  encounter  new  disasters. 


198  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

When  he  reached  the  borders,  he  was  molested  by  robbers  ;  and  his 
life  was  exposed  to  jeopardy  from  the  contagion  of  a  pestilential 
disease,  which  then  raged  in  the  north  of  England  ;  but  he  escaped 
both  perils,  and  reached  London  in  safety. 

On  his  arrival  in  London,  he  experienced  the  friendship  of  Sir 
John  Rainsford,  who  protected  him  against  the  fury  of  the  papists. 
Of  this  generous  protection,  Buchanan  was  not  afterwards  unmindful : 
he  has  immortalized  his  benefactor  by  consecrating  a  poem  to  his 
memory.  He  remained  but  a  short  time  in  London,  as  he  could  not 
find  any  patrons  ;  and  the  aspect  of  political  affairs  in  England  was 
not  calculated  to  secure  Buchanan's  attachment  to  that  nation  : — he 
was  anxious  to  escape  from  a  country  which  he  saw  exposed  to  the 
wanton  cruelties  of  a  brutal  tyrant.  The  civilization  of  France,  as 
well  as  the  particular  intimacies  which  he  had  formed  in  that 
country,  led  him  to  adopt  the  resolution  of  returning  to  Paris.  But 
he  found  on  his  arrival  [1539]  that  cardinal  Beaton  was  residing 
there  in  the  character  of  an  ambassador.  Andrew  Govean,  a  native 
of  Portugal,  invited  him  to  Bourdeaux ;  nor  did  he  hesitate  to 
embrace  an  opportunity  of  removing  himself  beyond  the  influence 
of  the  cardinal's  deadly  hatred.  Of  the  college  of  Guienne,  lately 
founded  in  that  city,  Govean  had  been  nominated  principal ;  and 
Buchanan  evidently  through  his  interest,  was  now  appointed  one  of 
the  professors.  Here  he  must  have  fixed  his  residence  before 
the  close  of  the  year  ;  for,  to  Charles  V.,  who  made  his  solemn  entry 
into  Bourdeaux  on  the  first  of  December,  1539,  he  presented  a  poem 
in  the  name  of  the  college. 

The  task  assigned  him  at  Bourdeaux,  was  that  of  teaching  the 
Latin  language.  For  an  occupation  of  this  kind,  he  seems  to  have 
entertained  no  particular  affection  ;  but,  although  sufficiently  labori- 
ous, it  never  impaired  the  native  elevation  of  his  mind.  He  now 
prosecuted  his  poetical  studies  with  a  degree  of  ardour  which  may 
excite  admiration  ;  during  the  three  years  of  his  residence  at 
Bourdeaux,  he  completed  four  tragedies,  together  with  various  other 
poems  on  miscellaneous  subjects.  It  was  then,  and  indeed  at  a 
much  later  period,  the  common  practice  of  academical  students 
to  exercise  themselves  in  the  representation  of  Latin  dramas.  In 
dramatic  poetry,  the  taste  of  the  French  nation  was  still  rude  and 
grotesque  ;  for  they  had  not  begun  to  extricate  themselves  from  the 
absurdities  of  the  early  mysteries  and  allegories.  With  the  view  of 
familiarizing  the  youths  to  the  more  correct  and  elegant  models  of 
The  ancient  theatre,  Buchanan,  with  his  usual  intrepidity,  made  a 
sudden  incursion  into  this  province  of  literature.  The  earliest  of  his 
dramatic  compositions  bears  the  title  of  Bajrtistes — the  Baptist.  He 
had,  at  a  former  period,  applied  himself  to  the  study  of  the  Greek 
language,  without  the  aid  of  a  tutor,  and  as  a  useful  exercise  had 
then  executed  a  close  translation  of  the  Medea  of  Euripides.  He 
now  delivered  a  poetical  version  to  the  academical  stage,  and 
afterwards,  at  the  earnest  request  of  his  friends,  suffered  it  to  be 
printed.  These  two  tragedies  were  performed  with  a  degree  of 
applause  which  exceeded  his  hopes,  lie  afterwards  wrote  Jephthes, 
and  translated  Abates,  another  tragedy  from  Euripides.     These  last 


GEORGE   BUCHANAN. 


109 


productions,  as  he  intended  them  for  publication,  appear  to  have 
been  written  with  superior  diligence,  when  we  consider  the  labours 
of  his   professional   duties,  and   the   distractions   produced    by  the 

unwearied  enmity  of  cardinal  Beaton,  and  the  Franciscans,  who  Still 
threatened  his  life.  Cardinal  Beaton  had,  in  a  letter  addressed  to 
the  archbishop  of  Bourdeaux,  requested  him  to  secure  the  person  of 
the  heretical  poet;  but  this  letter  having  been  intrusted  to  the  care 
of  some  individual  much  interested  in  the  welfare  of  Buchanan,  he 
was  suffered  to  remain  without  molestation.  The  appearance  of  a 
dreadful  plague  in  Guienne  for  some  time  occupied  their  attention  ; 
and  the  death  of  king  James  [1542],  opening  for  the  ambition  of  the 
cardinal  a  field  for  political  intrigue  at  home,  rescued  Buchanan  from 
farther  fear  of  persecution. 

The  Baptistcs,  although  inferior  to  the  other  tragedy  in  dramatic 
interest,  is  more  strongly  impregnated  with  the  author's  characteristic 
sentiments.  Its  great  theme  is  civil  and  religious  liberty.  The  poet 
frequently  expresses  himself  with  astonishing  boldness  ;  his  language 
relative  to  tyranny  and  priestcraft  is  so  strong  and  undisguised,  that 
it  could  not  then  have  been  tolerated  in  many  colleges. 

His  translations  from  Euripides  must  have  contributed,  as  well  as 
his  original  compositions,  to  revive  the  genius  of  the  ancient  drama. 
These  versions  are  executed  with  no  inconsiderable  felicity.  The 
diction  of  Alcestes  surpasses  that  of  Medea;  yet  to  his  learned 
contemporaries  the  last  appeared  so  highly  classical,  that  strong 
suspicions  were  entertained  of  his  having  published  in  his  own  name 
some  ancient  manuscript. 

The  excellence  of  the  teachers,  and  the  assiduity  of  the  scholars, 
soon  rendered  the  college  of  Guienne  one  of  the  most  distinguished 
schools  in  France,  lu  the  learned  dramas  represented  in  the 
college,  the  well-known  Michel  de  Montagne  was  a  frequent 
performer. 

Buchanan's  attention  to  the  interests  of  elegant  and  useful  learning 
was  unremitting,  In  a  Sapphic  ode  addressed  to  the  youth  of  Bour- 
deaux, he  reminds  them  of  the  dignity  and  importance  of  the  liberal 
arts,  and  particularly  of  that  art  which  he  had  himself  cultivated 
with  such  success.  The  exertions  of  such  a  preceptor  could  not  fail 
of  improving  the  taste  of  his  pupils  ;  but  the  splendour  of  his  poetry 
seems  to  have  conferred  upon  the  college  a  substantial  benefit  of 
another  kind.  This  seminary  was  more  remarkable  for  the  learning 
of  its  members,  than  for  the  amplitude  of  its  endowments.  The 
penury  of  their  provision  was  so  sensibly  felt,  that  Buchanan,  at  the 
suggestion  of  his  colleagues,  addressed  a  poetical  representation  to 
Francis  Olivier,  chancellor  of  France,  which  had  the  desired  effect. 
Buchanan  afterwards  inscribed  to  the  chancellor  an  elegant  ode  in 
which  he  commemorates  his  liberality  and  promptitude  in  amelio- 
rating their  condition. 

Buchanan's  social  intercourse  was  not  confined  to  the  college  and 

the  city;  it  was  at  this    period  that  he   occasionally    enjoyed  the 

society'of  a  very  extraordinary  personage,  who  resided  at  a  consider* 

able  distance.      At  Agen,  the  elder  Scaliger  was  now  exercising  the 

rofession  of  a  physician.      That  city,  when   he  there  fixed  his  reair 


200 


SCOTS   WORTHIES. 


dence,  could  not  furnish  him  with  a  single  individual  capable  of 
supporting  literary  conversation  ;  and  he  was  therefore  lecHo  culti- 
vate an  intimacy  with  some  of  the  more  enlightened  inhabitants  of 
Bourdeaux.  Buchanan,  Tevius,  and  other  accomplished  scholars 
who  then  belonged  to  the  college  of  Guienne,  were  accustomed  to 
pay  him  an  annual  visit  during  the  vacation.  They  were  hospitably 
entertained  in  his  house,  and  "he  declared  that  he  forgot  the  torture 
of  his  gout  whenever  he  had  an  opportunity  of  discussing  topics  of 
learning  with  such  guests.  The  younger  Scaliger,  more  illustrious 
than  his  father,  inherited  his  high  admiration  of  the  Scottish  poet. 
To  Buchanan  he  awarded  a  decided  superiority  over  all  the  Latin 
poets  of  those  times. 

Having  resided  three  years  at  Bourdeaux,  he  afterwards  removed 
to  Paris.  In  1544,  he  was  officiating  as  a  regent  in  the  college  of 
cardinal  Le  Maire,  which  he  retained  till  15-47.  About  the  former 
of  these  j^eriods,  he  was  miserably  tormented  with  the  gout,  and 
acknowledges  the  medical  aid  lie  had  received  from  Carolus  Stepha- 
nus,  a  doctor  of  physic,  of  the  faculty  of  Paris;  who,  like  many  of 
his  relations,  was  equally  distinguished  as  a  scholar  and  as  a 
printer. 

In  the  college  of  cardinal  Le  Maire,  Buchanan  was  associated  with 
colleagues  worthy  of  himself;  viz.,  Turnebus  and  Muretus,  two  of 
the  most  eminent  scholars  of  modern  times ;  and  it  has  been  remark- 
ed that  three  of  the  most  learned  men  in  the  world  then  taught 
humanity  in  the  same  college.  The  first  class  being  taught  by  Tur- 
nebus, the  second  by  Buchanan,  and  the  third  by  Muretus. 

John  III.,  king  of  Portugal,  having  founded  the  university  of 
Loimbra  ;  and,  as  his  own  dominions  could  not  readily  supply  com- 
petent professors,  he  invited  Andrew  Govean  to  aceept  the  princi- 
pality, and  to  conduct  from  France  a  considerable  number  of  pro- 
ficients in  philosophy  and  ancient  literature.  Govean  accordingly 
returned  to  his  native  country  in  the  year  1547,  accompanied  by 
Buchanan  and  other  associates.  The  affairs  of  Europe  then  present- 
ed an  alarming  aspect ;  and  Portugal  seemed  to  be  almost  the  only 
corner  free  from  tumults.  To  the  proposals  of  Govean  he  had  not 
only  lent  a  prompt  ear,  but  was  so  much  satisfied  with  the  character 
of  his  associates,  that  he  also  persuaded  his  brother  Patrick  to  join 
this  famous  colony.  To  several  of  its  members  he  had  formerly  been 
attached  by  the  strictest  ties  of  friendship,  and  all  had  distinguished 
themselves  by  the  publication  of  learned  works. 

The  happiness  which  Buchanan  had  promised  himself  with  asso- 
ciates so  congenial  to  his  taste,  soon  came  to  an  end,  by  the  death  of 
Govean,  which  took  place  in  the  year  1548.  During  the  lifetime  of 
this  worthy  man,  Buchanan  and  his  associates  had  found  their  situa- 
tion at  Coimbra  sufficiently  agreeable;  but  after  they  were  deprived 
of  his  protection,  the  Portuguese  began  to  persecute  them  with  unre- 
lenting bigotry.  The  harmless  professors  were  at  first  assailed  by  the 
secret  weapons  of  calumny  ;  and  in  due  time  were  loudly  accused 
of  imaginary  crimes.  Three  of  their  number  were  thrown  into  the 
dungeons  of  the  inquisition,  and  after  having  been  subjected  to  a 
tedious  and  loathsome  imprisonment,  were  at  length  arraigned  at  the 


GEORGE   BUCHANAN.  201 

infernal  tribunal.  According  to  the  usual  practice,  they  were  not 
confronted  with  their  accusers,  of  whose  very  names  they  were  igno- 
rant. As  they  could  not  be  convicted  of  any  crime,  they  were  over- 
whelmed with  reproaches,  and  again  committed  to  custody. 

Buchanan's  superior  genius  attracted  an  unusual  degree  of  indig- 
nation. He  was  accused  of  having  written  an  impious  poem  against 
the  Franciscans ;  yet  with  the  nature  of  that  poem  the  inquisitors 
were  totally  unacquainted.  The  only  copy  which  he  had  ever 
parted  with  was  presented  to  his  native  sovereign,  James  V.,  and 
before  he  left  France,  he  had  even  adopted  the  precaution  of 
having  the  circumstances  of  its  composition  properly  explained  to 
the  Portuguese  monarch.  lie  was  also  charged  with  having  eaten 
flesh  in  Lent,  though  the  practice  was  universal  in  Portugal.  He 
was,  moreover,  accused  of  having  alleged,  in  a  conversation  with 
some  yonng  Portuguese,  that  with  respect  to  the  eucharist,  St. 
Augustin  appeared  to  him  to  be  strongly  inclined  towards  the  opin- 
ion condemned  by  the  church  of  Pome.  Two  witnesses,  whom  he 
afterwards  discovered  to  be  Joannes  Ferrerius,  a  Piedmontese,  who 
had  visited  Scotland,  and  resided  at  Kinloss,  author  of  a  continuation 
of  Boece's  History  of  Scotland,  and  Jean  Tulpin,  a  doctor  of  theolo- 
gy, and  a  native  of  Normandy,  made  a  formal  deposition  of  their 
having  been  assured  by  several  respectable  informants,  that  Bucha- 
nan was  disaffected  to  the  Romish  faith. 

After  the  inquisitors  had  harassed  Buchanan  and  themselves  for 
the  space  of  nearly  a  year  and  a  half,  in  order  to  justify  their  pro- 
ceedings against  a  scholar  of  such  celebrity,  they  sentenced  him  to 
be  confined  to  a  monastery  for  some  months,  for  the  purpose  of  being 
thoroughly  instructed  by  the  monks ;  men  by  no  means  destitute  of 
humanity  or  abandoned  in  morals,  but  totally  unacquainted  with 
religion.  In  this  confinement  he  consoled  himself  with  that  unrival- 
led paraphrase  of  the  Psalms  of  David,  which  placed  him  first  among 
modern  Latin  poets,  and  will  continue  to  be  read  with  delight  as 
long  as  the  language  in  which  they  are  written  is  understood. 

Buchanan  was  at  length  restored  to  liberty,  and  apparently  with 
testimonials  in  his  favour  from  the  monks ;  for  when  he  solicited 
permission  of  the  king  to  return  to  France,  he  was  by  him  requested 
to  remain  in  Portugal  ;  and  was  presented  with  a  small  sum  of 
money  till  he  should  be  promoted  to  some  station  worthy  of  hit 
talents. 

Buchanan  found  that  his  prospect  of  being  promoted  by  the  Por- 
tuguese monarch  was  somewhat  precarious  ;  and  he  therefore  deter- 
mined to  abandon  a  country  in  which  he  had  experienced  such  un- 
worthy treatment.  Having  embarked  in  a  Candian  vessel,  which  he 
found  in  the  port  of  Lisbon,  he  was  safely  conveyed  to  England. 
Here,  however,  he  did  not  long  remain ;  though  fair  offers  were 
made  him  to  induce  him  to  stay.  The  political  affairs  of  England 
bore  a  very  unpromising  aspect.  A  young  prince  upon  the  throne, 
Edward  YI. ;  the  nobles  at  variance  with  one  another  ;  and  the 
minds  of  the  commons  yet  in  a  ferment,  on  account  of  their  recent 
civil  commotions  [1552]  :  he  arrived  in  France  about  the  beginning 
of  the  year  1553,  at  the  time   the   siege  of  the  city  of  Metz  was 


o02  SCOTS  WORTHIES. 

raised  ;  and  at  the  earnest  request  of  his  friends,  though  reluctantly, 
he  composed  a  poem  on  that  event,  as  several  other  poets  of  his  ac- 
quaintance had  previously  celebrated  that  achievement. 

To  the  French,  at  this  period  of  his  life,  Buchanan  appears  to  have 
been  strongly  attached;  and  they,  with  their  characteristic  vanity, 
wished  to  appropriate  as  their  own,  a  poet,  the  splendour  of  whose 
reputation  shed  a  glory  round  the  country  to  which  his  name  was 
associated.  The  warmth  of  his  attachment  he  expressed  in  a  poem 
Advi  Titus  in  (nil! lam,  which  he  wrote  about  this  time. 

Soon  after  his  return  to  Paris,  he  was  appointed  a  regent  in  the 
college  of  Boncourt ;  and  in  the  year  1555,  he  was  called  from  that 
charge  by  the  celebrated  marshal  Comte  de  Brissac,  who  entertained 
him  as  the  domestic  tutor  of  his  son,  Timoleon  de  Cosse.  At  that 
period  the  Marshal  presided  over  the  French  dominions  in  Italy; 
whither  Buchanan  was  invited  to  attend  his  pupil. 

Marshal  de  Brissac  lived  in  Italy  in  a  state  of  princely  magnifi- 
cence. Though  much  of  his  life  had  been  spent  amidst  the  tumults 
of  war,  he  appears  like  the  most  eminent  heroes  of  antiquity,  to  have 
cultivated  the  liberal  arts  amid  the  din  of  arms,  and  in  the  camp 
itself,  enjoyed  the  society  of  learned  men.  In  the  preceptor  of  his 
son,  he  recognised  in  Buchanan  a  man  capable  of  adorning  a  higher 
station ;  and  he  accordingly  treated  him  with  the  utmost  respect  and 
deference.  He  was  even  accustomed  to  place  him  at  the  council 
board  among  the  principal  officers  of  his  army.  To  this  singular 
honour  Buchanan  was  not  entitled  from  his  actual  acquaintance  with 
the  theory  or  practice  of  war;  he  had  recommended  himself  by  the 
intuitive  sagacity  of  his  comprehensive  mind ;  and  his  original 
admission  arose  from  a  circumstance  entirely  accidental.  He  hap- 
pened to  enter  an  apartment  contiguous  to  the  hall  in  which  the 
marshal  and  his  officers  were  engaged  in  discussing  some  measure 
of  great  importance;  and  on  being  arrested  by  their  debates,  he 
could  not  refrain  from  murmuring  his  disapprobation  of  the  opinion 
supported  by  the  majority.  One  of  the  generals  smiled  at  so  unex- 
pected a  salutation  ;  but  the  marshal  having  invited  Buchanan  into 
the  council,  enjoined  him  to  deliver  his  sentiments  without  restraint. 
He  accordingly  proceeded  to  discuss  the  question  with  his  wonted 
perspicacity,  and  to  excite  the  amazement  of  Brissac  and  his  officers. 
In  the  issue,  his  suggestions  were  found  to  have  been  oracular. 

Much  of  Buchanan's  time  was  devoted  to  the  study  of  theology. 
At  that  era,  religious  controversy  exercised  the  faculties  of  a  large 
proportion  of  mankind  ;  and  he  was  likewise  anxious  to  place  his 
faith  on  the  solid  foundation  of  reason.  His  poetical  studies  were  not, 
however,  entirely  neglected.  It  was  apparently  about  this  period 
that  he  conceived  the  design  of  his  philosophical  poem,  De  Sphwra, 
which  his  future  avocations  did  not  suffer  him  to  draw  to  a  con- 
clusion. 

His  connexion  with  the  family  of  Brissac  terminated  in  the  year 
1560,  when  the  flames  of  civil  war  had  already  seized  France,  and 
the  friends  of  civil  and  religious  liberty  had  triumphed  in  Scotland. 
The  precise  period  of  his  return  has  not  been  ascertained  ;  but  it  ... 
certain  that  he  was  at  the  Scottish  court  in  January.  15R3  ;  and  that. 


GEORGE   BUCHANAN. 


203 


in  the  month  of  April,  he  was  officiating  as  classical  tutor  to  the 
queen,  who  was  then  in  the  twentieth  year  of  her  a^e.  Every  after- 
noon she  perused  with  Buchanan  a  portion  of  Livy.  The  condescen- 
sions of  royalty  win  upon  the  most  austere,  and,  aided  by  the  fasci- 
nating and  elegant  manners  of  a  beautiful  princess,  in  the  full  bloom 
and  freshness  of  youth,  it  was  no  wonder  that  his  young  sovereign 
became  an  object  of  ardent  admiration  to  Buchanan.  This  he  ex- 
pressed in  the  dedication  of  the  first  complete  edition  of  his  Psalms 
which  must  have  been  soon  after  Mary  arrived  in  Scotland,  and 
before  she  had  forfeited  the  esteem  of  her  friends  by  her  misconduct. 

The  era  at  which  Buchanan  finally  returned  to  his  native  country 
was  highly  important.  After  a  violent  struggle  between  the  old  and 
the  new  religion,  the  latter  had  at  length'prevailed  ;  its  doctrines 
and  discipline  received  the  sanction  of  parliament  in  the  year  1560. 
For  the  manly  principles  of  the  reformation  he  had  always  cherish- 
ed a  secret  affection  ;  and  his  attachment,  as  he  candidly  owns,  had 
been  confirmed  by  the  personal  malignity  of  the  grey  friars.  As  he 
now  resided  in  a  country  where  he  could  avow  his  sentiments  with- 
out restraint,  he  professed  himself  a  member  of  the  reformed  church 
of  Scotland  ;  and  this  accession  to  their  cause  was  duly  appreciated 
by  the  leaders  of  the  party.  The  earl  of  Moray  was  then  rising 
towards  that  summit  of  power  which  he  afterwards  attained.  lie 
was  one  of  the  few  Scottish  nobles  of  the  age  who  reverenced  litera- 
ture, and  patronized  its  pz*ofessors. 

In  the  year  1561,  queen  Mary  rewarded  his  literary  merit  by  con- 
ferring on  him  the  temporalities  of  the  abbey  of  Crossraguel ;  which 
amounted  in  annual  valuation  to  the  sum  of  five  hundred  pounds  in 
Scottish  currency.  But  while  he  thus  enjoyed  the  favour  of  the 
queen,  he  did  not  neglect  his  powerful  friend  the  earl  of  Moray. 

He  prepared  for  the  press  his  miscellany  entitled  Ftatres  Fratcr- 
ritni ,  a  collection  of  satires,  almost  entirely  directed  against  the 
impurities  of  the  popish  church.  The  absurdity  of  its  doctrines,  and 
the  immoral  lives  of  its  priests,  afforded  him  an  ample  field  fur  the 
exercise  of  his  formidable  talents  ;  and  he  has  alternately  emploj'ed 
the  weapons  of  sarcastic  irony  and  vehement  indignation.  These  he 
dedicated  to  the  earl  of  Moray.  For  Buchanan  he  soon  procured  a 
station  of  some  dignity  and  importance  :  as  commend ator  of  the 
priory  of  St.  Andrew's,  he  enjoyed  the  right  of  nominating  the  prin- 
cipal of  St.  Leonard's  college  ;  and  a  vacancy  occurring  about  the 
year  1566,  he  placed  Buchanan  at  the  head  of  that  seminary. 

In  the  year  1567,  Buchanan  published  another  collection,  consist- 
ing of  Elegiac,  Silvae,  Hendecasyllabi.  From  an  epistle  to  his  friend 
Peter  Daniel,  prefixed  to  this  publication,  it  would  appear  he  still 
continued  in  some  situation  about  court :  for  he  says,  "  Between  the 
occupations  of  a  court  and  the  annoyance  of  disease,  I  have  hardly 
been  able  to  steal  any  portion  of  time,  which  I  could  either  devote  to 
my  friends  or  to  myself;  and  I  have  therefore  been  prevented  from 
maintaining  a  frequent  correspondence  with  my  friends,  and  from 
collecting  my  poems  which  lie  so  widely  dispersed.  For  mj  own 
part,  I  was  not  extremely  solicitous  to  recall  them  from  peraition; 
but  as  some  friends,  to  whom  I  neither  can  nor  ought  to  refuse  any 


204  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

request,  demanded  them  with  such  earnestness,  I  have  employed 
Bome  of  my  leisure  hours  in  collecting  a  portion,  and  placing  it  in  a 
Btate  of  arrangement.  With  this  specimen,  which  consists  of  one 
book  of  elegies,  another  of  miscellanies,  and  a  third  of  hendecasyl- 
lables,  I,  in  the  mean  time  present  you.  When  it  shall  suit  your 
convenience,  I  beg  you  will  communicate  them  to  Montaur6,  Des 
Mesmes,  and  other  philological  friends,  without  whose  advice  I  trust 
you  will  not  adopt  any  measure  relative  to  their  publication.  * 
#  #  *  *  *  * 

In  my  paraphrase  of  the  Psalms,  I  have  corrected  many  typograph- 
ical errors,  and  have  likewise  made  various  alterations  :  I  must  there- 
fore request  you  to  advise  Stephanus*  not  to  publish  a  new  edition 
without  ni}-  knowledge.  Hitherto  I  have  not  found  leisure  to  finish 
the  second  book  of  my  poem  De  Sphcera  /  and,  therefore,  I  have  not 
made  a  transcript  of  the  first ;  as  soon  as  the  former  is  completed,  I 
shall  transmit  them  to  you.  Salute  in  my  name  all  our  friends  at 
Orleans,  and  such  others  as  it  may  be  convenient.  FarewTell.  Edin- 
burgh, July  the  twenty- fourth,  1566." 

While  he  presided  over  St.  Leonard's  college,  he  appears  to  have 
enjoyed  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  the  university.  In  1566,  and 
the  two  ensuing  years,  he  was  one  of  the  four  electors  of  the  rector  ; 
and  was  nominated  a  prorector  by  each  of  the  three  officers  who 
were  successively  chosen.  For  several  years,  he  was  likewise  dean 
of  faculty.  In  the  general  assemblies  of  the  national  church, 
convened  at  Edinburgh,  during  the  years  1563  to  1567,  he  had  the 
honour  of  a  seat  as  a  "  doctor,"  and  was  a  constant  member  of  its 
most  important  committees.  In  this  last  year  he  was  chosen  mode- 
rator. 

He  was  now  called  from  the  calm  pursuits  of  the  scholar,  poet, 
and  theologian,  to  mingle  in  the  arena  of  civil  politics.  After  the 
defeat  of  the  queen  at  Langside,  in  an  evil  hour  she  sought  refuge  in 
England,  where  the  regent  was  forced  by  circumstances  to  undertake 
the  ungracious  task  of  appearing  as  the  accuser  of  his  sister  and 
sovereign  ;  and  in  the  performance  of  this  painful  duty  he  was 
assisted  by  Buchanan,  who  attended  him  to  the  conference  at  York 
and  Westminster,  1568-9,  and  drew  up  in  Latin  "A  Detection  of 
the  Doings  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots,"  which  was  extensively  circu- 
lated by  the  English  court.  Buchanan  received  much  undeserved 
reproach,  by  the  appearance  at  this  time,  of  another  Latin  treatise  on 
the  same  subject,  "  Actio  contra  Mariam  Scotorum  Reginam," 
which  was  attributed  to  him,  but  was  written  by  a  Sir  Thomas 
Smith,  a  satellite  of  queen  Elizabeth,  and  annexed,  in  Italic  print, 
to  the  "  Detection"  published  in  London,  in  1571. 

The  "Detection,"  as  originally  written  by  Buchanan,  was  a 
concise  historical  deduction  of  facts,  preceding  the  marriage  with 
Bothwell,  such  as  was  absolutely  necessary  for  understanding  the 
subject,  and  vindicating  the  proceedings  of  the  nobles  ;  written  with 
chaste  and  classical  precision — keen  but  not  virulent.  But  the 
Action  against  Mary  is  a  dull  declamation,  and  a  malignant  invec- 

*  The  celebrated  printer  in  Paris. 


GEORGE  BUCHANAN. 


205 


tive,  written  in  professed  imitation  of  the  ancient  orators,  whom 
Buchanan  has  never  imitated. 

Soon  after  the  assassination  of  the  regent,  Buchanan  was  removed 
to  a  situation  of  no  inconsiderable  importance  ;  he  was  appointed 
one  of  the  preceptors  of  the  young  king.  The  prince  had  been  com- 
mitted during  his  infancy  to  the  charge  of  the  earl  of  Mar,  a  noble- 
man of  the  most  unblemished  integrity.  In  1570,  when  Buchanan 
entered  upon  his  office,  he  was  only  four  years  of  age.  The  precep- 
tors associated  with  Buchanan  were  Peter  Young,  and  the  two  abbots 
of  Cambuskenneth  and  Dryburgh,  David  and  Adam  Erskine,  both 
related  to  the  noble  family  of  Mar. 

Buchanan,  during  the  regency  of  Moray,  appears  to  have  been  a 
director  of  the  chancery ;  which  he  seems  to  have  retained  but  a 
short  while,  and  probably  resigned  on  being  appointed  lord  privy 
seal,  under  the  regent  Lennox,  in  1570.  His  situation  as  lord  privy 
seal  was  undoubtedly  honourable,  and  probably  lucrative.  It  entitled 
him. to  a  seat  in  parliament,  in  whose  proceedings  he  took  an  active 
part,  and  was  appointed  a  commissioner  on  several  important  occa- 
sions. In  1578,  he  formed  one  of  a  commission,  including  many  of 
the  most  illustrious  for  rank  or  talent  in  Scotland,  appointed  to 
examine  and  digest  the  laws  of  the  land  ;  but  which  was  never 
carried  into  execution.  He  was  included  also,  in  two  commissions 
respecting  education — the  one  for  supplying  a  proper  Latin  grammar, 
to  be  substituted  by  authority  in  all  the  schools — the  other  to  inspect, 
and  reform  the  universities  and  colleges  within  the  realm  ;  to 
displace  unqualified  teachers,  and  to  provide  persons  more  compe- 
tent in  their  room.  Besides  these  commissions,  he  was  associated 
in  one  for  examining  a  "  Book  of  the  Policy  of  the  Kirk." 

During  the  time  that  Morton  was  displaced  from  the  office  of 
regent  for  his  aggrandizing  schemes,  Buchanan  was  associated  with 
other  officers  of  the  state,  appointed  by  the  privy  counsel  to  advise 
and  direct  the  young  monarch — an  office  which  soon  became  unneces- 
sary by  the  return  to  power  of  the  earl  of  Morton.  But  amidst  all 
these  numerous  avocations,  his  whole  soul  seems  to  have  been 
intensely  bent  on  forming  in  the  mind  of  his  royal  pupil,  those  prin- 
ciples which  alone  elevate  the  character,  and  secure  the  happiness  of 
a  first  magistrate  in  a  free  state. 

Having  prepared  his  tragedy  of  Baptistes  for  the  press,  he  dedi- 
cated it  to  the  young  king  in  the  year  1576.  The  dedication  is 
written  in  such  a  strain  as  seldom  meets  the  royal  ear.  It  is  like  a 
solemn  prophetical  admonition,  in  which  his  venerable  preceptor 
frees  himself  from  any  blame  which  might  arise  from  the  conse- 
quences of  his  pupil's  misconduct ;  and  with  an  anxiety  but  too 
well  grounded,  wTarns  him  against  forsaking  the  instructions  of  his 
youth. 

"  This  circumstance,"  says  he,  "  may  seem  to  bear  a  more  peculiar 
reference  to  you,  that  it  clearly  discloses  the  punishment  of  tyrants, 
and  the  misery  which  awaits  them  even  when  their  prosperity  seems 
at  the  height.  That  you  should  now  acquire  such  knowledge,  I 
consider  as  not  only  expedient,  but  even  necessary,  in  order  that  VOU 
may  early  begin  to  hate  what  you  ought  even  to  shun.     I  thereto-- 


OQQ  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

wish  this  work  to  remain  as  a  witness  to  posterity,  that^  if  impelled 
by  evil  counsellors,  or  suffering  the  licentiousness  of  royalty  to 
prevail  over  a  virtuous  education,  you  should  hereafter  he  guilty  of 
any  improper  conduct,  the  fault  may  he  imputed,  not  to  your 
preceptors,  but  to  you  who  have  not  obeyed  their  salutary  admo- 
nitions."' 

In  similar  language,  and  with  increasing  anxiety,  as  if  "  age  had 
imparted  its  mystical  lore,"  three  years  afterwards,  he  inscribed  to 
him  the  most  important  of  all  his  writings,  except  his  History,  the 
treatise,  Be  Jure  Regni  ajmd  Scotos.  "I  have  deemed,"  says  the 
venerable  teacher,  "  this  publication  expedient,  that  it  may  at  once 
testify  my  zeal  for  your  service,  and  admonish  you  of  your  duty  to 
the  community."  Then  after  some  compliments  to  his  docility,  he 
adds,  "yet  am  I  compelled  to  entertain  some  slight  degree  of 
suspicion,  lest  evil  communication,  the  alluring  nurse  of  the  vices, 
should  lend  an  unhappy  impulse  to  your  still  tender  mind  ;  especially 
as  I  am  not  ignorant  with  what  facility  the  external  senses  yield  to 
seduction.  I  "have  therefore  sent  you  this  treatise,  not  only  as  an 
advice,  but  even  as  an  importunate,  and  sometimes  impudent 
exhorter,  to  direct  you  at  this  critical  period  of  life,  safely  past  the 
dangerous  rocks  of  adulation ;  not  merely  to  point  out  the  path,  but 
to  keep  you  in  it;  and  if  you  should  deviate,  to  reprove  and  reclaim 
your  wanderings,  which  monitor,  if  you  obey,  you  will  ensure 
tranquillity  to  yourself  and  your  family,  and  transmit  your  glory  to 
the  most  remote  posterity." 

This  treatise,  originally  written  as  a  defence  of  the  friends  of 
freedom,  with  regard  to  their  treatment  of  the  queen,  does  not  enter 
upon  the  discussion  of  a  merely  local  question,  as  to  her  participation 
in  the  murder  of  her  husband,  and  her  liability  to  punishment ;  but 
considers  in  all  its  bearings  the  broad  but  delicate  question  of 
allegiance,  and  has  in  view  to  show,  that  a  good  government  alone 
has  a  right  to  support,  and  that  a  had  one  ought  to  be  resisted.  At 
the  time  of  its  publication  it  had  to  combat  with  the  accumulated 
prejudices  and  interests  of  ages  of  ignorance  and  superstition.  It 
was  extensively  read  on  the  continent,  and  had  taken  too  deep  root 
in  the  public  mind  of  Europe  to  be  eradicated  by  the  imbecile 
attempts  of  the  monarch,  to  whom  it  was  dedicated,  to  suppress  it. 
The  verdict  of  some  of  the  most  able  writers  of  our  own  time,  has 
assigned  it  a  prima: y  station  among  the  few  books  in  political 
science  which  deserve  to  be  preserved.  "  The  science,"  says  Sir 
James  Macintosh,  "  which  teaches  the  rights  of  man,  the  eloquence 
that  kindles  the  spirit  of  freedom,  had  for  ages  been  buried  with  the 
other  monuments  of  the  wisdom,  and  relics  of  the  genius  of  antiquity. 
But  the  revival  of  letters  first  unlocked,  only  to"  a  few,  the  sacred 
fountain.  The  necessary  labours  of  criticism  and  lexicography 
occupied  the  earlier  scholars,  and  some  time  elapsed  before  the  spirit 
of  antiquity  was  transfused  into  its  admirers.  The  first  man  of  that 
period  who  united  elegant  learning  to  original  and  masculine  thought, 
was  Buchanan  ;  and  he,  too,  seems  to  have  been  the  first  scholar  who 
caught  from  the  ancients  the  noble  flame  of  republican  enthusiasm. 
This  praise  is  merited  by  his  neglected,  though  incomparable  tract, 


GEORGE   BUCHANAN. 


207 


De  Jure  Begni,  in  which  the  principles  of  popular  politics,  and  the 
maxims  of  a  free  government,  arc  delivered  with  a  precision,  ami 
enforced  with  an  energy,  which  no  former  age  had  equalled,  and  no 
succeeding  has  surpassed." 

Being  now  advanced  to  the  seventy-fourth  year  of  his  age,  Buchanan 
composed  a  brief  sketch  of  his  own  life.  To  this  task  he  was  urged 
by  some  of  his  numerous  friends.  This  little  work  is  composed  with 
his  usual  elegance,  and  with  a  degree  of  modesty  and  candour  worthy 
of  so  illustrious  a  character.  So  far  as  it  goes  it  is  followed  in  its 
principal  features  throughout  this  memoir. 

An  instance  of  his  amiable  character,  at  this  advanced  period  of 
his  life,  is  mentioned  by  Thomas  Jack,  teacher  of  the  Grammar 
School  of  Glasgow,  afterwards  minister  of  Eastwood.  He  waited 
upon^Buchanan  to  solicit  his  revisal  of  a  MS.  entitled  Onomasticon 
Poeticum,  composed  in  Latin  verse.  He  says,  "  I  found  him  in  the 
royal  palace  of  Stirling,  diligently  engaged  in  writing  his  History  of 
Scotland.  He  was  so  far  from  being  displeased  with  my  interruption 
that  he  cheerfully  took  my  work  into  his  hands,  and  after  continuing 
to  read  two  or  three  pages  of  it,  he  collected  together  his  own  papers, 
which  were  scattered  on  the  table,  and  said,  '  I  will  desist  from  my 
undertaking,  till  I  have  done  what  you  wish.'  This  promise  he 
accurately  performed,  and  within  a  few  days,  gave  me  a  paper, 
written  with  his  own  hand,  containing  such  corrections  as  he  thought 
necessary." 

His  last  epistle,  addressed  to  his  early  friend  Beza,  exhibits  him 
in  a  no  less  pleasing  point  of  view: — "Although  my  attention  is 
divided  by  various  occupations,  and  the  state  of  my  health  is  so 
desperate  as  to  leave  me  no  leisure  for  the  common  duties  of  life,  yet 
the  departure  of  Jerome  Groslot  has  banished  all  my  excuses.  For, 
as  the  father,  who  was  a  man  of  distinction,  loaded  me  during  my 
residence  in  France  with  every  species  of  kindness,  and  the  son  has 
honoured  me  here  as  another  parent,  I  was  aware  that  among  you  I 
could  not  escape  the  heavy  charge  of  ingratitude,  if  I  should  now 
overlook  the  kindness  which  I  experienced  from  the  one,  the  pleasant 
intercourse  which  I  have  enjoyed  with  the  other,  and  the  polite 
attention  which  you  have  uniformly  paid  me.  Yet  among  those  who 
are  not  unacquainted  with  my  present  condition,  such  a  fault  would 
readily  find  its  apology.  It  is  my  best  apology,  that  all  my  senses 
dying  before  me,  what  now  remains  of  the  image  of  the  former  man 
testifies,  not  that  I  am,  but  that  I  have  been  alive;  especially  as  I 
can  neither  cherish  the  hope  of  contracting  new  intimacies,  nor  of 
continuing  the  old.  These  circumstances  I  now  mention  with  greater 
confidence,  as  the  present  occasion  affords  you  an  opportunity  of 
learning  my  condition  from  Groslot ;  whom  it  appears  superfluous  to 
recommend  to  your  attention.  The  dispositions  of  youth  disclose 
themselves  without  our  aid.  I  have  however  furnished  him  with  a 
recommendation,  rather  to  comply  with  the  common  practice,  than 
because  it  is  requisite.  With  regard  to  myself,  since  I  cannot 
continue  my  former  mode  of  life  by  the  reciprocation  of  friendly 
offices,  I  shall  refrain  from  those  exertions  to  which  I  have  long  been 


208  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

unequal,  and  indulge  in  silence.     Farewell.      Edinburgh,  July  the 
fifteenth,  15S1." 

The  last  production  which  Buchanan  lived  to  complete  was  his 
History  of  Scotland.  In  the  year  1582,  it  issued  from  the  office  of 
Alexander  Arbuthnot,  printer  to  the  king.  It  bears  the  royal 
privilege,  and,  like  other  works  of  the  same  author,  is  dedicated  to 
the  young  monarch. 

In  the  month  of  September  that  year,  his  learned  friends,  Andrew 
Melville,  James  Melville,  and  his  own  cousin  Thomas  Buchanan, 
provost  of  the  collegiate  church  of  Kirkheugh,  having  heard  that  the 
work  was  in  the  press,  and  the  author  indisposed,  hastened  to 
Edinburgh  to  pay  him  a  final  visit.  James,  who  was  the  nephew  of 
Andrew  Melville,  and  professor  of  divinity  at  St.  Andrew's,  has  in 
simple  terms  recorded  the  principal  circumstances  which  occurred 
during  their  interview.  Upon  entering  his  apartment,  they  found 
the  greatest  genius  of  the  age  employed  in  the  humble  though 
benevolent  task  of  teaching  the  horn-book  to  a  .young  man  in  his 
service.  After  the  usual  salutations,  "  I  perceive,  Sir,"  said  Andrew 
Melville,  "you  are  not  idle."  "  Better  this,"  replied  Buchanan, 
"  than  stealing  sheep,  or  sitting  idle,  which  is  as  bad."  He  after- 
wards showed  them  his  dedication  to  the  young  king ;  and  Melville 
having  perused  it,  remarked  that  it  seemed  in  some  passages 
obscure,  and  required  certain  words  to  complete  the  sense.  "  I  can 
do  nothing  more,"  said  Buchanan,  "  for  thinking  of  another  matter." 
"  What  is  that?"  rejoined  Melville.—"  To  die.  But  I  leave  that,  and 
many  other  things  to  your  care."  Melville  likewise  alluded  to  the 
publication  of  Blackwood's  answer  to  his  treatise  De  Jure  Regni 
ajpud  Scotos.  These  visitors  afterwards  proceeded  to  Arbuthnot's 
printing-office,  to  inspect  a  work  which  had  excited  such  high  expec- 
tation. They  found  the  impression  had  proceeded  as  far  as  the 
passage  relative  to  the  interment  of  David  Rizzio  ;  and  being 
alarmed  at  the  unguarded  boldness  with  which  the  historian  had 
there  expressed  himself,  they  requested  the  printer  to  desist. 
Having  returned  to  Buchanan's  house,  they  found  him  in  bed.  In 
answer  to  their  friendly  inquiries,  he  informed  them  that  he  was 
"  even  going  the  way  of  welfare."  His  kinsman  then  proceeded  to 
state  their  apprehensions  respecting  the  consequence  of  publishing 
so  unpalatable  a  story,  and  to  suggest  the  probability  of  its  inducing 
the  king  to  prohibit  the  entire  work.  "Tell  me,  man,"  said 
Buchanan,  "if  I  have  told  the  truth."  "Yes,  Sir,"  replied  his 
cousin,  "  I  think  so."  "Then,"  rejoined  the  dying  historian,  " I  will 
abide  his  feud,  and  all  his  kin's.  Pray  to  God  for  me,  and  let  him 
direct  all.''  And  so,  subjoins  the  original  narrative,  "  by  the 
printing  of  his  chronicle  was  ended,  that  most  learned,  wise,  and 
godly  man,  ended  this  mortal  life." 

This  visit  lie  survived  about  a  twelvemonth,  and  it  would  have 
been  gratifying  to  know,  whether  he  ever  received  any  mark  of 
gratitude  or  kindness  from  his  royal  pupil,  during  the  whole  of  his 
protracted  illness — presumptions  are  against  it.  Thaunus  informs 
us,  that  James  required  his  preceptor  to  retract  what  he  had  written 
with  so  much  freedom  respecting  the  queen  his  mother,  and  leave  to 


GEORGE   BUCHANAN. 


201) 


posterity  some  formal  testimony  of  liis  compunction.  He  at  first 
returned  an  evasive  answer,  but  being  afterwards  importuned  by 
repeated  messages,  he  made  this  final  declaration  : — That  he  could 
not  recall  what  he  had  written  in  the  full  conviction  of  its  truth  ; 
but  that  after  his  decease  it  would  be  in  the  king's  power  to  adopt 
such  measures  with  regard  to  his  writings  as  he  might  judge 
expedient.  He,  however,  admonished  him  to  proceed  with  mature 
deliberation  ;  and  to  reflect,  that  although  God  had  intrusted  Bupreme 
power  to  kings,  yet  that  truth,  which  derives  its  strength  from  God, 
is  as  superior  to  their  control  as  God  is  superior  to  man. 

Tradition  adds,  that  about  this  time,  in  one  of  the  several  messages 
he  sent  to  him,  the  king  required  his  presence  at  court,  within 
twenty  days,  under  pain  of  his  displeasure ;  but  that  he,  finding  his 
death  approaching,  sent  him  back  a  letter  of  admonition  relative  to 
the  government  of  his  kingdom,  and  well-being  of  his  people ;  and 
told  him,  that  he  could  run  the  hazard  of  his  majesty's  displeasure 
without  danger  ;  for  that  "  by  the  time  limited,  he  would  be  where 
few  kings  or  great  men  should  be  honoured  to  enter."  At  reading 
which,  it  is  said,  the  king  wept. 

It  is  uncertain  whether  he  lived  to  see  his  great  work  published  : 
he  was,  however,  spared  the  pain  of  seeing  the  attempts  of  his 
ungrateful  pupil  to  suppress  it,  and  what  would  have  been  more 
galling  to  his  virtuous  spirit,  the  sycophancy  of  a  Scottish  parliament 
seconding  the  wishes  of  an  undisguised,  but  happily  a  weak  despot, 
in  a  country,  heretofore  the  land  of  freedom. 

Buchanan  expired  a  short  while  after  five  o'clock,  on  the  morning 
of  Friday  the  twenty-eighth  of  September,  1582.  He  was  then  in 
the  seventy-seventh  year  of  his  age.  His  remains  were  interred  in 
the  cemetery  of  the  Grey  Friars  ;  and  his  ungrateful  country  never 
afforded  his  grave  the  common  tribute  of  a  monumental  stone. 
After  an  interval  of  some  years,  his  tomb  was  opened ;  and  his 
skull,  or  at  least  a  skull  supposed  to  be  his,  was,  by  the  intervention 
of  principal  Adamson,  deposited  in  the  library  of  the  university  of 
Edinburgh.     It  is  so  thin  as  to  be  transparent. 

Buchanan  had  consecrated  a  monument  of  his  own  fame,  composed 
of  materials  more  permanent  than  brass  or  marble  ;  but  his  country 
has  at  length  afforded  him  one  of  those  memorials  which  are  of 
least  value  when  most  merited,  and  which  contribute  more  to  the 
honour  of  the  living  than  of  the  dead.  An  obelisk,  nineteen  feet 
square  at  the  base,  and  extending  to  the  height  of  one  hundred  and 
three  feet,  was  lately  erected  by  subscription  to  his  memory  at  the 
village  of  Killearn. 

Buchanan  had  experienced  many  of  the  vicissitudes  of  human 
life,  and,  in  every  situation,  had  adhered  to  those  maxims  of  conduct 
which  he  deemed  honourable.  His  integrity  was  stern  and  inflex- 
ible :  what  has  been  regarded  as  the  least  immaculate  part  of  his 
character,  naturally  resulted  from  the  prominent  qualities  of  a  mind 
which  could  not  sufficiently  accommodate  itself  to  the  frailties 
of  mankind.  But  the  age  in  which  he  lived  was  rude  and  boister- 
ous; nor  did  the  exquisite  cultivation  of  his  mind  entirely  defend 
him  from  the  general  contagion.  He  was  subject  to  the  nice  and 
14 


o10  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

irritable  feelings  which  frequently  attend  exalted  genius;  enthusi- 
astic   in   his   attachment,  and    violent  in   his   resentment  ;  equally 
re  in  his  love  and  in  his  hatred.     His  friends,  among  whom  he 
bered  many  of  the  most  distinguished  characters  of  that  era, 
regarded  him  with  a  warmth  of  affection  which  intellectual  eminence 
cannot   alone   secure.     Of    an    open   and   generous   disposition,  he 
displayed  the  enviable  qualities  which  render  domestic  intercourse 
profitable  and  interesting.     The  general   voice  had  awarded  him  a 
pre-eminence   in   literature  that   seemed  to  preclude   all   hopes  of 
rivalship;  but  his  estimate  of  his  own  attainments  was  uniformly 
consistent  with  perfect  modesty;  and  no  man  coidd  evince  himself 
more  willing  to  acknowledge  genuine  merit  in  other  candidates  for 
fame.     This  affability,  united  to  the  charms  of  a  brilliant  conver- 
sation, rendered  his  society  highly  acceptable  to  persons  of  the  most 
opposite  denominations.     His  countenance  was  stern  and  austere; 
but  his  heart  soft  and  humane.     His  patriotism  was  of  that  unadul- 
terated  species   which  flows  from   general  philanthropy:  his  large 
soul  embraced  the  comm-  n  family  of  mankind  ;  but  his  affections 
tauo-ht  him  that  his  first  regards  were  due  to  the  barren  land  from 
which  he  derived  his  birth.     Notwithstanding  his  long  habituation 
to  an  academical  life,  his  manners  betrayed  none  of  the  peculiarities 
of  a  mere  pedagogue.     The  native  elegance  of  his  mind,  and  the 
splendour  of  his  reputation,  secured  him  the  utmost  respect   and 
deference  from  such  of  his  countrymen  as  were  not  separated  from 
him  by  the  rancour  of  political  zeal ;  and  although  he  even  assumed 
considerable  latitude  in  censuring  the  errors  of  exalted  station,  yet 
the  dignified  simplicity  of  his  manners  prevented  his  liberties  from 
exciting  resentment.     Conscious  of  personal  worth  and  of  intrinsic 
greatness,  he  did  not  fail  to  assert  his  own  privileges :  mere  supe- 
riority of  rank  was  not  capable  of  alluring   him  to  a  servile  and 
degrading  attachment ;  but  it  was  equally  incapable  of  provoking 
his  envy  or   malice.     Of  the  truth  of  the   Christian  religion,  and 
consequently  of  its  eternal   moment,  his  conviction  seems  to  have 
been  complete  and  uniform.     The  nature  of  his  attachment  to  the 
reformation   was   consistent   with   his   usual   wisdom  :    he   eagerly 
embraced  the  doctrine  of  the  reformed. 

Nor  was  the  genius  of  Buchanan  less  variegated  than  his  life.  In 
his  numerous  writings,  he  discovers  a  vigorous  and  mature  combina- 
tion of  talents  which  have  seldom  been  found  united  in  equal  perfec- 
tion. To  an  imagination  excursive  and  brilliant,  he  unites  an  nn de- 
viating rectitude  of  judgment.  His  learning  was  at  once  elegant, 
various,  and  profound:  in  philosophical  dialogue  and  historical  nar- 
rative ;  in  lyric  and  didactic  poetry  ;  in  elegy,  epigram,  and  satire  ; 
he  has  never  been  equalled  in  modern,  and  hardly  surpassed  in 
ancient  times. 

George  Buchanan  was  born  in  an  age  of  little  refinement,  and  en- 
joyed none  of  the  early  advantages  which  result  from  hereditary 
wealth  ;  but  his  intrinsic  greatness  of  mind  enabled  him  to  emerge 
from  original  obscurity,  and  to  earn  a  reputation  which  can  only 
decay  with  literature  itself.  By  the  universal  suffrage  of  the  learned, 
he  has  been  stationed  near  the  summit  of  modern  renown  ;  but  his 


GEORGE   BUCHAxNAN.  011 

moral  qualities  are  sometimes  considered  as  more  equivocal.  Ilis 
character  has  however  been  subjected  to  a  most  rigid  and  inhuman 
scrutiny  :  his  genuine  actions  have  been  misrepresented,  if  not  with 
all  the  powers,  certainly  with  all  the  propensities,  of  the  vilest  sophis- 
try ;  and  many  fictitious  actions  have  been  industriously  imputed 
to  him,  for  the  sake  of  completing  the  picture  of  his  iniquities.  He 
has  a  thousand  times  been  upbraided  with  horrible  ingratitude  for 
favours  which  he  never  received.  To  prove  the  purest  of  mankind 
guilty  of  the  most  henious  crimes,  will  always  be  extremely  easy, 
where  passion  and  prejudice  are  permitted  to  supply  every  deficiency 
of  evidence  ;  where  the  witnesses  are  strangers  to  common  veracity, 
and  the  judges  utterly  unable  or  unwilling  to  appreciate  their  testi- 
mony. The  character  of  Buchanan  excited  the  respect  and  even  the 
veneration  of  contemporaries  highly  distinguished  for  their  moral 
virtues,  and  for  their  intellectual  endowments  ;  and  it  unquestionably 
suggests  another  strong  presumption  in  his  favour,  that  notwithstand- 
ing all  the  persevering  anxiety  of  a  regular  succession  of  enemies, 
political  and  theological,  his  long  and  chequered  life  has  actually 
been  found  to  betray  so  few  of  the  frailties  inseparable  from  human- 
ity. His  stern  integrity,  his  love  of  his  country  and  of  mankind, 
cannot  fail  of  endearing  his  memory  to  those  who  possess  congenial 
qualities  ;  and  such  errors  as  he  really  committed,  will  not  perhaps 
be  deemed  unpardonable  by  those  who  recollect  that  they  are  also 
men. 

"  He  was  a  man,"  says  Sir  James  Melville,  "  of  notable  endow- 
ments, great  learning,  and  an  excellent  Latin  poet ;  he  was  much 
honoured  in  foreign  countries  ;  pleasant  in  conversation,  into  which 
he  happily  introduced  short  moral  maxims,  which  his  invention 
readily  supplied  him  with,  upon  any  emergency."  His  works  that 
are  now  extant,  make  two  folio  volumes.  The  pamphlet,  going 
under  the  title  of  "  the  witty  exploits  of  George  Buchanan,"  seems 
to  be  spurious  ;  although  it  is  certain  he  pronounced  many  witty 
sayings,  of  which  the  greater  number  were  never  committed  to 
writing. 


212  SCOTS   WORTHIES 


JOHN  ERSKINE  OF  DUN. 


John  Ekskine,  descended  of  the  ancient  and  honourable  family  of 
Dun,  -was  born  in  the  year  1509,  at  the  family-seat  near  Montrose,  in 
the  shire  of  Angus  and  the  Mearns.  In  his  youth  he  attended,  most 
probably,  the  university  of  Aberdeen,  and  afterwards  travelled 
abroad  for  the  purpose  of  improving  and  perfecting  his  education, 
by  attendance  at  some  of  the  foreign  schools  and  universities. 

In  the  year  1534,  we  find  him  returned  home,  and  in  possession 
of  his  estate.  At  this  time  the  merchants  of  Dundee,  Montrose,  and 
other  towns,  carried  on  an  extensive  trade  with  England,  Holland, 
and  France.  From  these  places  they  imported  Tyiidale's  translation 
of  the  Scriptures,  as  well  as  books  written  against  popery  ;  and  the 
accounts  which  at  the  same  time  reached  this  country  of  the  pro- 
gress of  the  reformation  in  Germany,  induced  many  to  read  and  in- 
quire concerning  religion,  and  to  receive  impressions  very  unfavoura- 
ble to  popery.  These  influences,  and  the  conversation  he  had  with 
ministers  and  other  serious  persons,  both  abroad  and  at  home,  opera- 
ting upon  the  mind  of  Erskine,  he  became  a  convert  to  the  protestant 
faith:  and  he  was  also  eminently  instrumental  in  the  conversion  of 
David  Straiton,  who,  on  the  27th  of  August  of  this  year,  was  exe- 
cuted at  Edinburgh  for  his  profession  of  the  reformed  religion. 

The  castle  of  Dun  was  always  open  as  an  asylum  for  the  perse- 
cuted preachers  and  professors  of  the  protestant  faith,  where  they 
enjoyed  Christian  communion.  Mr.  Erskine  was  appointed  an 
"  exhorter"  long  before  he  became  a  regular  minister  among  the 
reformers.  ^ "  Exhorters"  were  a  class  of  men,  whose  duty  consisted 
in  expounding  the  Scriptures.  Being  provost  of  Montrose,  he  pro- 
cured for  George  Wishart  the  appointment  to  be  master  of  the  gram- 
mar school. 

In  the  war  with  England,  which  began  September,  1548,  he  took 
an  active  part :  and  his  able  and  gallant  defence  of  the  town  of 
Montrose,  is  particularly  noticed.  The  following  account  as  given  by 
Beague,  will  be  read  with  interest. 

"The  English  fleet  came  secretly  thither  expecting  no  opposition. 
The  Laird  of  Dun,  by  reason  of  the  valetudinary  state  of  his  health, 
chanced  tobe  at  home  at  the  time.  This  gentleman  had  a  large 
stock  of  wisdom  and  honesty ;  and  being  admirably  well  seen  in 
war,  was  not  ignorant  that  the  smallest  oversights  usher  in  for  the 
most  part,  inconveniences  of  the  highest  importance,  namelie,  where 
access  is  easy.     For  this  reason,  though  his  illnes  pleaded  for  rest, 


JOHN  ERSKINE  OF  DUN. 


213 


lie  never  retired  at  night  till  he  head  first  visited  the  guard  of  a  fort, 
which,  with  incredible  diligence,  he  had  caused  to  be  reared  at  the 
mouth  of  the  harbour  of  Montrose  :  then  after  weakening,  or  doub- 
ling the  guard  as  he  found  expedient,  and  leaving  proper  orders 
behind  him,  he  retired  to  his  own  house,  or  stayed  in  the  town  of 
Monross  ;  and  was  frequently  wont  to  say,  '  That  as  men  of  honnour 
are  bound  to  fear  shame,  so  they  are  by  the  same  rule  oblidged  not 
to  shun  dangers  or  troubles.'  When  the  English  fleet  approached, 
he  hapned  to  see  a  great  many  ships  not  far  of.  Behold  a  singular 
example  of  what  a  ready  wit  can  effect  upon  the  most  urgent  neces- 
sitys.  The  Laird  of  Dun  having  discovered  the  enimys  fleet,  and 
looking  for  the  worst,  a  consideration  seldome  lyable  to  the  pains  of 
repenting,  gave  orders  to  some  of  his  men  to  man  the  best  ships  in 
the  harbour,  and  impede  the  enimie's  ingress  that  way;  he  com- 
manded others  to  guard  the  fort,  and  sent  off  some  to  the  town,  with 
orders  to  go  about  in  a  privat  way  among  the  Burgesses,  seamen, 
and  others,  to  cause  them  to  take  armes.  He  left  orders  with  them 
in  their  respective  posts,  and  he  himself  marched  with  a  party 
against  the  enimie.  To  compass  his  aim  with  the  more  caution,  he 
left  a  part  of  his  men  out  of  the  town  in  an  advantageous  place,  for- 
merly fortifyed,  to  secure  his  retrait,  and  advanced  with  the  most 
nimble,  with  that  secrecy  and  diligence,  that  he  discovered  the 
enimie's  frigates  sailing  to  and  froe  with  their  men  in  them  landing. 
Having  thus  penetrated  into  the  plot,  he  withdrew  to  his  party  he 
had  left  without  the  town  ;  and  having  placed  sentinells  in  proper 
posts,  to  prevent  surprizes,  he  reentered  the  town.  By  this  time  a 
thousand  of  the  inhabitants  wer  in  armse ;  of  them  he  picked  out 
three  hundred,  and  ordered  them  out  to  joyn  their  friends  at  the 
trenches,  the  remainder  he  thought  uniitt  for  action,  and  ordered  two 
gentlmen  in  whom  he  could  confide  to  lead  them,  with  the  ship 
boyes  and  populace,  to  the  back  of  a  mountain  which  looks  down 
upon  that  place  wher  the  enimy  landed.  These  gentlemen  he 
ordered  to  lye  closs  till  he  gave  the  signal  1,  the  second  tire  of  his 
artillery,  and  then  to  draw  all  their  company  in  the  best  order  they 
could,  and  show  themselves  at  a  distance  to  the  English.  He  had 
laizour  enough  to  put  his  signe  in  execution.  The  English  knew  litle 
of  the  country,  and  though  six  or  eight  hundred  men  wer  landed, 
they  had  not  stirred  from  the  shore.  By  the  break  of  day  they  hast- 
ned  to  the  town  full  of  hopes  and  expecting  no  opposition.  The 
Laird  of  Dun  with  his  men  in  the  trenches,  gave  them  a  terrible 
onsett,  and  their  arrowes  flew  so  quick  that  many  of  them  wer  over- 
whelmed before  they  knew  from  whence  or  by  whom  the  storm  was 
poured  down.  The  Scots  who  lay  in  ambush,  charged  the  enimy  at 
this  rate  four  or  five  times,  till  they  rallyed  and  offered  to  repell  the 
shock,  the  ambush  retired  with  order  and  inconsiderable  loss  to  the 
trenches.  The  English  pursued  with  incredible  speed,  wher  the 
Scots  with  the  shot  of  their  arrowes  and  fire  of  their  arquebushes  cut 
off  a  «reat  many  of  the  formost,  and  mentained  their  post  against 
the  remainder,  without  coming  to  hardy  blowes.  Thus,  the  Laird  of 
Dun's  orders  and  dispositions  wer  exactly  executed,  and  now  all 
being  ready  for  his  intended  project,  and  apprehensive  that  the  heat 


o1_1:  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

of  action  should  warm  his  men  to  an  excess  of  forwardnes,  he  began 
insensibly  to  draw  them  behind  the  trenches.  This  he  did  so  cun- 
ningly, that  the  enimies  scarce  perceived  the  insensible  retiring, 
till  they  saw  him  retire  yrith  the  last.  Upon  this  the  English  pur- 
sued briskly,  as  he  expected,  and  then  the  Laird  of  Dun  commanded 
three  feild  pieces  which  he  had  brought  thither  to  be  discharged, 
which  by  reason  of  the  nearues  and  confusion  of  the  enimie,  did 
them  a  worlde  of  mischeife.  After  this  the  Scots  broke  out  again, 
with  a  great  cry,  and  their  swords  in  hand,  with  incredible  and  irre- 
sistible fury.  Meanwhile,  the  signall  being  given,  the  detachment 
which  the  Laird  of  Dun  had  loged  on  the  back  of  the  hill,  made  all 
the  neighbourhood  resound  with  shouts  and  huzzas,  and  failed  not  to 
show  themselves  as  ordered  at  a  convenient  distance;  they  appeared 
in  the  form  of  a  four-square  battalion,  and  wer  so  skilfuly  ranked, 
though  their  weepons  were  ridiculouse,  that  the  enemy  took  them  to 
be  armed  according  to  the  French  fashion  and  concluded  they  wer 
about  to  cut  off  their  retreat.  This  struck  them  with  terrour,  and 
made  them  run  to  the  sea  with  the  grea[te]st  disorder  that  fancy 
can  represent.  They  ne[ver]  once  looked  back  on  the  pursuing 
Scots,  who  chased  them  so  eagerly,  and  made  such  havock  among 
them,  that  of  nine  hundred  not  one  hundred  gote  to  their  ships.  The 
fleet  putt  to  sea  and  retired.  The  Laird  of  Dun  divided  the  spoils 
of  the  vanquished  among  his  men,  and  returned  to  the  town  with  the 
glory  of  a  victory,  that  was  owing  not  only  to  valour  and  vigilancy, 
but  to  such  a  nice  piece  of  martial]  cunning,  as  at  once  elevated  the 
spirits  of  his  own  people,  and  intimidated  the  enimy  so  very  much, 
that  at  last  they  broke  their  ranks,  and  tamely  permitted  their  throats 
to  be  cut." 

In  the  autumn  of  the  year  1555,  and  shortly  after  Knox's  arrival 
from  Geneva,  the  laird  of  Dun  held  a  conference  at  his  lodgings  in 
Edinburgh  upon  the  unlawfulness  of  communion  -with  papists.  Mr. 
Knox  pointed  out  the  sinfulness  of  it  so  forcibly,  that  a  great  seces- 
sion was  made  from  the  popish  meetings  ;  and  the  reformers  resolved 
so  soon  as  a  protestant  minister  could  be  procured,  the  sacrament  of 
the  Lord's  Supper  should  be  administered  to  them  according  to  the 
plan  adopted  by  the  reformed  churches  abroad.  Soon  after  this  Mr. 
Erskine  left  Edinburgh  for  his  family  seat  of  Dan,  Mr.  Knox  quickly 
following,  and  residing  with  him  for  about  a  month,  where  the  latter 
daily  preached  the  go-pel,  and  dispensed  the  sacrament  to  most  of 
the  gentlemen  of  the  county  of  Nearns  and  Angus,  all  enga^ino-  to 
ojipose  idolatry  to  the  utmost. 

_  In  December  1557,  the  parliament  assembled,  and  having  named 
eight  commissioners,  among  whom  was  the  laird  of  Dun,  to°proceed 
to  France  to  be  present  at  the  marriage  of  the  young  queen  with  the 
dauphin,  they  set  sail  in  February  155S.  They  returned  in  October 
following,  after  a  voyage  of  great  disaster ;  some  of  the  commission- 
ers having  died,  not  without  suspicion  of  having  been  poisoned. 

m  After  the  martyrdom  of  Walter  Mill,  the  last  who  suffered  pre- 
vious to  the  reformation,  the  professors  of  the  protestant  religion 
grew  more  hold,  and  in  the  summer  of  1558,  held  their  meetings 
for  worship  in  public,  and  were  countenanced  by  the  presence  of  the 


JOHN   ERSKINE   OF   DUN. 


21. 


laird  of  Dan,  and  lord  James,  prior  of  St.  Andrew's,  both  of  whom 
had  returned  safe  from  the  embassy  to  France. 

The  English  queen,  Mary,  having  died  November  15th  of  the 
same  year,  and  her  sister  Elizabeth,  who  succeeded  her,  being  a  pro- 
testant,  she  gave  her  countenance  and  support  to  the  reformers  in 
Scotland. 

The  laird  of  Dun  wras  one  of  the  petitioners  to  the  queen  regent 
of  Scotland,  who,  being  chiefly  guided  by  the  popisli  bishops,  perse- 
cuted her  protestant  subjects,  and  was  strongly  opposed  to  the  spread 
of  the  principles  of  the  reformation.  The  petitioners  requested  per- 
mission to  worship  God,  "  according  to  the  dictates  of  their  own 
conscience,"  and  also  desired  that  their  ministers  should  be  freed 
from  obeying  the  proclamation  which  enjoined  their  attendance  at 
Stirling  the  10th  day  of  May,  1559,  under  pain  of  rebellion.  The 
laird  of  Dun  being  anxious  for  the  safety  of  the  ministers,  and  at 
the  same  time  wishing  to  preserve  peace,  proposed  to  the  congrega- 
tion then  at  Perth,  that  he  should  proceed  to  Stirling,  and  endeavour 
to  give  the  queen  advice,  contrary  to  that  which  she  had  received 
from  her  popish  counsellors.  The  queen  regent  even  signified  her 
wish  to  have  a  conference  with  him  ;  but  this  was  only  used  as  a 
pretext  for  delay,  till  she  had  accomplished  her  design  with  the  par- 
liament, of  vesting  in  the  dauphin,  the  succession  to  the  crown  of 
Scotland.  After  some  conference  with  the  queen,  who  used  all  her 
wonted  dissimulation,  the  laird  of  Dun  became  impressed  with  her 
sincerity,  and  wrote  letters  to  the  congregation,  that  the  queen  had 
acceded  to  his  requests  ;  and  that  the  ministers  were  not  to  be  tried, 
but  might  return  to  their  homes.  At  the  reading  of  his  letters,  a 
few  were  disposed  to  put  confidence  in  the  queen  regent's  promises 
— but  the  greater  portion  of  the  barons  and  gentlemen  were  of 
opinion  that  the  laird  of  Dun  had  been  deceived,  and  therefore 
determined  to  remain  at  Perth  until  after  the  10th  of  May,  or  until 
the  proclamation  should  be  withdrawn.  The  ministers  having  failed 
to  appear,  in  consequence  of  the  device  of  the  queen  regent,  she 
immediately  gave  orders  to  put  them  all  to  the  horn,  for  non-com- 
pearance,  and  likewise  to  punish  all  who  should  presume  to  assist  or 
maintain  them.  The  laird  of  Dun  arrived  at  Perth  on  the  evening 
of  the  10th  May,  with  these  evil  tidings,  which  put  the  congregation 
into  a  state  of  great  consternation  ;  and  the  excitement  consequent 
on  the  deceit  thus  practised,  contributed  in  no  small  degree  to  the 
pulling  down  of  the  monuments  of  idolatry  at  St.  Johnston  and 
Scoon,  on  the  following  day.  But  the  laird  of  Dun  and  Knox  were 
conspicuous  in  their  endeavours  to  quell  the  ferment  thus  occasioned 
by  the  double-dealing  of  the  queen  and  her  popisli  advisers. 

In  the  following  year,  the  laird  of  Dun  Mas  employed  in  conduct- 
ing some  of  the  most  arduous  affairs  of  the  nation.  He  was  one  of 
those  appointed  to  sign  the  instructions  given  to  the  Scots  commis- 
sioners, dated  at  Glasgow,  February  10th,  15G0,who  went  to  Berwick 
to  treat  with  the  Duke  of  Norfolk,  for  assistance  from  England 
against  the  French  troops,  who  at  this  time  held  possession  of  Leith. 
The  commissioners  having  acted  according  to  their  instructions,  aid 
was  sent  from  England,  under  the  command  of  lord  Gray  of  Wilton, 


210 


SCOTS   WORTHIES. 


who  succeeded  in  expelling  the  French  ;*  and  by  the  treaty  of  Leitb, 
which  was  signed  May  10th,  1560,  the  reformation  was  finally  estab- 
lished. 

On  the  death  of  the  queen  regent,  which  happened  in  June  follow- 
ing, a  convention  of  the  estates  was  held  to  take  the  affairs  of  the 
church  into  their  consideration,  and  to  allocate  the  few  ministers  that 
were  among  them,  according  to  the  necessities  of  the  different  parts 
of  the  country.  At  this  time  the  First  Book  of  Discipline  was 
produced,  which  contained  an  act,  ordaining  ecclesiastical  superin- 
tendents. They  nominated  five,  agreeably  to  the  "  First  Book/'  and 
the  laird  of  Dun  was  appointed  to  the  superintendence  of  Angus 
and  Mearna. 

On  December  10th,  1560,  the  first  National  or  General  Assembly 
was  held.  The  early  assemblies  watched  strictly  over  the  conduct 
of  their  superintendents ;  and  in  that  which  was  held,  December 
25th,  1502,  it  was  proposed  that  the  laird  of  Dun  should  be  removed 
from  acting  as  superintendent  of  Angus  and  Mearns :  it  was 
observed,  that  he  had  permitted  popish  priests  to  read  in  kirks 
within  his  diocese;  that  young  men  were  admitted  to  be  exhorters, 
without  the  necessary  examination  laid  down  in  the  "  First  Book  of 
Discipline," — that  gentlemen  of  vicious  lives  were  chosen  to  be 
elders — and  that  sundry  ministers  came  late  to  the  kirk,  unneces- 
sarily detaining  the  people,  and  causing  them  to  depart  immedi- 
ately after  sermon.  The  superintendent  being  called  in,  tendered 
his  resignation  of  the  commission  he  had  received  from  the  assembly 
— stating  that  the  office  was  one  of  much  difficulty  and  responsi- 
bility ;  and,  from  the  declining  state  of  his  health,  he  wished  to  be 
freed  from  it — at  the  same  time,  he  promised  to  do  all  in  his  power 
to  remedy  the  evils  complained  of. 

The  laird  of  Dun  was  chosen  Moderator  of  the  eleventh  general 
assembly,  which  met  December  1505.  Among  the  first  subjects 
which  they  took  up,  was  the  conduct  of  the  superintendents — and 
they  entered  a  complaint  against  the  moderator  that  his  visitation 
was  not  so  close  as  it  ought  to  be.  He  admitted  with  his  usual 
candour,  that  he  had  not  visited  the  kirks  for  two  months  bypast,  but 
alleged  in  vindication,  that  during  the  time,  he  lodged  with  his 
friends  who  had  most  need  of  correction  and  discipline — he  there- 
fore besought  the  assembly  to  provide  some  other  for  the  office  ;  a 
request,  which  in  the  humility  of  his  spirit  he  frequently  made  ;  but 
the  assembly  always  declined  to  grant  his  desire.  Erskine  was 
continued  moderator  of  the  next  two  assemblies — and  towards  the 
end  of  the  thirteenth  (December  1566,)  he  again  claimed  to  be 
"  exonered  from  the  burdensome  calling  on  account  of  the  weak  state 
of  his  health;  but  they  would  not  altogether  free  him  from  his 
charge,  only  allowing  him  to  appoint  some  of  the  best  qualified 
within  his  bounds,  to  visit  when  he  found  himself  unable  to  perform 
the  duty. 

Next  year,  he  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  important  ceremony  of 

*  For  an  account  of  the  siege,  the  curious  reader  is  referred  to  "The  Seige  of  Leith  "  in 
Churchyard's  "  Chips  concerning  Scotland,"  pp.  SS-115.  The  author  served  in  the  English 
army,  and  was  actively  engaged. 


JOHN   ERSKINE   OF   DUN.  ©17 

the  coronation  of  James  VI.,  which  took  place  at  Stirling.  July  oafi. 
1567.  ^       *         ' 

After  the  assembly  of  1569,  a  commission  was  given  to  Erskine  to 
visit  the  bounds  of  Aberdeen,  and  particularly  the  university.  Here 
he  deposed  from  their  offices  five  members  of  king's  college  who 
remained  obstinate  in  their  popish  faith.  We  do  not  find  that' they 
were  taxed  with  any  immorality  ;  but,  according  to  the  act  of  parlia- 
ment which  was  passed  at  Edinburgh,  24th  August,  1560,  their  tenets 
rendered  them  unfit  for  the  office  of  teachers  of  youth. 

On  the  28th  of  July,  1569,  the  "  good  regent"  called  a  convention 
of  the  estates  to  be  held  at  Perth,  to  consider  a  matter  of  vital 
importance  to  the  reformers.  This  was  an  application  from  lord 
Boyd  to  the  regent,  in  name  of  queen  Mary,  backed  with  letters 
from  the  English  ministers  of  state,  containing  proposals  fur  the 
return  of  the  queen  to  Scotland.  Of  this  convention  the  laird  of 
Dun  was  member  for  the  town  of  Montrose. 

A  circumstance  is  related  that  took  place  next  year,  which  shows 
that  the  pious  life  led  by  the  laird  of  Dun,  was  acknowledged  in  a 
remarkable  way — he  having  had,  like  the  prophets  of  old,  a  revela- 
tion of  the  death  of  the  "  good  regent,"  which  happened  at  Linlith- 
gow on  the  23d  January,  1570.  The  following  is  Wodrow's  account, 
as  handed  down  on  the  authority  of  two  ministers  of  the  church,  who 
at  one  time  resided  in  the  family  of  Dun.  "  The  regent  was  over  in 
Lochleven  with  the  earl  of  Northumberland,  whom  he  had  catched 
after  the  late  rebellion  raised  by  him  and  other  papists  in  England 
was  suppressed ;  and  had  been  made  prisoner  there  about  the  2d  of 
January.  He  came  and  lodged  with  the  superintendent  of  Angus, 
in  the  house  of  Dun,  where  they  yet  know  the  large  window  at  the 
end  of  the  old  hall  there,  which  looked  out  to  a  pleasant  green. 
The  earl  of  Moray,  and  the  laird  of  Dun  were  standing  in  that 
window,  conversing  closely  upon  important  matters,  with  their  faces 
looking  towards  the  green.  While  the  regent  was  talking,  the 
superintendent  suddenly  looked  about  to  him,  and  with  the  greatest 
sorrow  and  tears  in  his  eyes,  after  he  had  been  silent  for  some  time, 
at  length  interrupted  the  regent  with  these  words,  '  Ah !  woes  me, 
my  lord,  for  what  I  perceive  is  to  befall  you  shortly,  for  in  a  fort- 
night's time  you  will  be  murdered.'  Such 'hints  of  future  things 
were  not  uncommon  among  our  reformers,  as  I  have  more  than  once 
noticed.  And  the  regent  had  several  fore  notices  of  his  hazard,  as 
well  as  this,  and  too  little  regarded  them." 

After  the  murder  of  the  earl  of  Moray,  the  earl  of  Mar  was  ap- 
pointed regent,  and  the  laird  of  Dun  entered  into  a  correspondence 
with  him,  in  which  he  showed  his  great  zeal  for  the  liberties  of  the 
church.  His  first  letter,  dated  10th  November  1571,  appears  to  have 
been  a  reply  to  several  heads  or  questions  issued  by  the  regent  on 
the  subject  of  the  application  of  church  rents  to  the  uses  of  govern- 
ment,— on  presentations  to  bishops, — and  on  the  superseding  of  su- 
perintendents by  bishops  ;  and  as  it  contains  distinct  answers  to  all 
these  questions,  exhibiting  a  view  of  his  opinions  on  these  subjects, 
it  is  here  given  entire. 

"  I  thought  it  expedient  in  write   to  let  your  Grace  know  my 


21  s  SCOTS  WORTHIES. 

judgment  in  these  articles  and  heads  conteaned  in  your  Grace's  last 
Writing.  As  to  the  pension  appointed  before  unto  the  Regent's  house, 
as  I  understand,  litle  difficulty  will  be  therm,  your  Grace  doing 
your  duty  to  the  Kirk,  the  which  I  pray  God  your  Grace  may  do. 
As  to  the  provision  of  benefices,  this  is  my  judgment.  All  bene- 
fices of  teinds,  or  having  teinds  joyned  or  annexed  thereunto,  which 
is  taken  up  of  the  peoples  labours,  have  the  offices  joined  unto  them  ; 
which  office  is  the  preaching  of  the  Evangell  and  ministration  of  the 
sacraments  ;  and  this  office  is  spirituall,  and  belongeth  to  the  Kirk, 
who  only  hath  the  distribution  and  ministation  of  spirituall  things  ; 
so  be  the  Kirk  spiritual!  offices  are  distributed,  and  men  received  and 
admitted  therunto ;  and  the  administration  of  the  power  is  com- 
mitted be  the  Kirk  to  Bishops  or  Superintendants,  wherfor  to  the 
Bishops  and  Superintendants  perteaneth  the  examination  and  admis- 
sion of  men  to  offices  and  Benefices  of  spirituall  cure,  whatsoever 
benefice  it  be,  as  well  Bishopricks,  Abbacys  and  Priories,  as  other 
benefices  inferior.  That  this  perteaneth  by  the  Scriptures  of  God  to 
the  Bishops  or  Superintendants  is  manifest,  for  the  Apostle  Paul 
writeth  in  the  2d  to  Timothy,  chap.  2,  ver.  2,  '  These  things  that 
thou  hast  heard  of  me,  many  being  witness,  the  same  deliver  to 
faithful!  men,  who  shall  be  able  to  teach  others.'  Here  the  Apostle 
referreth  the  examination  to  Timothy  of  the  quality  and  ability  of 
the  persons,  wher  he  sayeth,  '  to  men  able  to  teach  others,'  and  also 
the  admonition  he  referreth,  wher  he  biddeth  deliver  to  Mm,  the 
same  that  is  able  to  teach  others ;  and  in  another  place,  1  Tim.  chap. 
5,  ver.  22,  'Lay  hands  on  no  man  sudainly,  neither  be  partaker  of 
other  men's  sins,  keep  thyself  pure.'  By  laying  on  of  hands,  is  un- 
derstood admission  to  spirituall  offices,  which  the  Apostle  will  not 
that  Timothy  do  suddenly,  without  just  examination  of  their  man- 
ners and  doctrine.  The  Apostle  also  writing  to  Titus,  Bishop  of 
Crete,  putteth  him  in  remembrance  of  his  office,  which  was  to 
admitt,  and  appoint  ministers  in  every  city  and  congregation  ;  and 
that  he  should  not  do  the  same  rashly,  without  examination,  he  ex- 
presses the  quality  and  conditions  of  such  men  as  should  be  admit- 
ted, as  at  lenth  is  conteaned  in  the  first  chapter  of  the  Epistle  for- 
said.  The  deacons  which  wer  chosen  in  Jerusalem  be  the  whole 
congregation,  wer  received  and  admitted  by  the  Apostles,  and  that 
by  laying  on  of  their  hands,  as  St.  Luke  writeth  in  the  6th  chapter 
of  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles.  This  we  have  expressed  plainly  by  the 
Scriptures.  That  to  the  office  of  a  Bishop  perteaneth  examination 
and  admission  to  spirituall  cure  and  office,  and  also  to  oversee  them 
that  are  admitted,  that  they  walk  uprightly,  and  also  exercise  their 
office  faithfully  and  purely.  To  take  this  power  from  a  Bishop  or 
Superintendant,  is  to  take  away  the  office  of  a  Bishop,  that  no 
bishop  be  in  the  Kirk,  which  were  to  alter  and  abolish  the  order 
that  G-od  hath  appointed  in  his  Kirk.  Ther  is  a  spirituall  power 
and  jurisdiction  which  God  hath  given  to  his  Kirk,  and  to  those 
who  hear  office  therm,  and  ther  is  a  temporall  jurisdiction  given 
of  God  to  kings  and  civil  magistrates.  Both  the  powers  are  of  God, 
and  most  agreing  to  the  fortifying  one  another,  if  they  be  right 
us<  d.     But  when  the  corruption  of  man  entereth  in,  confounding 


JOHN    ERSKINE   OF   DUN.  ojq 

the  offices,  usurping  to  himself  what  he  pleaseth,  nothing  regerding 
the  good  order  appointed  by  God,  then  confusion  followeth  in  afl 
estates.  In  the  first  Book  of  the  Kings,  12  chap.,  it  is  written  that 
Jeroboam  the  King,  in  presumption  of  his  authority,  made  Preiste 
in  his  realme,  express  against,  the  order  which  the'  Lord  in  those 
dayes  had  appointed  concerning  the  priesthood,  wherupon  followed 
[the]  destruction  of  that  king,  and  his  seed  also,  as  also  of  all  other 
kings  who  followed  him  in  that  wickednes.  For  better  understand- 
ing of  this  matter,  Christ  hath  given  forth  a  rule  which  ought  to  be 
weighed  of  magistrates,  and  of  all  people,  saving,  '  Give  to  Csesar 
that  pertaineth  to  Ca?sar,  and  to  God  that  which  pertaineth  unto 
God.'  The  Kirk  of  God  should  fortify  all  lawfull  power  and  author- 
ity that  pertaineth  to  the  civil  magistrat,  because  its  the  ordinance 
of  God,  but  if  he  pass  the  bounds  of  his  office,  and  enters  the  sanc- 
tuary of  our  Lord,  medling  with  such  things  as  appertean  to  the 
ministers  of  God's  Kirk,  as  Uzziah  King  of  Judah,  2.  Paralip.  1G, 
entering  into  the  temple  to  burn  incense,  the  which  pertained  not  to 
his  office,  then  the  servants  of  God  should  withstand  his  unjust 
interprize,  as  the  Preists  at  that  time  did  withstand  the  Kings  of 
Judah,  for  so  they  are  commanded  of  God.  The  servants  of  God, 
when  such  wickednes  occurreth,  should  not  keep  silence,  flattering 
princes  in  their  vain  pride,  but  withstand  and  reprove  them  in  their 
iniquity  ;  and  who  doth  otherwise  in  God's  Kirk,  is  unworthy  to  bear 
any  office.  A  greater  offence  and  contempt  of  his  Kirk  can  no  prince 
do,  than  to  set  up  by  his  own  authority  men  in  spirituall  offices,  as  to 
creat  Bishops  and  Pastors  of  the  Kirk,  for  so  to  do  is  to  conclude  no 
Kirk  of  God  to  be,  for  the  Kirk  cannot  be,  without  it  have  the  awn 
proper  jurisdiction  and  liberty,  with  the  ministration  of  such  offices 
as  God  hath  appointed.  In  speaking  this  of  the  liberty  of  the 
Kirk,  1  mean  not  the  hurt  of  the  King,  or  others  in  their  patron- 
ages, but  that  they  have  their  privileges  of  presentation  accord- 
ing to  the  lawes,  providing  alwise  that  the  examination  and  admis- 
sion pertean  only  to  the  Kirk,  of  all  benefices  having  cure  of 
souls.  That  it  should  not  appear  that  the  pastors  of  the  Kirk, 
of  avarice  and  ambition,  seek  to  have  posesion  of  great  bene- 
fices, your  Grace  shall  understand,  that  the  Kirk  continoually 
hath  suited  (of  old  as  well  as  of  new)  as  their  articles  concluded  in 
the  General  Assemblys,  and  consented  to,  and  subscribed  by  the 
most  part  of  the  nobility,  which  are  to  be  produced,  bear,  and  was 
propounded  to  the  Queen,  the  King's  Majesty  s  mother,  to  wit,  that 
whenever  any  of  the  great  Benefices  vake,  having  many  Kirks 
joyned  thereunto,  that  all  the  Kirks  should  be  divided,  and  severally 
disponed  to  severall  men,  to  serve  every  one  at  his  own  Kirk 
continow  ;  wherfor  it  may  appear  that  they  seek  not  of  avarice  such 
promotion  is  alledged.  And  I  doubt  not  but  if  others  of  the  nobility 
wer  as  well  purged  of  avarice,  and  other  corruption,  as  the  ministers 
of  the  Kirk,  they  would  have  agreed  to  fulfill  that  thing  which  they 
subscribed  with  solemn  oath.  And  as  yet  the  Kirk  most  humbly 
suiteth  your  Grace,  and  councill  to  have  the  same  fulfilled,  but  if 
this  cannot  be  granted,  I  mean  the  dismembering,  as  they  call  it,  of 
great  benefices,  I  trust,  in  respect  of  this  confused  troublesome  time, 


000  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

the  Kirk  will  consent  (the  benefices  and  offices  joyned  thereunto 
being  given,  after  the  order  before  spoken  of,  that  the  privilege  and 
libertv  of  the  Kirk  be  not  hurt.)  to  assign  such  profites  as  may  be 
Bparecl  above  the  reasonable  snstentation  of  the  ministry,  to  the  men- 
tenance  of  the  authority  and  common  affairs  for  the  present,  while 
further  order  maybe  tane  in  these  matters;  for  the  Kirk  contend- 
ed not  for  worldly  profite,  but  for  that  spiritual!  liberty  which  God 
hath  given  unto  it,  without  the  which  be  granted,  the  servants  of 
God  will  not  be  satisfyed,  but  will  oppose  themselves  against  all 
power  and  tyranny,  which  presumeth  to  spoil  the  Kirk,  of  the 
liberty  thereof,  and  rather  to  dye  than  underly  that  miserable 
bondage.  Their  lives  are  not  so  dear  to  them  as  is  the  honour  of 
God,  and  liberty  of  his  Kirk.  I  hear  some  men  bragg  and  boasts 
the  poor  ministers  of  God,  to  take  their  lives  from  them,  but  I  wish 
such  men  contean  themselves  within  bounds,  for  they  are  not  sure 
of  their  own  lives,  and  to  runn  that  race  will  make  it  more  short. 
Of  old,  the  Papists  called  the  truth  heresy,  and  now  some  call  the 
truth  treason.  We  may  perceive  in  all  ages  and  times  Satan  wanteth 
not  his  servants  to  impugne  the  truth.  As  to  the  question,  If  it  be 
expedient  for  a  Superintendant  to  be  wher  a  qualifyed  Bishop  is  ? 

1  understand  a  Bishop  and  Superintendant  to  be  but  one  office,  and 
wher  the  one  is,  the  other  is.  But  having  some  respect  to  the  case 
wherupon  the  question  is  moved,  I  answer,  the  Superintendants  that 
are  placed,  ought  to  continow  in  their  offices,  notwithstanding  any 
other  intruse  themselves,  or  are  placed  be  such  as  have  no  power  in 
such  offices.  They  may  be  called  Bishops,  but  are  no  Bishops,  but 
idols,  Zach.  11,  17,  sait'h  the  Prophet,  and  therfor  the  Superintend- 
ants which  are  called  and  placed  by  the  Kirk,  have  office  and  juris- 
diction, and  the  other  Bishops,  so  called,  have  no  office  and  jurisdic- 
tion in  the  Kirk  of  God,  for  they  enter  not  by  the  dore,  but  by 
another  way,  and  therefore  are  not  pastors,  as  saith  Christ,  but 
thieves  and  robbers.  I  cannot  but  from  my  very  heart  lament  that 
great  misorder  used  in  Stirling  at  the  last  Parliament,  in  creating 
Bishops,  planting  them  and  giving  them  vote  in  Parliament  as 
Bishops,  in  despite  of  the  Kirk,  and  high  contempt  of  God,  having 
the  Kirk  opposing  itself  against  that  misorder,  but  they  wer  not 
heard,  but  boasted  with  threatnings  ;  but  their  boasting  is  not  against 
man,  but  against  the  Eternall  God,  whose  ordinance  publickly  they 
transgressed,  what  followed  thereupon  is  knowen.  God  hath  power 
to  destroy  and  to  save,  he  is  Almighty  Lord,  able  to  preserve  the 
innocent,  and  cast  down  the  pride  of  the  mighty.  I  hear  that  some 
wer  offended  with  the  commissioners  of  the  Kirk  at  that  time,  but 
without  cause,  for  they  passed  not  the  bounds  of  their  commission, 
and  the  whole  Kirk  will  affirm  their  proceedings,  and  insist  further 
in  that  matter.  If  that  misordered  creation  of  Bishops  be  not 
reformed,  the  Kirk  will  first  complean  unto  God,  as  also  to  all  their 
brethren  members  of  the  Kirk  within  this  realme,  and  to  all  reform- 
ed Kirks  within  Europ.  Some  counsellors  think  now  good  time  to 
conquess  from  the  Kirk  (being,  as  they  judge,  now  poor  and  weak,) 
priviledges  and  profits  to  the  temporall  authority,  but  if  ther  wer  no 
other  particular  respects  but  the  authority,  I  judge  they  would  not 


JOHN   ERSKINE  OF   DUN.  221 

travell  so  bussily ;  but  what  respect  soever  they  have,  their  nnright- 
ious  conquest  and  spoil  of  the  Kirk,  shall  not  profit  them,  Lut  rather 
be  a  cause  to  bring  plagues  and  destruction  both  upon  the  head  and 
counselors  of  such  an  abomination.  Because  the  servants  of  the 
Lord  speak  in  this  matter,  reproving  mens  corruptions,  they  are 
called  proud,  and  misknowers  of  their  own  place,  and  know  not 
with  whom  they  deal,  as  though  they  wer  gods,  and  yet  are  but  flesh. 
Let  such  men  understand  of  whatsoever  state  they  be,  that  the  min- 
isters of  God's  Kirk  have  received  an  office  of  God  above  them, 
wherunto  they  ought  to  be  subject  and  obedient,  and  have  received 
a  ritcher  threasure  than  they,  though  it  be  in  earthen  vessels,  as 
saith  the  Apostle  Saint  Paul,  2  Cor.  chap.  4,  ver.  7.  And  have  re- 
ceived a  power  of  God  to  cast  [down]  and  destroy  the  pride  of  men, 
and  to  bring  in  subjection  all  things  that  exalt  themself  against  God, 
2  Cor.  10,  5.  The  Lord  will  not  that  his  servants  in  executing  and 
using  their  office  should  fear  men,  how  mighty  and  potent  soever 
they  appear  to  be,  as  it  is  written,  Esai.  51,  7.  '  Fear  not  the  re- 
proaches of  men,  neither  be  affray ed  of  their  rebukes  and  threat- 
nings,  for  the  moth  shall  eat  them  up  like  a  garment,  and  the  worm 
shall  eat  them  as  wool  ;  but  my  rightiousnes  shall  be  for  ever,  and 
my  salvation  from  generation  to  generation.'  The  Spirit  of  God 
entering  into  the  hearts  of  his  servants,  giveth  them  such  a  tast  of 
his  power  and  majesty,  and  a  sight  of  his  judgments,  that  with 
them  the  enimies  of  God  and  his  Kirk  are  nothing  regarded,  but 
counted  as  dust  before  the  wind,  and  as  wax  before  the  fire,  unable 
to  stand,  but  are  to  perish  in  the  day  of  the  Lords  visitation.  They 
will,  according  to  their  power,  reprove  all  ungodlines,  and  withstand 
all  iniquity ;  and  as  to  the  malice  and  trouble  raised  against  them 
by  the  wicked  powers  of  the  worlde  to  their  own  damnation,  they 
will  patiently  endure,  for  there  consisteth  the  patience  of  the  saints, 
for  they  see  a  glorious  end  to  follow  thereupon.  Some  men  in  their 
corruption,  (as  their  minds  have  declared,)  purpose  in  time  of  trou- 
ble, craftily  to  handle  in  Kirk,  while  all  their  troubles  be  pacifyed. 
Let  such  men  understand  that  such  evil  purposes  make  the  trouble 
to  continow  the  longer.  But  though  the  troubles  wer  pacifyed,  and 
they  confederat  with  England,  France,  and  Spain,  and  all  other 
earthly  kingdomes,  yet  shall  they  not  be  able  to  destroy  the  Kirk  of 
God,  and  liberty  thereof,  for  the  mighty  God  who  hath  been  a  pro- 
tector of  his  Kirk  in  all  ages,  and  hath  destroyed  and  casten  down 
great  impyres  and  kingdomes  that  made  battail  against  his  Kirk, 
shall  use  the  same  judgments  against  all  men  that  in  their  days  in- 
tend the  like  ;  for  he  beareth  to  his  Kirk  a  perpetuall  love,  and  is  a 
perpetuall  protection  and  defence  to  it  in  this  time  and  for  ever. 
An  admonition  of  Davids  to  Kings  and  magistrates,  '  Be  wise,  O  ! 
ye  Kings,  be  learned,  O  !  ye  that  are  Judges  of  the  earth,  serve  the 
Lord  with  fear,  and  rejoyce  before  him  with  reverence.  Kisse  the 
Son  lest  the  Lord  be  angry,  and  so  ye  perish  from  the  right  way,  for 
his  wrath  Khali  be  shortly  kindled,'  I  conclude  with.  Of  Montrose 
the  10th  of  November,  1571."* 

*  Wodrow's  Lives  of  the  Reformers,  Vol.  I.  pp.  36 — 41. 


002  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

The  earl  of  Morton,  at  this  time,  was  extremely  urgent  to  have  Mr. 
Douglas  presented  to  the  see  of  St.  Andrew's,  that  the  profits  of  the 
benefice  might  revert  thereby  into  his  own  hands;  and  the  proceed- 
ings which  took  place  in  consequence  drew  a  second  letter  from 
Erskine,  which  follows. 

"  I  being  in  Perth  this  "Wensday,  having  there  an  Assembly  of 
the  Kirk  of  Stormont  and  Gourie,  being  under  my  care,  I  received  a 
writing  from  your  Grace,  touching  the  convention  to  be  in  Leith  of 
the  Superintendante,  the  16  of  this  Instant,  specifying  also  an 
inhibition,  that  nothing  should  be  answered  to  the  collectors  of  the 
Kirk.  It  is  the  first  inhibition  given  to  that  effect,  and  I  wish  of 
God  it  had  not  begun  in  your  Graces  hands.  The  poor  ministers 
are  not  convict  of  any  crimes  nor  offence,  and  yet  their  living  is 
commanded  to  be  holden  from  them.  I  perceive  the  Kirk  to  be  so 
far  despised,  that  no  wrong  can  be  done  to  it.  It  may  appear  most 
justly  to  all  men,  that  the  destruction  of  the  Kirk  and  ministry  is 
sought ;  for  benefices  are  given  and  Bishops  are  made  at  men's 
pleasure,  without  consent  of  the  Kirk,  and  the  poor  thing  already 
appointed  by  a  law  to  sustean  the  ministry,  is  inhibited  to  be 
answered.  If  this  hath  proceeded  for  obteaning  the  pension  assigned 
to  the  first  most  Godly  Regent;  that  might  have  been  handled 
otherwise  more  reasonably  :  for  I  know  the  mind  of  the  Kirk  willing 
to  have  satisfyed  your  Grace  therein,  and  that  might  have  been 
obteaned  with  a  good  writing.  But  it  seemeth  to  me,  that  men 
intend  to  bring  the  Kirk  under  slavery  and  vile  subjection ;  but  the 
Great  Lord  will  be  enimie  to  their  purposes,  and  bring  destruction 
upon  the  heads  of  such  who  so  intend,  of  whatsoever  estate  they  be, 
and  will  preserve  his  Kirk  in  liberty.  Perceiving  such  proceeding, 
I  see  no  cause  wherefor  any  who  bear  office  should  come  to  Leith,  for 
their  counsel  will  not  be  received,  neither  will  they  be  suffered  to 
reason  freely,  as  experience  hath  taught  in  times  past:  and  the 
counsell  of  the  enemies  of  God  and  his  Kirk  is  followed,  yet  despised 
Israel  is  comforted  in  the  Lord,  he  careth  for  his  people  and  will 
deliver  them  from  the  oppression  of  Tyrants,  and  give  them  honour 
and  liberty,  when  their  enimies  shall  suffer  confusion  and  shame. 
If  your  Grace  consider  the  matter  well,  ye  will  call  back  the  letters 
of  inhibition  ;  if  not,  the  Kirk  will  have  patience,  and  look  for  help 
at  the  hands  of  the  Lord.  The  Kirk  should  have  her  own,  and  not 
beg  at  men.  I  have  staid  the  Superintendant  of  Fyfe,  while  my 
coming  to  St.  Andrew's,  till  we  know  further  of  your  Grace's  mind 
by  this  bearer,  if  it  be  your  pleasure.     Perth,  14  Novembris."* 

In  reply  to  these  two  letters,  the  regent  sent  the  following : ■ 

"  Right  trustie  cusine,  After  most  hearty  commendations,  in  place 
of  your  self,  whom  we  have  long  looked  for,  we  have  received  this 
day  two  letters  of  yours,  one  from  Montrose  the  10,  and  another  from 
Perth  the  14,  of  this  moneth  ;  conteaning  other  effect  and  matter 
than  our  expectation  was.  In  consideration  of  our  good  meaning  to 
have  travelled  by  all  possible  means  for  quieting  of  such  things  as 
wer  in  contraversy,  that  the  ministers  of  the  Kirk  might  have  found 

*  Wodrow's  Lives  of  the  Reformers,  vol.  I.,  pp.  43.  44. 


JOHN    ERSKINE   OF   DUN.  003 

some  ease  and  repose,  and  we  be  relieved  of  a  fashions  burden  that 
we  have,  in  default  of  a  certain  forme  accorded  unto  the  disposition 
of  benetices  greater  or  smaller:  our  said  meaning  we  perceive  is 
otherwise  taken,  which  we  understand  to  proceed  from  other  privat 
fountains  than  your  own  good  nature;  and  so  we  will  not  press  ineikle 
to  contend  with  you  in  write  by  reason  of  this  matter,  as  the  weight 
and  gravity  therof  requireth.  We  have  been  very  desirous  indeed 
to  speak  to  yourself,  especially  since  we  were  burthened  with  charge 
of  regiment,  and  your  own  presence  peradventure  might  have 
supplyed  some  things  that  your  letters  find  fault  with.  But  seeing 
matters  taken  as  they  are,  that  all  occasion  of  grudge  may  be 
removed  for  anything  done  by  us,  we  send  you  herewith  an  inhibition 
of  the  charge  lately  given.  For  as  we  have  lived  heretofore  (praised 
be  God)  honourably  on  our  own,  so  shall  we  forbear  to  crave  the 
collectors,  while  this  matter  be  better  considered  of.  And  yet  when 
indifferent  men  shall  look  on  the  words  of  the  inhibition,  the  intention 
wherfor  it  is  given,  and  for  how  short  a  space  it  should  have  lasted  ; 
we  trust  that  they  shall  think  that  it  ought  not  to  be  tane  in  such  part 
as  we  see  it  is  taken.  If  collectors  be  subjects  to  the  king  (of  others 
we  will  spare  to  speak  at  this  time,)  they  might  compear  when  they 
are  charged,  and  not  write  in  contempt,  let  as  many  charges  pass  as 
they  please,  they  will  obey  none,  and  this  we  mean  of  such  as  be  most 
ernest.  What  the  other  .Regents  had  intended  to  be  taken  up,  that 
we  shall  be  frustrat  of,  which  yet  was  not  the  greatest  occasion  why 
we  desired  some  of  the  Superintendants  to  be  here  at  this  time ;  but 
thir  matters  touched  in  our  leter  sent  you.  Which  albeit  we  sent 
you  for  privat  information,  yet  being  scansed,  we  see  rather  extremity 
meaned,  to  stop  the  helping  of  the  matter,  nor  otherwise  any 
mention  of  quieting  or  ordering  things  amiss,  as  truely  our  meaning 
it  was,  and  is  still,  to  procure  the  reforming  of  things  disordered  in 
all  soils,  as  far  as  may  be,  reteaning  the  priviledge  of  the  King, 
Crown  and  Patronage.  The  default  of  the  whole  stands  in  this,  that 
the  policy  of  the  Kirk  of  Scotland  is  not  perfect,  or  any  solid 
conference  among  godly  men,  that  are  well  willed,  and  of  judgment, 
how  the  same  may  be  helped.  And  for  corruption  which  daily 
encreaseth,  whensoever  the  circumstances  of  things  shall  be  well 
considered  by  the  good  ministers,  who  are  neither  bussy,  nor  over 
desirous  of  promotions  to  them  and  their's,  it  will  be  found  that  some 
have  been  authors  and  procurers  of  things  that  no  good  policy  in  the 
Kirk  can  allow.  Wheranentwe  thought  to  have  conferred  especially 
with  yourself,  and  to  have  yeilded  to  you  in  things  reasonable,  and 
craved  satisfaction  of  other  things  alike  reasonable  at  your  hands,  and 
by  your  procurement.  If  ye  see  no  cause  that  any  who  beareth 
office  in  the  Kirk  of  God  shall  come  to  Leith,  I  must  take  patience 
and  deferr  the  matter  to  the  convention  of  the  estates  of  the  realme, 
by  whom  I  was  burthened  with  this  office,  and  will  make  them  and 
all  the  Godly  in  Christendom  judges  betwixt  them  bearing  office  in 
the  Kirk  (ye  write  of,)  and  me,  whether  I  have  not  sought  their 
satisfaction,  or  if  they  have  not  neglected  the  means  and  occasions 
that  wer  most  apparent  to  bring  quietness  to  the  poor  ministers  of 
the  Kirk.     And  in  the  meantime,  I  will  answer  no  further  to  the 


224  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

several  points  of  your  letters,  but  keep  the  same  to  my  self,  while 
time  and  better  advice  -work  effects.  If  ye  of  your  self  only  have 
written,  then  there  is  one  way  to  be  considered  of,  if  be  common 
consent  of  any  number  of  them  bearing  office  in  the  Kirk,  then  are 
they  to  be  otherwise  considered,  as  time  and  place  serveth.  And  so 
for  this  time  suffering  and  ceasing  to  make  longer  letter,  committs 
you  to  the  protection  of  Almighty  God.  At  Leith,  this  15  of 
Kovember,  1571.  Your  assured  good  Friend, 

John  Regent."* 

The  assembly  which  met  in  1576,  appointed  commissioners  for 
compiling  the  "  Second  Book  of  Discipline,"  among  whom  was  the 
laird  of  Dim.  Each  commissioner  had  a  particular  point  of  church- 
government  allotted  to  him  ;  and  in  the  assembly  which  met  in  the 
following  year,  Erskine  complained  that  there  was  an  obscurity 
about  that  which  had  fallen  to  him, — when  he  was  advised  to  confer 
with  the  other  commissioners,  who  would  assist  in  removing  his 
doubts.  In  1579,  the  "  Second  Book  of  Discipline"  was  presented 
to  the  assembly,  and  was  approved  of,  as  complete ;  and  such  was 
the  labour  bestowed  upon  it,  and  the  sound  views  held  by  the  com- 
pilers, that  to  this  day  it  is  considered  to  contain  a  scriptural  model 
and  true  representation,  of  what  ought  to  be  the  government  of  a 
presbyterian  church. 

The  laird  of  Dun,  though  now  advanced  in  years,  was  still  able  to 
attend  to,  and  took  a  share  in  the  business  of  the  assemblies  of  1586 
and  1587.  "With  the  king's  consent  he  was  appointed  to  erect  pres- 
byteries in  Angus  and  Mearns  ;  and,  along  with  others,  to  collect  all 
the  acts  of  parliament  in  favour  of  the  protestant  religion.  He  did 
not  appear  at  the  assembly  of  1588,  and  three  years  after,  his  infir- 
mities increasing  with  his  years,  he  departed  this  life,  at  his  house 
of  Dun,  March  12th,  1591,  in  the  eighty-second  year  of  his  age  ; — 
leaving  a  numerous  posterity,  and  a  name  for  virtue  and  honesty  of 
principle,  especially  in  the  great  cause  in  which  he  was  engaged, 
not  to  be  ecjualled  in  his  day.  Of  the  five  persons  appointed  to  act 
as  superintendents,  he  was  the  last  survivor,  and  at  his  death  that 
office  ceased,  as  the  duties  had  fallen  to  be  performed  by  means  of 
presbyteries  or  elderships,  as  they  were  then  called.  When  he  was 
in  Edinburgh,  in  May,  1565,  it  is  related  by  Knox,  that  queen  Mary 
expressed  the  following  opinion  of  his  character  :  "  That  albeit  she 
was  not  persuaded  of  the  truth  of  any  religion,  but  the  one  in  which 
she  had  been  brought  up,  yet  she  would  be  content  to  hear  public 
preaching,  out  of  the  mouths  of  such  as  pleased  her;  and  that  above 
all  others,  she  would  gladly  hear  the  superintendent  of  Angus,  Sir 
John  Erskine,  for  he  was  a  mild  and  sweet-natured  man,  and  of  true 
honesty  and  uprightness." 

He  has  the  honour  of  being  among  the  first  who  professed  the 
reformation  in  the  north  of  Scotland,  and  had  a  great  share  in  pro- 
moting its  success.  He  was  possessed  of  singular  prudence,  great 
generosity,  liberality,  and  considerable  learning;  he  was  bold"  and 
zealous — but,  above  all,  singularly  pious  and  religious. 
*  Wodrow's  Lives  of  the  Reformers,  Vol.  I.  pp.  44 — 46. 


ROBERT   ROLLOCK. 


ll'o 


ROBERT  ROLLOCK. 


Robert  Rollock  was  born  in  the  year  1555,  and  was  descended  from 
the  ancient  family  of  the  Livingstons.  Discovering  a  talent  for 
learning,  his  l&ther,  David  Rollock,  sent  him  to  Stirling  to  he  edu- 
cated for  the  university  under  Thomas  Buchanan,  nephew  to  the 
author  of  the  "  History  of  Scotland."  He  remained  under  the  care 
of  this  teacher  till  he  was  prepared  for  entering  the  university,  when 
he  was  sent  to  the  college  of  St.  Salvador,  St.  Andrew's.  By  his 
genius,  modesty,  and  sweetness  of  disposition,  young  Rollock  pro- 
cured for  himself  the  particular  friendship  of  his  master,  which  con- 
tinued till  his  death.  Pie  also  procured  in  a  short  time  the  particular 
and  favourable  notice  of  the  whole  university  ;  so  that  when  he  had 
gone  through  the  regular  course  of  four  years'  study,  which  was  the 
prescribed  period  in  all  the  Scottish  colleges,  and  taken  out  his 
degree,  he  was  elected  professor  of  philosophy,  being  then  only  in 
the  twenty-third  year  of  his  age.  Here  he  discharged  the  duties  of 
his  office  for  four  years,  with  singular  diligence  and  success.  At 
this  period,  and  long  after,  it  was  the  practice,  in  the  Scottish  uni- 
versities, for  the  same  professor  to  conduct  the  studies  of  the  same 
set  of  students  through  the  whole  course ;  and  the  remarkable  pro- 

fress  of  his  pupils,  induced  the  magistrates  of  Edinburgh  to  fix  upon 
Ir.  Rollock,  as  a  lit  person  to  open  their  university,  which  had 
been  founded  by  James  VI.,  the  previous  year.  This  invitation  Mr. 
Rollock  accepted,  and  entered,  in  the  beginning  of  winter,  1583, 
with  energy  upon  his  laborious  office,  lie  was  the  only  teacher, 
comprising  in  his  own  person,  the  character  of  principal  and  profes- 
sors to  the  infant  establishment.  His  reputation  as  a  teacher  soon 
drew  a  number  of  students  to  that  college.  Having  no  assistant, 
Mr.  Rollock  joined  all  his  students  at  first  into  one  class,  but  after- 
wards he  found  a  division  necessary  ;  forming  those  who  had 
received  little  or  no  previous  training,  into  one  class,  and  those  who 
were  somewhat  advanced,  into  another.  At  the  recommendation  of 
Mr.  Rollock,  the  patrons  of  the  college  elected  a  young  man  of  the 
name  of  Duncan  Nairn,  a  second  master  of  the  college,  who  under- 
took the  charge  of  this  first  class  in  the  month  of  November,  1583. 
Mr.  Nairn  taught  his  class  Latin  the  first  year,  Greek  the  second  ; 
there  being  properly  no  humanity  professor  in  the  university  till  a 
number  of  years  afterwards.  Mr.  Rollock  was  also  created  principal, 
though  he  still  continued  to  teach  his  class.  Duncan  Nairn  died  the 
following  year;  and  the  council  having  resolved  to  have  three  classes 
15 


226  SCOTS  WORTHIES. 

taught,  Messrs.  Adam  Colt  and  Alexander  Scrimger  were  elected  in 
his  place. 

Mr.  Roliock  continued  to  teach  his  class  till  the  first  laureaticm, 
which  was  public,  and  attended  by  all  the  nobility  in  town.  The 
number  graduated  was  forty-eight,  who  of  course  signed  the  national 
covenant  ;  for  it  had  been  introduced  into  the  college,  and  tendered 
to  every  student  in  the  year  15S6.  As  soon  as  this  ceremony  was 
concluded,  Mr.  Rollock  resigned  the  special  care  of  his  class,  but 
retained  the  principalship,  to  which  was  now  annexed  the  professor- 
ship of  theology  ;  for  which,  and  preaching  regularly  on  the  Sabbath, 
he  was  allowed  four  hundred  marks  yearly.  He  prayed  in  public 
with  the  students  every  morning  ;  and  on  one  day  of  the  week  ex- 
plained to  them  some  passage  of  Scripture,  which  exercised  he  con- 
cluded with  most  pertinent  and  practical  exhortations.  He  was  par- 
ticularly careful  of  the  more  advanced  students,  that  they  might 
enter  upon  the  ministry  prepared  for  its  duties,  and  under  a  deep 
feeling  of  its  sacred  responsibilities.  lie  was  also  a  diligent  and 
acceptable  minister  of  the  gospel. 

About  this  time  he  wrote  several  commentaries  on  different  pas- 
sages of  Scripture.  His  exposition  of  the  Epistles  to  the  Romans 
and  Ephesians  coming  into  the  hands  of  the  learned  Beza,  he  wrote 
to  one  of  his  friends,  telling  him,  that  he  had  an  incomparable  trea- 
sure, which,  for  its  judiciousness,  brevity,  and  elegance  of  style,  had 
^vw  equals. 

With  literary  ardour  and  piety  almost  boundless,  Mr.  Bollock's 
simplicity  of  character  disqualified  him  from  acting  either  a  consis- 
tent, or  a  profitable  part  in  conducting  the  public  affairs  of  the 
church,  wdiich  at  this  period  were  of  paramount  importance,  involv- 
ing at  once  the  civil  and  religious  rights  of  the  community.  In  the 
language  of  Calderwood,  "  he  was  a  godly  man,  but  simple  in  the 
matters  of  the  church-government ;  credulous,  easily  led  by  counsel, 
and  tutored  in  a  manner  by  his  old  master,  Thomas  Buchanan,  who 
was  now  gained  to  the  king's  cause."  This  easy  disposition  was  at 
once  seen  and  appreciated  by  king  James,  who  had  now  matured 
his  plans  for  reducing  the  church  to  an  entire  dependence  upon  him- 
self, and  was  sedulously  employed  in  carrying  them  into  effect.  He 
was  chosen  moderator  to  the  Assembly  held  at  Dundee,  in  1597,  in 
which  were  passed  several  acts  strongly  tending  to  support  the 
whole  superstructure  of  episcopacy.  He  was  also  one  of  those  com- 
missioned by  the  assembly  to  wait  on  his  majesty  about  seating  the 
churches  of  Edinburgh." 

*  So  Ions;  as  popery  was  the  dominant  religion,  all  the  churches  were  without  seats.  It 
is  certain,  that  previous  to  1586,  neither  pews  nor  forms  were  used.  In  that  year,  the 
pulpit  stones  iii  the  churches  ol  Glasgow  were  ordered  to  he  removed,  and  laid  in  ranks 
for  the  women  to  81t  upon;  and  two  years  later,  some  ash  trees  in  the  High  Churchyard 
were  ordered  to  be  cut  down  '•  to  make  forms  for  the  folk  to  sit  on  in  the  Kirk."  In 
the  session  farther  ordained,  "  that  no  woman  should  sit  upon  or  occupy  the  forms 
men  should  sit  on,  hut  either  sit  laigh,  or  else  bring  stools  wi'  them."  (Hence  the  reason 
why  Jenny Gerldea  was  so  readily  furnished  with  the  stool  which  she  hurled  at  the  bishop's 
bead  in  the  church  of  Edinburgh,  who  "  fust  dared  to  read  prayers  at  her  lue.")  In 
equence  of  the  vast  concourse  of  people  that  then  began  to  crowd  the  churches,  from 
the  compulsory  edict.,  of  the  clergy,  it  was  found  necessary  soon  after  to  erect  galleries. 
The  earliest  account  of  them  upon  record  is  in  1591.' 


JOHN   CRAIG.  227 

Soon  after  this,  Mr.  Rollock  was  seized  with  an  illness  which  con- 
fined him  to  his  house,  and  finally  terminated  his  existence. 

His  works  are  a  commentary  on  some  select  Psalms  ;  on  the  Pro- 
phecy of  Daniel ;  and  the  Gospel  of  John  with  its  Harmony.  He 
wrote  also  on  the  Epistles  to  the  Ephesians,  Colossians,  Thessalo- 
nians,  and  Galatians  ;  and  an  anatysis  of  the  Epistles  to  the  Romans 
and  Hebrews,  with  respect  to  effectual  calling. 


JOHN    CRAIG. 


John  Craig  was  born  about  the  year  1512,  and  had  the  misfortune 
to  lose  his  father  next  year  at  the  battle  of  Flodden.  Notwithstanding 
this  misfortune,  he  obtained  a  good  education,  and  removing  to 
England,  became  tutor  to  the  children  of  lord  Dacre.  In  consequence 
of  war  arising  between  England  and  Scotland,  he  returned  to  his 
native  country,  and  became  a  monk  of  the  Dominican  order. 
Having  afforded  some  reason  for  a  suspicion  of  heresy,  he  was  cast 
into  prison,  but  being  acquitted,  he  returned  to  England,  and 
endeavoured,  by  the  influence  of  lord  Dacre,  to  procure  a  place  at 
Cambridge,  in  wdiich,  however,  he  wras  disappointed.  He  then 
travelled  to  France,  and  thence  to  Rome,  where  he  was  in  such 
favour  with  cardinal  Pole,  that  he  obtained  a  place  among  the 
Dominicans  of  Bologna,  and  was  appointed  to  instruct  the  novices 
of  the  cloister.  Being  advanced  to  the  rectorate,  he  had  access  to 
the  library,  where,  happening  to  read  Calvin's  "  Institutes,"  he 
became  tainted  with  the  protestant  heresy. 

Craig  did  not  conceal  his  new  views  ;  he  was  laid  hold  of,  sent  to 
Rome,  thrown  into  prison,  tried,  and  condemned  to  be  burnt ;  from 
which  fate  he  was  only  saved  by  an  accident.  Pope  Paul  IV. 
having  died  the  day  before  his  intended  execution,  the  people  rose 
tumultuously,  dragged  the  statue  of  his  late  holiness  through  the 
streets,  and,  breaking  open  all  the  prisons,  set  the  prisoners  at 
liberty.  Craig  immediately  left  the  city  ;  and,  as  he  was  walking 
through  the  suburbs,  he  met  a  company  of  banditti, — one  of  whom, 
taking  him  aside,  asked  him  if  he  had  ever  been  in  Bologna  ?  On 
his  answering  in  the  affirmative,  the  man  inquired  if  he  recollected, 
as  he  was  one  day  walking  there  in  the  fields  with  sonic  young 
noblemen,  having  administered  relief  to  a  poor  maimed  soldier,  who 
asked  him  for  alms  ?     Craig  replied  that  he  had  no  recollection  of 


90 S  SCOTS  WORTHIES. 

such  an  event ;  the  bandit  told  him,  however,  that  he  could  never 
forget  the  kindness  he  had  received  on  that  occasion,  which  he 
would  now  beg  to  repay  by  administering  to  the  present  necessities 
of  his  benefactor.  In  short,  this  man  gave  Craig  a  sufficient  sum  to 
carry  him  to  Bologna. 

Craig  was  afraid  lest  some  of  his  former  acquaintances  might 
denounce  him  to  the  inquisition  ;  accordingly,  he  directed  his  course 
o  Milan,  avoiding  all  the  principal  roads,  for  fear  of  meeting  any 
•lemy.  One  day,  when  both  his  money  and  strength  were  ex- 
hausted by  the  journey,  he  came  to  a  desert  place,  where  he  threw 
himself  down  upon  the  ground,  and  almost  despaired  of  life.  At 
this  moment  a  dog  came  fawning  up  to  him,  with  a  bag  of  money  in 
its  mouth,  which  it  laid  down  at  his  feet.  The  despairing  traveller 
instantly  recognised  this  as  "  a  special  token  of  God's  favour ;"  and, 
picking  up  fresh  energy,  proceeded  on  his  way  till  he  reached  a 
village,  where  he  obtained  some  refreshment.  He  now  turned  to 
Vienna,  when,  professing  himself  of  the  Dominican  order,  he  was 
brought  to  preach  before  the  emperor,  Maximilian  II.,  and  soon 
became  a  favourite  at  the  court  of  that  sovereign.  His  fame 
reaching  Rome,  pope  Pius  III.  sent  a  letter  to  the  emperor,  desiring 
him  to  be  sent  back  as  one  that  had  been  condemned  for  heresy. 
The  emperor  generously  gave  him  a  safe  guidance  out  of  Germany. 

On  reaching  England,  about  the  year  1560,  Craig  heard  of  the 
reformation  which  had  taken  place  in  his  native  country,  and  offered 
his  services  to  the  church.  He  found,  however,  that  having  been 
for  the  long  period  of  twenty-four  years  absent  from  the  country,  he 
was  unfitted  to  preach  in  his  vernacular  tongue,  and  was  therefore 
obliged  for  some  time  to  make  known  the  truth  to  the  learned 
in  Latin.  Having  partly  recovered  his  native  tongue,  he  was 
appointed  next  year  to  be  the  colleague  of  Knox,  in  the  parish 
church  of  Edinburgh,  which  office  he  held  for  nine  years.  In  1567, 
the  earl   of   Both  well   obtained   a   divorce  from   his   lawful   wife, 

f>reparatory  to  his  marriage  with  queen  Mary.  The  queen  sent  a 
etter  to  Mr.  Craig,  commanding  him  to  publish  the  banns  of 
matrimony  betwixt  her  and  Bothwell ;  but  on  Sabbath,  having 
declared  that  he  had  received  such  a  command,  he  added,  that  he 
could  not  in  conscience  obey  it,  the  marriage  being  altogether 
unlawful,  He  was  immediately  sent  for  by  Bothwell,  to  whom  he 
declared  his  reasons  with  great  boldness.  He  was  reproved  for  this 
conduct  at  the  time  by  the  council ;  but  two  years  afterwards,  it  was 
declared  by  the  assembly  that  he  had  acted  as  a  faithful  minister. 

About  the  year  1572,  he  was  sent  by  the  general  assembly  to 
preach  at  Montrose,  "for  the  illuminating  the  north;  and  when  he 
had  remained  two  years  there,  he  was  sent  to  Aberdeen,  to  illumi- 
nate those  dark  places  in  Mar,  Buchan,  and  Aberdeen,  and  to  teach 
the  youth  in  the  college  there." 

In  1569,  Mr.  Craig  being  appointed  minister  to  the  king  (James 
VI.,)  returned  to  Edinburgh,  and  occupied  a  prominent  place  in  the 
general  assemblies  of  the  church.  He  was  compiler  of  part  of  the 
Second  Book  of  Discipline,  and  the  writer  of  the  national  covenant, 
signed  in  15S0  by  the  king  and  his  household,  which  was  destined  in 


JOHN   CRAIG.  229 

a  future  age  to  exercise  so  mighty  an  influence  over  the  destinies  of 
the  country.  In  15S1,  when  an  act  of  parliament  was  made,  that  all 
ministers,  masters  of  colleges,  &c,  should,  within  forty-eight  hours, 
compear  and  subscribe  the  act  of  parliament  concerning  the  kind's 
power  over  all  estates,  spiritual  and  temporal,  and  submit  themselves 
to  the  bishops  ;  Mr.  Craig  and  some  others  having  opposed  this  act, 
were  called  before  the  council,  and  asked,  "  How  they  could  be  so 
bold  as  to  controvert  the  late  act  of  parliament."  Mr.  Craig  replied, 
they  would  find  fault  with  anything  repugnant  to  God's  word.  At 
which  answer  the  earl  of  Arran  started  to  his  feet,  and  said  they 
were  too  pert ;  that  he  would  shave  their  heads,  pare  their  nails,  and. 
cut  their  toes,  and  make  them  an  example  unto  all  who  should  disobey 
the  king's  command,  and  his  council's  orders ;  and  forthwith 
charged  them  to  appear  before  the  king  at  Falkland,  on  the  4th  of 
September  following. 

Upon  their  appearance  at  Falkland,  they  were  again  accused  of 
transgressing  the  foresaid  act  of  Parliament,  and  disobeying  the 
bishop's  injunctions,  when  there  arose  a  hot  discussion  between  Mr. 
Craig  and  the  bishop  of  St.  Andrew's.  The  earl  of  Arran  interfered 
and  spoke  most  outrageously  against  Mr.  Craig,  who  coolly  replied 
"  that  there  had  been  as  great  men  set  up  higher,  who  had  been 
brought  low."  Arran  rejoined,  "  I  shall  make  thee  of  a  false  liar,  a 
true  prophet,"  and,  stooping  down  on  his  knee  he  said,  "  now  I  am 
humbled."  "  Nay,"  said  Mr.  Craig,"  mock  the  servants  as  thou  wilt, 
God  will  not  be  mocked,  but  shall  make  thee  find  it  in  earnest,  when 
thou  shalt  be  cast  down  from  the  high  horse  of  thy  pride,  and 
humbled."  This  came  to  pass  a  few  years  afterwards,  when  he  was 
thrown  off  his  horse  by  a  spear  by  James  Douglas  of  Parkhead, 
killed,  and  his  corpse  exposed  to  dogs  and  swine  before  it  was 
buried* 

Mr.  Craig  was  forthwith  discharged  from  preaching  any  more  in 
Edinburgh,  and  the  bishop  of  St.  Andrew's  was  appointed  to  preach 
in  his  place ;  but  as  soon  as  he  entered  the  great  church  of  Edin- 
burgh, the  whole  congregation,  except  a  few  court  parasites,  retired. 
It  was  not  lonfj  till  Mr.  Craig  was  restored  to  his  place  and  office. 

On  the  27th  of  December,  1591,  when  the  earl  of  Bounvell  and  his 
accomplices  came  to  the  king  and  chancellor's  chamber-doors  with 
fire,  and  to  the  queen's  with  a  hammer,  in  the  palace  of  Holyrood- 
house,  with  a  design  to  seize  the  king  and  the  chancellor,  Mr.  Craig, 
npon  the  29th,  preaching  before  the  king,  upon  the  two  brazen 
mountains  in  Zechariah,  said,  u  as  the  king  had  lightly  regarded  the 
many  blood}7  shirts  presented  to  him  by  his  subjects  craving  justice, 
so  God  in  his  providence  had  made  a  noise  of  crying,  and  foreham- 
niers  to  come  to  his  own  doors."  The  king  would  have  the  people  to 
stay  after  sermon,  that  he  might  purge  himself;  and  said,  "  if  he  had 
thought  his  hired  servant  (meaning  Mr.  Craig,  who  was  his  minister) 
would  have  dealt  in  that  manner  with  him,  he  should   not   have 

*  John  Craig  was  a  very  different  man  from  the  royal  chaplains  of  after  times.  He 
boldly  opposed  the  proceedings  of  the  court  when  ne  thought  them  opposed  to  the  interests 
of  religion  ;  and  on  some  occasions  uttered  the  most  pointed  and  severe  truths  respecting 
the  king,  even  in  his  presence. 


230  SCOTS  WORTHIES. 

dealt  with  him  so  long  in  his  house."    Mr.  Craig,  by  reason  of  the 
crowd,  not  hearing  what  he  said,  went  away. 

In  1595,  Mr.  Craig  being  quite  worn  out  by  his  labours,  and  the 
infirmities  of  age,  the  king's  commissioner  presented  some  articles  to 
the  general  assembly  ;  wherein,  amongst  other  things,  he  craved, 
that,  seeing  Mr.  Craig  was  awaiting  the  hour  God  should  please  to 
call  him,  and  was  unable  to  serve  any  longer,  and  his  majesty 
designing  to  place  John  Duncanson,  Mr.  Craig's  colleague,  with  the 
prince,   therefore   his  highness  desired  an   ordinance  to  be  made, 

granting  any  two  ministers  he  should  choose.  This  was  accordingly 
one,  and  Craig  died  on  the  4th  of  December,  1600,  aged  eighty- 
eight,  his  life  having  extended  through  the  reigns  of  four  sovereigns. 
Mr.  Craig  will  appear,  from  these  short  memoirs,  to  have  been  a 
man  of  uncommon  resolution  and  activity.  He  was  employed  in 
most  part  of  the  affairs  of  the  church,  during  the  reign  of  queen 
Mary,  and  in  the  beginning  of  that  of  her  son.  He  compiled  the 
National  Covenant,  and  a  catechism  commonly  called  Craig's  Cate- 
chism, which  was  first  printed  by  order  of  the  assembly,  in  1591. 


DAYID  BLACK. 


HrrnERTO  the  Scottish  reformers  had  more  especially  to  direct  their 
warfare  against  the  encroachments  that  had  been  made  by  the  papists 
upon  Christ's  prophetical  and  sacerdotal  offices;  but,  from  1570 
downward,  they  were  more  particularly  called  upon  to  vindicate  and 
defend  his  regal  prerogative,  as  king  and  head  of  the  church. 
Among  the  earliest  of  those  who  stood  forward  in  defence  of  their 
Lord  and  Master,  was  David  Black,  to  whom  a  conspicuous  part  is 
most  preeminently  due.  Little,  indeed,  is  known  of  his  early 
history  ;  but  this  is  the  less  to  be  regretted,  as  it  is  with  his  public 
life  that  we  are  more  immediately  concerned. 

Mr.  Black  was  for  some  time  colleague  to  the  celebrated  Andrew 
Melville,  as  a  minister  of  St.  Andrew's.  He  was  remarkable  for  zeal 
and  fidelity  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty,  applying  his  doctrines 
closely  to  the  corruptions  of  the  age,  whether  prevailing  amongst  the 
highest  or  lowest  of  the  people.  In  consequence  of  which,  he  was, 
in  1596,  cited  before  the  council  for  some  expressions  uttered  in  a 
sermon,  alleged  to  strike  against  the  king  and  council.  But  his 
brethren  in  the  ministry,  thinking  that  by  this  method  of  procedure 
with  him,  the  spiritual  government  of  the  house  of  God  was  intended 


DAVID    BLACK. 


231 


to  be  subverted,  resolved  that  he  should  decline  answering  the  kin^ 
and  council,  and  that  in  the  meantime,  they  should  be  preparing 
themselves  to  prove  from  the  holy  Scriptures,  that  the  judgment  of 
all  doctrine,  in  the  first  instance,  belonged  to  the  church. 

Accordingly,  Mr.  Black,  on  the  18th  November,  159G,  gave  in  a 
declinature  to  the  council  to  this  effect :  That  he  was  ableto  defend 
all  that  he  had  said  :  yet  seeing  his  answering  before  them  to  that 
accusation  might  be  prejudicial  to  the  liberties  of  the  church,  and 
would  be  taken  as  an  acknowledgment  of  his  Majesty's  jurisdiction 
in  matters  merely  spiritual,  he  was  constrained  to  decline  that  judi- 
catory, 1.  Because  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  had  given  him  his  word  for 
a  rule,  and  that  therefore  he  could  not  fall  under  the  civil  law.  but  in 
so  far  as,  after  trial  he  should  be  found  to  have  passed  from  his 
instructions,  which  trial  belonged  only  to  the  prophets,  i.  e.  the  min- 
isters of  the  church.  2.  That  the  liberties  of  the  church,  and  disci- 
pline presently  exercised,  were  confirmed  by  divers  acts  of  parlia- 
ment, and  approved  of  by  the  Confession  of  Faith  ;  that  the  office 
bearers  of  the  church  were  now  in  the  peaceable  possession  thereof; 
and  that  the  question  of  his  preaching  ought  first,  according  to  the 
grounds  and  practices  aforesaid,  to  be  judged  by  the  ecclesiastical 
senate,  as  the  competent  judges  thereof  in  the  first  instance.  This 
declinature,  with  a  letter  sent  by  the  different  presbyteries,  was  in  a 
short  time  subscribed  by  between  three  and  four  hundred  ministers, 
all  assenting  to  and  approving  of  it. 

The  commissioners  of  the  general  assembly  then  sitting  at  Edin- 
burgh, knowing  that  the  king  was  displeased  at  this  proceeding,  sent, 
some  of  their  number  to  speak  with  his  majesty  ;  to  whom  he  replied 
that  if  Mr.  Black  would  pass  from  his  declinature,  he  would  pass 
from  the  summons  ;  but  this  they  would  not  consent  to  do.  Upon 
which  the  king  caused  summon  Mr.  Black  again,  on  the  27th  of 
November,  to  a  council  to  be  held  on  the  30th.  This  summons 
was  given  with  sound  of  trumpet,  and  open  proclamation,  at  the 
cross  of  Edinburgh  ;  and  the  same  day,  the  commissioners  of  the 
assembly  were  ordered  to  depart  thence  in  twenty-four  hours,  under 
pain  of  rebellion. 

Before  the  day  of  Mr.  Black's  second  appearance  at  the  council, 
he  prepared  a  still  more  explicit  declinature,  especially  as  it  respected 
the  king's  supremacy,  declaring,  "  that  there  are  two  jurisdictions  in 
the  realm,  the  one  spiritual,  and  the  other  civil ;  the  one  respect- 
ing the  conscience,  and  the  other  concerning  external  things  ; 
the  one  persuading  by  the  spiritual  sword,  the  other  compelling  by 
the  temporal  sword  ;  the  one  spiritually  procuring  the  edification  of 
the  church,  the  other  by  justice  procuring  the  peace  and  quiet  of  the 
commonwealth,  which' being  grounded  in  the  light  of  nature,  pro- 
ceeds from  God  as  he  is  Creator,  and  is  so  termed  by  an  apostle,* 
but  varying  according  to  the  constitution  of  men;  the  other  above 
nature,  grounded  upon  the  grace  of  redemption,  proceeding  imme- 
diately from  the  gospel  of  Christ,  the  only  king  and  only  head  of 
his  church.f  Therefore,  in  so  far  as  he  was  one  of  the  spiritual 
office-bearers,  and  had  discharged  his  spiritual  calling  in  some  mea- 

*  1  Pet.  ii.  t  Eph.  i.     Col.  ii. 


032  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

sure  of  grace  and  sincerity,  lie  should  not,  and  could  not,  law- 
fully be  judged  for  preaching  and  applying  the  word  of  God,  by 
any  civil  power,  he  being  an  ambassador  and  messenger  of  the  Lord 
Jesus,  having  his  commission  from  the  King  of  Kings,  and  alibis 
instructions  being  set  duwn  and  limited  in  the  "Word  of  God,  that 
cannot  be  extended  or  abridged  by  any  mortal  king  or  emperor ; 
and  feeing  he  was  sent  to  all  sorts,  his  commission  and  discharge  of 
it  should  not,  nor  cannot,  be  lawfully  judged  by  them  to  whom  he 
was  sent,  they  being  sheep,  not  pastors,  and  to  be  judged  by  the 
word  of  God,  and  not  to  be  the  judges  thereof,  in  a  judicial  way." 

A  decree  of  council  was  passed  against  him,  upon  which  his  bre- 
thren of  the  commission  directed  their  doctrine  against  the  council. 
The  king  sent  a  message  to  the  commissioners,  signifying  that  he 
would  rest  satisfied  with  Mr.  Black's  simple  declaration  of  the  truth  ; 
but  Mr.  Bruce  and  the  rest  replied,  that  if  the  affair  concerned  Mr. 
Black  alone,  they  should  be  content ;  but  the  liberty  of  Christ's 
kingdom  had  received  such  a  wound  by  the  proclamation  of  last 
Saturday,  that  if  Mr.  Black's  life,  and  a  dozen  of  others  besides,  had 
been  taken,  it  had  not  grieved  the  hearts  of  the  godly  so  much,  and 
that  either  these  things  behoved  to  be  retracted,  or  they  would  op- 
pose so  long  as  they  had  breath.  But,  after  a  long  process,  no  miti- 
gation of  the  council's  severity  could  be  obtained ;  for  Mr.  Black 
was  charged  by  a  macer,  to  enter  his  person  in  ward,  on  the  north 
of  the  Tay,  there  to  remain  on  his  own  expense,  during  his  majesty's 
pleasure  ;  and  though  he  was  next  year  restored  to  his  place  at  St. 
Andrew's  yet  he  was  not  suffered  to  continue ;  for  about  the  month 
of  July  that  same  year,  the  king  and  council  again  proceeded  against 
him ;  and  he  was  removed  to  Angus,  where  he  continued  till  the 
day  of  his  death.  He  had  always  been  a  severe  check  on  the  negli- 
gent and  unfaithful  part  of  the  clergy  ;  but  now  they  had  found 
means  to  get  rid  of  him.  The  situation  from  which  he  had  been 
ejected  was  conferred  upon  Mr.  George  Gladstanes,  minister  of 
Arbirlot,  in  the  county  of  Angus,  to  which  charge  Black  was  soon 
after  inducted. 

After  his  removal  to  that  place,  he  continued  to  exercise  his  minis- 
try, preaching  daily  to  such  as  resorted  to  him,  with  much  success, 
and  enjoying  an  intimate  communion  with  God  till  the  day  of  his 
death. 

In  his  last  sickness,  the  Christian  temper  of  his  mind  was  so  much 
improved  by  large  measures  of  the  Spirit,  that  his  conversation  had 
a  remarkable  effect  in  humbling  the  hearts  and  comforting  the  souls 
of  those  who  attended  him ;  engaging  them  to  take  the  easy  yoke 
of  Christ  upon  them.  lie  found  in  his  own  soul  also,  such  a  sensible 
teste  of  heavenly  joy,  that  he  was  seized  with  a  fervent  desire  to 
depart,  and  to  he  with  the  Lord,  longing  to  have  the  earthly  house 
of  his  tabernacle  dissolved,  that  he  might  be  admitted  into  the  man- 
sions of  everlasting  rest,  in  the  midst  of  these  earnest  breathings 
after  God,  the  L<»rd  was  wonderfully  pleased  to  condescend  to  the 
importunity  of  his  servant,  to  let  him  know  that  the  time  of  his 
departure  was  near.  Upon  which  he  took  a  solemn  farewell  of  his 
family  and  Hock,  in  a  discourse,  as  Melville  says,  that  seemed  to  be 


JOHN    DAVIDSON.  033 

spoken  out  of  heaven,  concerning  the  misery  and  grief  of  this  life 
and  the  inconceivable  glory  which  is  above. 

The  night  following,  after  supper,  having  read  and  prayed  in  his 
family  with  unusual  continuance  and  fervency,  he  went  to  bed,  and 
slept  for  some  time.  The  next  day  being  set  apart  for  the  celebra- 
tion of  the  Lord's  Supper,  he  went  to  church,  and  having  brought 
the  communion  service  near  a  close,  he  felt  death  approaching  ;  and 
all  discovering  a  sudden  change  in  his  countenance,  some  ran  to 
support  him ;  but  pressing  to  be  on  his  knees,  with  his  hands  and 
eyes  lifted  up  to  heaven,  in  the  very  act  of  adoration,  as  in  a  trans- 
port of  joy,  he  was  taken  away  without  showing  any  symptoms  of 
pain.  Thus  this  holy  man  who  had  so  faithfully  maintained  the 
interest  of  Christ  upon  earth,  breathed  forth  his  soul  in  this  happy 
manner,  so  that  it  seemed  rather  like  a  translation  than  a  real  death. 


JOHN  DAVIDSON. 


Joun  Davidsox  was  a  native  of  Dunfermline,  and  was  born,  pro- 
bably, about  the  year  1550,  as  he  was  enrolled  a  student  of  St. 
Leonard's  college,  in  the  university  of  St.  Andrew's,  in  the  year  1567, 
where  he  continued  until  1570.  lie  was  a  man  of  great  zeal  and 
boldness  in  favour  of  the  reformed  interests,  and  began  very  early  to 
discover  uncommon  piety  and  faithfulness  in  the  discharge  of  his 
duty.  When  the  regent  Morton,  in  the  year  1573,  obtained  an 
order  in  the  privy  council,  authorizing  the  union  of  several  parishes 
into  one,  Davidson,  then  a  regent  in  St.  Leonard's  college,  wrote  a 
poem,  exposing  Morton's  intention  in  the  severest  terms.  The  poem 
was  entitled  "  Commendatioun  of  Uprichtnes."  M'Crie  says,  "  there 
was  nothing  in  the  obnoxious  book  which  could  give  ground  of 
offence  or  alarm  to  any  good  government,  being  merely  a  temperate 
discussion  of  a  measure  which  was  at  least  controvertible.  The  evils 
which  the  act  of  council  was  calculated  to  produce  are  indeed  ex- 
posed with  faithfulness  and  spirit;  but  without  anything  disrespect- 
ful to  authority,  or  tending  in  the  slightest  degree  to  excite  '  sedition 
and  uproar.' "  Rutherford,  however,  principal  of  St.  Salvador's 
college,  and  a  number  of  his  colleagues  in  the  university,  more  de- 
sirous of  keeping  favour  with  the  court,  than  of  appearing  in  defence 
of  the  persecuted  church,  showed  themselves  unfriendly  to  David- 


234  SCOTS  WORTHIES. 

son  ;  and  Rutherford,  conceiving  that  disrespectful  allusions  had 
been  made  to  himself  in  the  poem,  wrote  a  reply  to  it.  The  follow- 
ing is  the  offensive  massage: — ■ 

"  Thair  is  some  collages  we  ken, 
Weill  fotindit  to  uphald  learnit  men: 
Amang  the  rest  foundit  we  se 
The  teiching  of  theologie. 
Lat  anis  the  counsell  send  and  se 
Gif  thir  places  Weill  gydit  be  ; 
And  not  abusit  wi  waist  rudis, 
That  dois  natbing  bot  spendis  yai  gudis 
That  was  maid  lor  that  haly  use 
And  not  to  feid  ane  crusit  GuseP* 

This  production  having  been  printed  and  circulated  without  David- 
son's knowledge,  he  was  summoned  to  a  justice  eyre  at  Haddington, 
where  sentence  of  imprisonment  was  pronounced  against  him.  He 
was,  however,  soon  liberated  on  bail,  in  the  hope  that  the  leniency 
thus  shown  would  induce  him  to  retract  what  he  had  written,  or  at 
least  that  his  brethren  might  be  prevailed  upon  to  condemn  it.  But 
the  greater  part  of  the  general  assembly,  although  of  the  same  senti- 
ments with  Davidson,  being  afraid  of  the  regent's  resentment, 
declined  to  interfere  in  his  favour,  and  left  him  to  the  vengeance  of 
the  prosecutor.  These  expectations,  then,  being  disappointed,  and 
Davidson,  finding  the  intercession  even  of  some  of  the  principal 
gentlemen  in  the  country  unavailing,  and  that  nothing  but  a  recanta- 
tion would  save  him  from  punishment,  fled  to  the  west  of  Scotland, 
and  thence  into  England,  where  he  remained  until  the  degradation 
of  the  regent,  when  he  returned  home. 

About  the  same  time  that  he  wrote  the  other  poem,  he  also  com- 
posed one  to  the  memory  of  Robert  Campbell  of  Kinzeancleugh,  a 
gentleman  strongly  attached  to  the  reformed  religion,  and  an  un- 
varying and  disinterested  friend  to  our  intrepid  reformer.  This 
worthy  gentleman  died  while  industriously  engaged  in  defending 
Davidson  from  the  effects  of  persecution ;  and  his  virtues  are  com- 
memorated in  a  poem  by  him,  which  although  rather  defective  in 
composition,  nevertheless  contains  many  interesting  notices  relative 
to  those  troublous  times.  Being  rare,  and  not  easily  attainable  by 
most  readers,  it  may  not  be  foreign  to  our  purpose  to  give  a  brief 
account  of  it  in  the  author's  own  words.  The  following  is  the  title  : 
— "  A  Memorial  of  the  life  and  death  of  two  worthye  Christians, 
Robert  Carapbel  of  the  Kinzeanelevgh,  and  his  wife  Elizabeth 
Campbel  ;"  and  the  dedication — "  To  his  loving  sister  in  Christ, 
Elizabeth  Campbel  of  Kinzeanclevch."f 

"  From  Edinburgh  the  24.  of  May,  1595.     Tour  \ 
assured  Friend  in  Christ.     J.  D.  j 

"  Finding  this  little  Treatise  (Sister,  dearelie  beloved  in  Christ,) 

*  "  The  Moderator  enjoyned  them  silence,  and  desired  Mr.  John  Rutherford  yet  again 
to  produce  his  book;  but  he  yet  still  refused,  and  said  'that  Mr.  John  (Davidson)  "had 
called  him  crused  goose  in  his  book,  that  he  had  little  Latin  in  his  book,  and  that  was 
false,'  with  many  other  brawling  words.— Mr.  Alexander  Arbuthnot  said,  you  take  that 
to  you  which  no  man  speaks  against  you." — Cald.  MS. 

t  This  lady  was  the  heiress  of  these  two  worthy  Christians,  after  the  decease  of  an 
only  son. 


JOHN    DAVIDSON.  035 

of  late  yeares  amongst  my  other  Paper?,  which  I  made  about 
twentie  yeares  and  one  agoe,  Immediatlie  after  the  death  of  your 
godlie  Parentes  of  good  memorie,  with  whom  I  was  most  dearlie 
acquainted  in  Christ,  by  reason  of  the  troble  I  suffered  in  those  daies 
for  the  good  cause,  wherin  God  made  them  chiefe  comforters  unto 
me  till  death  separated  us.  As  I  viewed  it  over,  and  reade  it  before 
some  godlie  persones  of  late,  they  were  most  instant  with  me,  that  I 
woulde  suffer  it  to  come  to  light,  to  the  stirring  up  of  the  zeale  of 
God's  people  among  us,  which  nowbeginneth  almost  to  be  quenched 
in  all  estaits  none  excepted.  So  that  the  saying  of  the  worthie  ser- 
vant of  God,  John  Knox  (among  many  other  his  forespeakings), 
proveth  true,  '  That  as  the  gospel  entred  among  us  and  was  received 
with  fervencie  and  heat ;  so  he  feared  it  should  decay  and  lose  the 
former  bewtie,  through  coldnes,  and  lothsomnesse,  howbeit  (as  he 
saide  many  times,)  it  should  not  be  utterlie  overthrown e  in  Scotland, 
til  the  coming  of  the  Lord  Jesus  to  judgment,  in  spite  of  Sathan  and 
malice  of  all  his  slaves.'  " 

After  eulogizing  his  protector's  piety,  charity,  lenit}7  to  his  tenants, 
and  his  wisdom  and  integrity  in  settling  private  differences;  and  his 
lady  for  encouraging  him  in  these  disinterested  expeditions,  instead 
of  grudging  the  expense  which  he  incurred  as  some  wives  did,  he 
thus  proceeds — 

But  to  be  plainer  is  no  skaith, 
Of  surname  they  were  Campbels  baith: 
Of  ancient  blood  of  the  cuntrie 
They  were  baith  of  Genealogie : 
He  of  the  Shirefs'  house  of  Air 
Long  noble  famous  and  preclair : 
Scho  of  a  gude  and  godlie  stock 
Came  of  the  old  house  of  Cesnok  ; 
Quhais  Laird  of  many  years  bygane, 
Professed  Christ's  religion  plaine. 

Being  then  minister  of  Libberton,  near  Edinburgh,  he  was  appointed 
by  the  metropolitan  presbytery  to  excommunicate  Robert  Mont- 
gomery, minister  of  Stirling,  for  contumaciously  reviving  a  claim  to 
the  archbishopric  of  Glasgow,  after  having  solemnly  renounced  it 
in  the  preceding  general  assembly.  This  appointment  he  executed 
with  a  degree  of  boldness  which  not  a  little  surprised  the  court 
party.*  Montgomery,  it  seems,  had  made  a  simoniacal  purchase  of 
the  archbishopric  of  Glasgow  from  the  earl  of  Lennox,  and  accord- 
inglj,  in  March,  1582,  accompanied  by  a  number  of  soldiers,  he 
proceeded  to  that  city,  where,  finding  the  minister  in  the  pulpit,  he 
went  up  to  him,  and  pulled  him  by  the  sleeve,  crying  out,  "  Come 
down,  sirrah  !"  The  minister  replied,  "  he  was  placed  there  by  the 
kirk,  and  would  give  place  to  none  who  intruded  themselves  without 
orders."     Thereupon  much  confusion  and  bloodshed  ensued.     The 

*  "  Davidson  pronounced  the  sentence  of  deposition  and  excommunication ;  and 
although  the  court  threatened  and  stormed,  it  was  intimated  on  the  succeeding  Sabbath 
from  the  pulpits  of  Edinburgh  and  Glasgow,  and  all  the  surrounding  churches.  When 
Lennox  heard  that  Davidson  had  ventured  to  preach  in  his  own  church  on  the  SaODath 
subsequent  to  the  excommunication,  he  exclaimed — C'est  un  petit  (liable! — He  is  a  little 
devil!"—  M'Crie. 


236  SCOTS  WORTHIES. 

presbytery  of  Stirling  suspended  Montgomery,  and  were  supported  in 
their  authority  by  the  general  assembly  ;  but  the  earl  of  Lennox,  not 
inclined  to  submit  to  this  opposition,  obtained  a  commission  from  the 
king,  to  try  and  bring  the  offenders  to  justice.  Before,  however, 
that  commission-court  met,  the  earls  of  Mar  and  Gowrie,  the  master 
of  Oliphant,  young  Lochleven,  &c,  carried  the  king  to  Euthven 
castle,  and  there  constrained  him  to  revoke  the  commission,  and  to 
banish  the  earl  of  Lennox  from  the  kingdom.  But  the  king,  having 
afterwards  made  his  escape  from  his  rebellious  nobles,  banished  all 
those  who  had  been  engaged  in  the  enterprise.  Davidson  was  after- 
wards appointed  one  of  the  commission  sent  by  the  assembly  to  Stir- 
ling, to  remonstrate  with  the  king  on  account  of  this  measure  in 
favour  of  Montgomery.  In  consequence,  however,  of  the  fearlessness 
with  which  he  had  admonished  the  king,*  to  whom  the  parliament 
had  given  the  sole  power  in  all  causes,  ecclesiastic  as  well  as  civil, 
and  the  tyrannous  procedure  against  several  of  his  brethren  which 
immediately  followed,  Davidson  found  it  expedient  again  to  make 
his  escape  into  England,  where  he  remained  for  a  considerable 
time. 

Upon  his  return  to  Scotland,  when  the  church  was  enjoying 
internal  peace,  and  her  ministers  were  living  upon  terms  of  amity 
with  their  brethren  in  the  sister  kingdom,  employed  only  in  remov- 
ing the  corruptions  which  had  not  been  entirely  purged  away  after 
the  expulsion  of  the  popish  intruders  ;  nay,  even  when  they  were  en- 
gaged peaceably  in  defending  their  own  presbyterianism  against  the 
court  and  a  few  ambitious  churchmen,  who  were  anxiously  seeking 
to  introduce  episcopacy,  open  hostilities  were  suddenly  commenced 
by  a  hot-headed  and  aspiring  zealot,  doctor  Bancroft,  in  a  declama- 
tory sermon  which  he  preached  before  the  parliament,  and  which 
was  published  immediately  after.  He  represented  the  Scotch  pres- 
byterians  to  be  puritans  ;  classing  them  with  heretics,  and  styling 
them  proud,  ambitious,  covetous,  insubordinate,  and  inquisitorial ; 
pests  to  society  ;  and  called  upon  all  magistrates  to  restrain  and  pun- 
ish them.  "  If  they"  (the  puritanical  "  geese  and  dogs"),  said  he, 
"  will  gaggle  and  make  a  noise  in  the  daytime  without  any  cause, 
I  think  it  very  fit  that  they  should  be  rapt  on  the  shinnes."  This 
was  too  much  for  a  man  of  Davidson's  piety  and  attachment  to  the 
reformation  to  bear  silently.  He,  therefore,  by  the  consent  of  his 
brethren,  published  a  "  protest  against  the  rashness  of  the  calum- 
niator, and  the  reasons  of  the  church  declining  to  enter  upon  a 
defence  of  their  conduct,"  in  a  small  pamphlet  of  sixteen  leaves, 
entitled,  "  D.  Bancroft's  Eashnes  in  rayling  against  the  church  of 
Scotland,  noted  in  an  Answer  to  a  Letter  of  a  worthy  person  of  Eng- 
land, and  some  reasons  rendred,  why  the  answere  thereunto  had  not 
hitherto  come  worth."  It  concludes — "  Farewell,  from  Edinburgh  • 
the  18.  of  September,  1590.  Yours  in  the  Lord.  J.  D."— -The  pub- 
lication of  this  reply  elevated  him  very  high  in  the  estimation  of  his 

*  Davidson  told  the  kiwr  that  he  was  present  only  as  a  private  Christian,  and  not  as 
president  of  the  assembly;  and,  if  he  would  not  listen  to  counsel ;  then,  said  the  reformer 
"  we  must  crave  help  of  Him  who  will  hear  us."  ' 


JOHN   DAVIDSON.  237 

brethren  ;  and,  accordingly,  we  find  him  afterwards  employed  in 
almost  every  difficult  emergency. 

The  "  renewal  of  the  covenant"  will  render  the  year  1596  ever 
memorable  in  the  history  of  the  church  of  Scotland  ;  and,  in  effect- 
ing this,  Davidson  acted  the  principal  part.  His  own  mind  had 
been  for  a  long  time  deeply  affected  at  the  prevailing  corruptions, 
and  he  felt  anxious  that  a  general  reformation  should  be  brought 
about  as  speedily  as  possible.  With  this  view  he  laid  before  the 
presbytery  of  Haddington  a  proposal  to  that  effect,  by  whom  it  was 
transmitted  to  the  general  assembly,  at  Edinburgh,  in  the  month  of 
March  following,  and  unanimously  approved  of.  This  meeting  was 
held  in  the  Little  church,  on  the  30th  of  the  same  month,  and 
Davidson  was  elected,  moderator.  On  that  occasion  he  actually 
seemed  more  than  man.  His  deep  and  humble  confessions  in 
prayer,  addressed  to  the  throne  of  the  Almighty,  and  his  powerful 
exposure  of  the  defects  of  the  church,  both  in  doctrine  and  practice, 
operated  so  powerfully  upon  the  minds  of  the  audience,  that  all 
burst  into  tears;*  and,  with  one  heart,  lifting  up  their  right  hands, 
renewed  their  covenant  with  God,  "  protesting  to  walk  more  warily 
in  their  ways,  and  to  be  more  diligent  in  their  charges."  An  act  of 
sederunt  was  thereafter  passed,  enjoining  the  same  sacred  duty  upon 
all  synods  and  presbyteries,  which  was  afterwards  observed,  in  the 
month  of  October,  with  due  solemnity. 

In  the  general  assembly  held  at  Dundee,  1598,  when  the  king  was 
present,  it  was  proposed  that  the  clergy  should  vote  in  parliament  in 
the  name  of  the  church.  Davidson,  looking  upon  this  measure  as  a 
mere  device  for  the  introduction  of  bishops,  opposed  it  violently. 
"  Busk,  busk,  busk  him,"  he  exclaimed,  "  as  bonnily  as  you  can, 
and  bring  him  in  as  fairly  as  you  will,  we  still  see  him  weel  enough, 
we  can  discern  the  horns  of  his  mitre."  He  concluded  by  entreating 
the  assembly  not  to  be  rash  ;  for,  "  brethren,"  said  he,  "  see  you  not 
how  readily  the  bishops  begin  to  creep  up."  Davidson  was  one  of 
the  principal  speakers,  in  opposition  to  the  king's  motion  ;  and  one 
Gladstanes  in  support  of  it.  In  course  of  the  debate,  Gladstanes  in- 
sisted on  the  power  which  the  priests  had  among  the  ancient  liomans, 
in  proposing  and  making  the  lawrs ;  Davidson  refuted  the  assertion, 
contending  that  they  had  no  vote,  although  he  allowed  that  they  were 
present  in  the  senate.  "  Ah  !  where  do  you  find  that  P  said  the 
king.  "  In  Titus  Livius,"  replied  Davidson.  "  Oh  !  are  you  going 
from  the  Scriptures  to  Titus  Livius  then?"  retorted  his  majesty. 
James  Melville,  in  his  Diary,  informs  us,  that  on  the  question  being 
called  for,  the  king's  motion  was  carried  by  a  majority  of  ten  votes, 
— "  Mr.  Gilbert  Brady  leading  the  ring,  a  drunken  Orkney  ass,  and 
the  greater  number  following,  all  for  the  bodie,  without  respect  for 
thespreit."  Davidson  being  desired  to  give  his  vote,  refused,  and 
protested  in  his  own  name,  and  in  the  name  of  those  who  should 

*  The  passages  of  Scripture  which  on  this  occasion  he  read  and  discoursed  upon,  were 
the  33d  and  34th  chapters  of  Ezskiel.  He  showed,  in  a  very  affecting  manner,  that  the 
design  for  which  they  had  met  was  to  confess  their  sin,  and  firmly  resolve  to  forsake  it. 
Jn  this  exercise  he  was  evidently  assisted  by  the  Holy  Spirit.  After  prayer,  he  pieacned 
from  Luke  xii.  22,  having  the  same  assistance  given  him. 


038  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

adhere  to  him,  and  requested  that  his  protest  should  be  inserted  in 
the  books  of  assembly.  Here  the  king  interposed,  and  said,  "  That 
shall  not  be  granted  ;  see  if  you  have  voted  and  reasoned  before." 
"  Never,  Sir,"  said  Davidson,  "  but  without  prejudice  to  any  protes- 
tation made  or  to  be  made."  He  then  gave  his  protestation,  which, 
after  having  been  passed  from  one  to  another,  was  at  last  laid  down 
before  the  "clerk.  The  king  taking  it  up,  and  reading  it,  showed  it 
to  the  moderator  and  others  about,  and  at  last  put  it  in  his  pocket.* 
This  protest  and  letter  were  the  occasion  of  farther  trouble  to  him. 
For,  in  May  following,  he  was  charged  to  compear  before  the  coun- 
cil on  the  26th,  and  answer  for  the  same,  and  was  by  order  of  the 
king  committed  prisoner  to  the  castle  of  Edinburgh  ;  but,  on  account 
of  the  infirm  state  of  his  health,  the  place  of  his  confinement  was 
changed  to  his  own  manse.  Afterwards  he  was  allowed  to  perform 
the  duties  of  his  office  in  his  own  parish,  and  after  discharging  these 
for  some  years,  during  which  he  suffered  much  from  bad  health,  he 
died  at  Preston-pans,  in  the  year  1604. 

This  worthy  and  much  persecuted  divine  possessed  a  considerable 
share  of  learning.  Besides  the  poems  already  noticed,  a  little  before 
his  death  he  penned  a  treatise  in  Latin,  De  Jlostibus  Eocleske  Christi 
(of  the  enemies  of  Christ's  kirk),  in  which  Row  says,  "he  amrmes 
that  the  erecting  of  bishops  in  this  kirk  is  the  most  subtile  thing  to 
destroy  religione  that  could  ever  be  devised."  In  1602,  he  published 
a  catechism  entitled,  "  Some  Helpes  for  young  Scollers  in  Chris- 
tianity," which  was  reprinted  in  1708,  with  a  very  curious  preface 
by  Mr.  "William  Jameson,  professor  of  ecclesiastical  history  at  Glas- 
gow, in  which  he  exposes  the  forgery  of  Mr.  Robert  Calder,  who,  by 
a  pretended  quotation  from  this  catechism,  had  attempted  to  propa- 
gate the  falsehood  that  Davidson  had  recanted  his  presbyterian  prin- 
ciples before  his  death.  Archbishop  Spottiswood,  too,  embraced 
every  opportunity  of  speaking  disrespectfully  of  Davidson,  particu- 
larly at  the  time  he  was  prosecuted  at  the  king's  instance ;  asserting, 
among  other  calumnies,  that  it  was  his  custom  when  brought  to  trou- 
ble, "  to  flee  away,  and  lurk  a-while,  till  his  peace  was  again  made." 
Davidson  was  a  Christian  hero  of  a  very  different  stamp.  "It  is 
very  easy,"  says  our  authority,  "  for  a  time-serving  priest,  who,  by 
his  tame  compliances  can  always  secure  himself  against  falling  into 
danger,  to  talk  thus  of  a  man,  from  whose  rebuke  he  more  than  once 
shrunk,  and  to  accuse  him  of  cowardice  merely  because  he  fled 
from  the  lawless  rage  of  a  despot.  But  it  is  false  that  Davidson 
either  fled  or  concealed  himself;  for  it  is  satisfactorily  attested  by 
the  records  of  the  presbytery  of  Haddington,  that  he  appeared, 
according  to  his  citation,  on  the  29th  of  March ;  and,  on  the  5th  of 
April,  it  was  farther  certified  to  the  presbytery,  that  he  was  "  stayit 
by  ane  heavie  fever." 

He  was  a  man  of  sincere  piety,  indefatigable  zeal  in  the  cause  of 
the  reformation,  and  strongly  characterized  by  a  boldness  and  hon- 
esty,   for  which    almost   all   the   early  reformers  were  remarkable. 

*  See  this  protest,  and  a  letter  sent  by  him  to  the  assembly  of  1601,  in  Calderwood, 
pp,  420  and  450. 


ANDREW    MELVILLE.  039 

Davidson  particularly  deserves  notice  on  account  ot  the  exert; 
which  he  made  for  the  religious  and  literary  instruction  of  his 
parishioners  in  Prestonpans.  At  his  own  expense  he  built  the 
church,  the  manse,  and  the  school,  and  schoolmaster's  house.  The 
school  was  erected  for  teaching  the  three  learned  languages,  and  he 
bequeathed  all  his  heritable  and  moveable  property  for  its  Bupport. 

He  showed  in  some  instances  tlwit  he  was  possessed,  it'  not  of  the 
spirit  of  prophecy,  at  least  of  a  hfgb  degree  of  sagacity.  Calder- 
wood  relates,  that  Davidson  "one  day  seeing  Mr.  John  Kerr,  the 
minister  of  Prestonpans,  going  in  a  scarlet  cloak  like  a  courtier,  told 
him  to  lay  aside  that  abominable  dress,  as  he  was  destined  to  suc- 
ceed him  in  his  ministry  ;  which  accordingly  came  to  pass.  On 
another  occasion,  when  John  Spottiswood,  minister  of  Calder,  and 
James  Law,  minister  of  Kirkliston,  M*ere  called  before  the  synod  of 
Lothian  on  the  charge  of  playing  at  football  on  Sunday.  Davidson, 
who  was  acting  as  moderator,  moved  that  the  culprits  should  be  de- 
posed from  their  charges.  The  synod,  however,  awarded  them  a 
slighter  punishment ;  and  when  they  were  called  in  to  receive  their 
sentence,  Davidson  called  out  to  them,  "Come  in,  you  pretty  foot- 
ball men,  the  synod  ordains  you  only  to  be  rebuked."  Then  ad- 
dressing the  meeting,  he  said,  "  And  now,  brethren,  let  me  tell  you 
what  reward  you  shall  get  for  your  lenity:  these  two  men  shall 
trample  on  your  necks,  and  the  necks  of  the  whole  ministry  of  Scot- 
land." The  one  was  afterwards  archbishop  of  St.  Andrew's,  and  the 
other  archbishop  of  Glasgow. 


ANDREW  MELYILLE. 


This  eminent  saint  and  servant  of  God,  inferior  only  to  Knox  in  the 
great  work  of  the  reformation,  was  born  at  Baldovy,  near  Montrose, 
on  the  1st  of  August,  15-15.  Both  of  his  parents  died  when  he  was 
only  two  years  of  age;  but  his  elder  brother  Richard,  to  whom  the 
estate  of  Baldovy  fell  upon  the  demise  of  his  father,  took  upon 
himself  the  nurture  and  tuition  of  the  subject  of  our  memoir."     In 

-*The  name  of  Melville  is  mentioned  in  Scottish  charters  as  early  as  the  twelfth  0 
The  family  are  supposed,  with  Kieat  probability,  to  have   been  of  Anglo-Noi 
Of  the  Melvilles  of  Baldovy,  Richard  xMelville,  the  father  of  Andrew,  men: 
of  Dysart,  as  the  chief  of  their  branch  of  the  family.     .Melville  always  w\ 
Melvinus  in  Latin,  and  was  therefore  often  called  Melvin  111  English.     Heme  some  have 


240  SCOTS  WORTHIES. 

his  juvenile  rears,  too,  he  was  greatly  indebted  to  the  maternal 
tenderness  and  affection  of  his  sister-in-law,  who  treated  him  upon 
all  occasions  as  one  of  her  own  children.  Being  of  a  delicate 
constitution,  and  much  in  the  company  of  this  amiable  woman,  he 
ingratiated  himself  into  her  affections,  by  his  docile  and  obedient 
behaviour,  to  such  a  degree,  that  after  the  fondest  caresses,  she 
would  frequently  exclaim",  "God  give  me  another  lad  like  thee,  and 
syne  take  me  to  his  rest."  To  the  end  of  his  life  he  retained  a 
grateful  sense  of  her  attentions ;  and,  often,  when  his  mind  was 
relaxed  from  the  intensity  of  severe  study,  he  expressed  a  peculiar 
pleasure  in  recurring  to  the  domestic  scenes  of  that  happy  family. 

His  brother,  perceiving  him  to  be  a  boy  of  quick  understanding, 
resolved  to  cultivate  his  taste,  and  accordingly  placed  him  under  the 
care  of  Thomas  Anderson,  then  teacher  of  the  grammar-school  of 
Montrose,  to  whom,  it  may  be  presumed,  he  was  greatly  indebted 
for  an  early  knowledge  of  the  doctrines  of  the  protestant  religion,  as 
well  as  for  having  laid  the  foundation  of  that  classic  literature,  for 
which  he  was  so  pre-eminently  distinguished  in  future  life.  But,  to 
his  pious  brother,  who  had  embraced  the  protestant  faith  several 
years  before  Andrew's  birth,  and  who  afterwards  became  minister  to 
the  parish  of  Maritoun.  he  chiefly  owes  his  celebrity  for  his  adherence 
to  the  principles  of  the  reformed  religion,  amidst  all  the  persecutions 
with  which  he  was  afterwards  assailed. 

Under  the  tuition  of  Thomas  Anderson  young  Melville  was 
instructed,  not  only  in  the  principles  of  the  Latin  language,  in  which 
he  made  great  proficiency ;  but  also  in  gymnastic  exercises,  which 
had  the  happy  effect  of  invigorating  his  naturally  delicate  frame, 
These  exercises  were  chiefly,  archery,  golf,  the  art  of  fencing, 
running,  leaping,  wrestling,  and  swimming,  in  which  every  boy  had 
his  antagonist.  The  pupils  of  this  very  judicious  teacher  were  also 
matched  in  their  scholastic  exercises,  who  thereby  kept  up  a  spirit 
of  emulation  among  those  under  his  care ;  so  that  it  was  observed  of 
the  teacher,  that  although  by  no  means  a  profound  scholar  himself, 
he  had  the  happy  art  of  training  the  youth  to  excellence. 

At  tin'  age  of  eleven,  young  Melville,  instead  of  going  to  college, 
was  sent  to  study  Greek  under  Pierre  de  Marsilliers,  a  native  of 
France,  who  had  been  brought  to  Montrose  by  the  celebrated  John 
Erskine  of  Dun,  for  the  purpose  of  improving  the  literature  of  his 
native  country.  With  this  talented  Frenchman  he  remained  two 
years,  prosecuting  the  study  of  that  language  with  the  greatest 
eagerness.  From  the  same  person,  too,  he  acquired  a  knowledge  of 
the  French  language,  more  correct  than  he  could  have  obtained  it 
at  the  grammar-school.  In  those  days  the  study  of  this  language 
was  commonly  conjoined  with  that  of  Latin ;   but  Greek  was  very 

concluded  that  his  proper  name  was  Mclvin,  and  not  Melville;  but  without  any  other 
authority  than  the  above.  This  variety  in  the  appellation  occurs  in  the  earliest  charters 
granted  by  the  family, — viz.,'-  Galafridus  de  Mailvyn"  grants  to  the  church  of  Dunfermline 
'"  ecclesiam  de  Mailvyn,v  with  common  pasture  in  "villa  de  Mailvyn."  In  another — 
"Galfridus  de  Malarin  grants"  "ecclesiam  de  Malcvill ;"  and  in  this  charter  occur  the 
names  of  '"Willi,  de  MalevilP''  and  Gregorius  de  Malvill."  The  name  was  anciently 
written  in  the  vernacular  language  Melvil,  Mclvill.  now  modernized  into  the  French 
orthography— Melville. 


ANDREW   MELVILLE.  2il 

little  known,  even  by  the  professors  in  universities,  until  a  period 
considerably  later. 

After  this  preliminary  training,  so  very  superior  to  that  of  most 
of  his  contemporaries,  young  Melville  became  an  alumnus  of  I 
university  of  St.  Andrew's,  in  the  year  1559,  and  was  entered  in  the 
college  of  St.  Mary.  The  smallness  of  his  stature,  and  the  delicate 
conformation  of  his  body,  formed  a  singular  contrast  with  his 
admirable  acquirements  in  literature.  The  writings  of  Aristotle  were 
then  the  only  prelections  in  all  our  Scottish  universities,  which  were 
studied  and  commented  upon  from  a  Latin  translation  ;  but  Melville 
drank  from  the  fountain  head ;  the  language  of  that  author  being 
already  quite  familiar  to  him  *  This  superior  attainment  in  the  pupiL^ 
however,  gave  rise  to  no  bad  feeling  on  the  part  of  the  professors,— 
on  the  contrary,  the  young  student  was  landed  and  caressed  for  his 
assiduity,  and  incited  to  farther  diligence  and  perseverance  in 
career  of  fame.  By  John  Douglas,  who  was  at  the  time  rector  of  the 
university,  he  was  shown  much  marked  attention.  This  kind 
gentleman  used  frequently  to  invite  him  to  his  house,  and  converse 
with  him  upon  the  subject  of  his  studies;  and,  so  much  pleased  was 
he  with  the  shrewdness  and  accuracy  of  his  observations,  that  he 
would  take  him  between  his  knees,  and  stroke  his  head,  ezclaimi  _ 
"My  silly,  fatherless  and  motherless  boy,  it's  ill  to  wit  what  G 
may  make  of  thee  yet." 

In  the  matriculation  list  for  the  year  in  which  Melville  entered 
college,  among  other  celebrated  names  we  find  those  of  Thomas 
Maitlancle  and  James  Lawsone ;  the  former,  brother  of  the  fan. 
secretary  of  that  name;  and  the  latter,  colleague  and  successor  of  the 
celebrated  reformer.  To  Lawson  he  seems  to  have  been  particularly 
attached,  as  may  very  fairly  be  conjectured,  from  the  circumstance 
of  a  red  line  being  drawn  under  his  name  in  the  matriculation  roll, 
which  Dr.  Lee  believes  to  have  been  done  by  Melville.  With  both 
of  these  men,  however,  he  lived  in  the  most  amicable  terms  till  the 
day  of  his  death.  Doubts  have  been  expressed  whether  Melville 
took  his  degrees  at  this  university  or  not.  His  nephew,  James 
Melville,  asserts  that  he  did.  This,  however,  is  not  authentica 
by  the  records  of  St.  Mary's;  but  these  are  understood,  from  some 
circumstance  with  which  we  are  not  acquainted,  to  be  defective 
about  this  period. 

During  Melville's  stay  at  St.  Andrew's,  George  Buchanan  returned 
from  abroad  ;  and  it  has  been  supposed,  from  an  expression  nsed  by 
Melville  in  a  poem  addressed  to  this  celebrated  man,  in  which  he 
calls  him  "his  j>receptor  and  master  of  the  muses,''  that  he  had 
actuallv  studied  under  Buchanan.  This,  however,  is  doubtful. 
therefore  has  not  met  with  general  assent.  Perhaps  all  that  is  m 
by  the  term  "  preceptor"  is,  that  as  Melville  himself  was  passionately 


*  James 
Melville. 


5  Melville  in  his  Diary  says,  — ;l  Our  regent  told  me  of  my  uncle  Mr. And  re  w 
whom  he  knew  in  the  time  of  his  course  in  the  New  College  to  use  the  I  i 


reputat 
young  master  in  the  land." 

16 


2^2  SCOTS  WORTHIES. 

addicted  to  poetry,  and  wrote  verses  of  no  mean  character,  but  con- 
sidering  Buchanan  to  be  very  much  his  superior  in  that  art,  he 
merely  styles  him  so,  in  this  respect.  Sir  Thomas  Eandolph,  upon 
more  than  one  occasion,  when  addressing  Buchanan,  uses  the  term 
"  my  maister,"  but  he  does  not  confine  these  words  to  him  only  ;  and 
therefore  it  is  probable,  that  nothing  more  was  intended  than  to 
convey  an  acknowledgment  of  literary  superiority.  _ 

So  very  celebrated  were  Melville's  literary  acquirements,  even  at 
this  early  period  of  his  life,  that  they  did  not  pass  unobserved  by 
several  foreign  men  of  letters  who  at  that  time  visited  Scotland. 
Bizzarns,  an  Italian  poet,  who  then  visited  this  country  out  of  attach- 
ment to  the  reformed  religion,  celebrates  his  talents  and  reputation  in 
a  strain  of  great  sublimity,  in  a  short  Latin  poem,  which  being  alto- 
gether unintelligible,  to  the  mere  English  reader,  we  give  below  in  a 
free  translation.* 

Melville,  being  now  in  his  nineteenth  year,  resolved  to  complete  on 
the  continent  that  education  to  which  his  ardent  mind  aspired,  and 
in  which  he  found  he  could  proceed  no  farther  at  home.  With  this 
view  he  sailed  for  France  in  the  autumn  of  1561,  and  after  conside- 
rable hinderances,  not  unattended  by  danger,  arrived  in  Paris. 
Without  loss  of  time,  he  recommenced  his  studies  in  the  university 
of  that  city,  having  been  enrolled  in  the  Germanic  nation,  which 
included  Scotland,  England,  and  Ireland.  Scaliger,  Pontanus,  and 
others,  inform  us  that  it  was  no  unusual  thing  in  those  days  to  find 
from  ten  thousand  to  thirty  thousand  students  in  that  university.  It 
was  then  in  a  most  flourishing  state  ;  enjoying  a  peaceful  repose 
between  the  civil  wars  of  1563,  and  1567,  which  had  dispersed 
many  of  its  professors  and  students,  who  had  taken  part  in  the 
contest ;  but  who  were  now  happily  restored  to  their  former  situa- 
tions. Turnebusf  was  professor  of  Greek,  and  Melville  had  the  good 
fortune  to  attend  the  last  course  of  lectures  delivered  by  that  distin- 
guished man.  Mercerus  and  Quinquarboreus  jointly  occupied  the 
chair  of  Hebrew  and  Chaldee.  Under  these  able  teachers  he  applied 
himself  assiduously  to  the  study  of  these  languages,  of  which  the 

Jtrofessors  in  the  Scottish  universities  were  at  that  time  ignorant. 
from  Peter  Ramus,  too,  professor  of  "  Roman  eloquence,"  he 
acquired  a  more  acute  knowledge  of  the  Latin  language,  and  to  him 
he  was  indebted  for  that  happy  mode  of  teaching  which  he  after- 
wards so  successfully  practised  in  his  native  country.  Besides 
Melville,  almost  all  the  greatest  geniuses  of  that  age  studied  under 

*    "  To  Andrew  Melville,  a  native  of  Scotland. 
"  The  Bee  never  sips  on  the  moorland  or  dell. 
Such  Hyblean  sweets  from  die  Mower's  honey'd  cell; 
Nor  was  wine  ever  pressed  from  the  clustering  vine, 
With  n  llavour  so  rich  as  those  accents  of  thine  ; 
Or  the  grace  of  thy  manners,  truth,  probity,  heart — 
Willi  piety  void  of  dissembling  and  art: 
These  have  knit  thee,  dear  Melville,  to  me  by  a  love 
That  time  cannot  alter  nor  distance  remove." 

+  It  has  been   BUpposed  that  Turnehns  was  of  Scottish  extraction,  and  that  his  proper 
name  was  Tout  m  be    '.  <<r  Turnbull.     Dempster  says  he  was  of  the  same  family  as  William 
TurnbulL  bishop  of  Glasgow,  who  officiated  in  the  cathedral   from   1418  to   1454    and 
i  writer  affirms  'hat  he  was  of  the  family  of  the  Turnbulls  in  Liddesdale. 


ANDREW    MELVILLE. 


243 


Ramus,  with  one  of  whom,  regent  Moray,  prior  of  St.  Andrew's,  we 

are  more  immediately  concerned.  Besides  these  already  mentioned, 
Melville  received  instructions  in  mathematics  from  Paschasius 
Hamelius,  Petrns  Forcatellus,  Jacobus  Carpentaria,  and  Joannes 
Scalignacus.  It  is  probable  that  he  also  took  lessons  in  Hebrew  from 
the  latter,  as  he  bore  a  very  high  reputation  for  his  acquaintance 
with  Jewish  and  Rabbinical  learning,  and  it  appears  he  was  one  of 
the  royal  professors  of  that  language,  at  the  time  Melville  was  at 
Paris.  He  also  attended  the  lectures  of  Lndovicns  Duretus,  who 
was  the  favourite  physician  of  Charles  IX.  and  Henry  III.  Darin"- 
his  residence  in  France  he  became  acquainted  with  the  intrigues  of 
the  Jesuits,  who  about  that  time  had  opened  a  college,  evidently  for 
the  purpose  of  obtaining  the  ascendancy  in  the  management  of  the 
education  of  youth, — a  circumstance  whieh  stimulated  him  after- 
wards to  use  all  his  influence  to  establish  such  a  system  of  education 
in  the  Scottish  universities,  as  would  jn'event  the  native  youth  from 
going  abroad,  where  they  would  be  in  constant  danger  of  beino- 
contaminated  by  the  insiduous  devotees  of  the  church  of  Rome. 
Here,  too,  he  devoted  his  attention  for  some  time  to  the  study  of 
civil  law,  not  with  the  intention  of  following  out  the  profession,  but 
merely  that  he  might  add  this  to  his  other  acquirements,  "  as 
connected  with  a  complete  course  of  education."  Indeed,  so  far 
back  as  1220,  pope  Honorius  the  third  had  strictly  prohibited  civil 
law  from  being  taught  at  Paris,  or  any  place  adjacent ;  and  we  have 
it  upon  undoubted  authority,  that  this  prohibition  continued  in  force 
even  so  late  as  the  sixteenth  century,  and  that  it  was  only  removed 
by  an  edict  of  parliament,  on  the  8th  day  of  May,  1679.  As  there 
was  therefore  no  regular  class,  Melville  removed  to  the  university  of 
Poictiers,  after  a  stay  of  two  years,  that  he  might  obtain  his  desired 
object. 

From  this  period,  1566,  may  be  dated  the  commencement  of 
Melville's  public  life.  Although  only  twenty-one  years  of  age,  he 
had  acquired  such  a  reputation  for  general  learning,  that  immedi- 
ately on  his  arrival  at  Poictiers,  he  was  elected  a  professor  in  the 
college  of  St.  Marceon  ;  the  duties  of  which  he  undertook  very 
cheerfully ;  but,  without  at  the  same  time  neglecting  the  chief 
intention  of  his  visit,  viz.,  the  science  of  law.  The  period  of  Mel- 
ville's regency  wras  one  of  great  celebrity  to  the  university.  As  was 
pretty  common  in  those  days,  there  happened  to  be  at  that  time  a 
rivalship  between  the  students  of  this  college  and  that  of  St. 
Pivareau,  in  the  composition  of  verses.  Melville  was  master  of  the 
art;  and,  as  might  have  been  expected,  his  pupils  uniformly  gained 
the  laurel.  As  a  public  teacher,  he  excelled  in  the  art  of  communi- 
cation— a  gift  which  comparatively  few  men  of  letters  possess  ;  and, 
as  the  roots  of  both  the  Latin  and  Greek  languages  were  as  familiar 
to  him  as  his  vernacular  tongue,  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  that  arch- 
bishop Spottiswood  said  of  him,  "  Redit  in  patriam  Andreas  Mel- 
vinus  bonis  Uteris  excultus,  et  trium  lingitaricm,  qua-rum  • 
ignorantice,  Me  famam  et  tantum  non  admirationem  apud  omtMi 
fjejierit,  callcntissimus.'''* 

*  Andrew  Melville  revisits  his  country,  adorned  with  all  the  elegance  of  polite  literature. 


2i4  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

In  1567,  the  civil  war  began  to  break  out  afresh,  and  learning  for 
a  time  met  with  a  serious  interruption.  The  public  classes  were 
discontinued  ;  but  Melville  found  an  asylum  in  the  family  of  a  coun- 
sellor of  parliament,  as  tutor  to  his  only  son.  The  town  was  besieged 
in  the  following  year;  and,  during  the  heat  of  the  conflict,  Melville, 
coming  one  day  into  his  room,  found  his  promising  pupil  bleeding 
profusely  from  the  effects  of  a  cannon  ball  from  the  besieger's  camp, 
which  had  pierced  the  house  and  inflicted  a  mortal  wound.  During 
the  short  interval  that  elapsed  between  this  and  his  death,  the 
amiable  youth  employed  his  time  in  comforting  his  afflicted  parent 
with  the  consolations  of  religion,  and  expired  in  his  tutor's  arms, 
pronouncing  in  Greek  the  affecting  words  of  the  Apostle — "  Master, 
I  have  finished  my  course  !"  It  is  related  of  Melville,  that  he  never 
afterwards  alluded  to  this  mournful  scene  without  shedding  tears. 
Although  he  had  sedulously  avoided  giving  offence  to  the  catholics, 
with  whom  he  had  daily  intercourse,  yet  he  was  not  altogether  free 
from  being  suspected  of  having  a  bias  to  the  protestant  faith.  He 
had  been  observed  reading  the  Bible,  by  the  officer  who  commanded 
a  small  party  stationed  to  guard  the  counsellor's  house ;  and  on  an 
alarm  being  given  one  day  that  the  besiegers  were  meditating  an 
assault,  the  officer  called  him  a  Hugonot,f  and  even  hinted  at  placing 
him  under  confinement.  Melville  became  indignant,  and,  arming 
himself  with  all  possible  expedition,  took  a  horse  from  the  stable, 
and  was  preparing  to  mount,  when  the  officer  requested  him  to  stop. 
"  No,"  replied  Melville,  "  I  will  this  day  show  myself  to  be  as  hon- 
ourable and  as  brave  a  man  as  you."  The  officer,  afraid  lest  he 
might  lose  his  commission,  if  his  rashness  should  be  reported  to  his 
superior,  employed  the  most  urgent  entreaties,  and  ever  after  behaved 
towards  Melville  with  the  most  marked  respect. 

No  sooner  was  the  siege  raised,  than  Melville,  in  company  with  a 
young  Frenchman,  prepared  to  bid  adieu  to  France ;  and,  without 
passports,  leaving  all  his  books  behind  him,  except  a  small  Hebrew 
Bible  which  he  had  slung  in  his  belt,  set  out  on  foot,  and  by  striking 
out  new  paths  for  themselves,  they  fortunately  passed  the  Gallic 
frontiers  without  interruption.  Geneva  was  the  place  of  their 
destination,  and  it  was  after  nightfall  when  they  reached  it.  The 
city  was  strictly  guarded  on  account  of  the  commotions  in  France, 
and  the  vast  numbers  who  daily  sought  admission  from  that 
disorganized  country.  The  sentinel  on  duty  eyed  them  with  suspi- 
cion ;  and  their  appearance  certainly  bespoke  them  to  be  in  reality 
what  the  Frenchman  told  the  guard  they  were — "poor  scholars  from 
France  ;"  for  their  joint  stock  did  not  exceed  a  crown.  Melville, 
however,  assured  the  sentinel  that  they  had  money  enough  to  pay 
for  what  they  would  require  ;  but  it  was  not  till  he  produced  his 
letters  of  introduction  to  Beza,  that  the  gates  were  opened  for  their 
admission.     Melville  at  once  attracted  the  notice  of  that  distinguished 

—being  profoundly  skilled  in  the  Hebrew,  Greek,  and  Latin  languages ;  in  this  age  ot 
general  ignorance,  he  has,  by  universal  assent,  merited  not  only  high  fame,  but  the  nobler 
tribute  of  admiration. 

t  The  French  catholics  were  accustomed  at  this  time  to  apply  both  this  name  and  that 
of  Christandins  to  the  protestants. — Bulcevt. 


ANDIIEW   MELVILLE.  045 

scholar,  who  immediately  recommended  him  to  his  colleagues,  as  a 
person  well  qualified  to  undertake  the  duties  of  professor  of  humanity 
which  chair  happened  at  the  time  to  be  vacant.  He  was  accordingly 
put  upon  trial ;  and  after  a  long  and  severe  examination  in  Virgil 
and  Homer,  he  acquitted  himself  so  entirely  to  the  satisfaction  of 
the  examinators,  that  he  was  immediately  installed.  A  quarter  of  a 
year's  salary  was  paid  him  in  advance,  which,  though  small,  proved 
a  very  seasonable  relief.  From  the  strict  habits  of  economy  which 
he  uniformly  practised,  this  enabled  him  to  appear  with  respectability, 
and  at  the  same  time  to  assist  his  friend  until  he  procured  a 
situation. 

It  was  here  he  acquired  that  accurate  knowledge  of  oriental 
literature,  for  which  he  was  afterwards  so  justly  celebrated  ;  for 
whilst  he  strictly  attended  to  the  duties  of  his  own  class,  he  waited 
also  with  all  the  humility  of  a  scholar  upon  the  instructions  of  such 
of  his  colleagues,  as  could  add  to  his  stock  of  literary  knowledge. 
Under  Cornelius  Bertram,  a  man  of  profound  talents  and  general 
erudition,  he  acquired  a  knowledge  of  Syriac,  which  before  that  time 
had  been  bat  little  known  in  Europe  ;  and  with  Franciscus  Portus,  a 
native  of  Candia,  he  perfected  himself.  So  very  accurate  was  his 
knowledge  of  this  language,  that  upon  a  certain  occasion,  when  the 
Cretan  was  expatiating  with  great  pathos  and  sublimity  upon  the 
beauties  of  his  native  tongue,  Melville,  either  from  well-weighed 
conviction,  or  with  a  view  to  inform  himself  still  more  fully  of 
certain  idioms  and  peculiarities  of  the  language,  ventured  to  oppose 
some  of  his  teacher's  favourite  opinions  ;  when  Portus,  piqued 
at  what  he  no  doubt  considered  illiberal  interruption,  exclaimed  in 
angry  sarcasm — "  Vos  Scoti,  vos  hirhari,  doccl'dis  nos  Groicos 
pronunciationem  nostrm  linguae,  scilicet  /"* 

Of  all  the  learned  men  in  Geneva,  Melville  felt  the  strongest 
attachment  to  Beza ;  for,  besides  attending  upon  his  public  prelec- 
tions, he  enjoyed  the  felicity  of  being  at  all  times  admitted  into  his 
private  company.  This  attachment  on  the  part  of  the  learned 
Genevan  is  to  be  attributed  not  only  to  Melville's  splendid  literary 
and  mental  endowments,  but  also  to  the  undeviating  adherence 
which  he  at  all  times  expressed  to  the  ecclesiastical  constitution  of 
the  land  of  his  birth,  which  upon  all  proper  occasions  formed  a 
delightful  subject  of  conversation  to  the  two  reformers.  Beza  was 
partial  to  Scotland  and  to  Scotsmen.  But  "  the  massacre  of  the 
protestants,"  says  Dr.  M'Crie,  "  which  commenced  at  Paris  on  St. 
Bartholomew's  Day,  1572,  and  which  wrought  such  wo  to  France, 
was  the  occasion  "of  extending  Melville's  acquaintance  with  the 
learned  men  of  the  age.  Those  who  escaped  the  dagger  of  the 
murderer  took  refuge  in  Geneva,  whose  gates  were  thrown  open  to 
receive  them.  One  hundred  and  twenty  French  ministers  were  at 
one  time  in  the  city.  The  academy  overflowed  with  students,  and 
the  magistrates  were  unable  to  provide  salaries  for  the  learned  men 
whom  they  were  desirous  to  employ,  or  to  find  situations  for  such  as 
were  willing  to  teach  without  receiving  any  remuneration."     It  was 

*  You  Scots,  you  barbarians,  will  teach  us  how  to  pronounce  our  own  language 
forsooth ! 


246 


SCOTS   WORTHIES. 


at  this  time  that  Melville  became  acquainted  with  Scaliger,  and 
JETottoman,  and  Bonnefoy,  French  refugees,  all  of  whom  were 
distinguished  for  their  talents  and  erudition,  and  all  obtained  public 
appointments.  Scaliger  was  considered  the  first  scholar  of  the  age 
lie  lived  in  ;  and  even  to  this  day  his  critical  authority  is  bowed  to 
bv  the  profoundest  of  modern  linguists.  It  is  certain  that  Melville 
studied  Roman  law  under  Hottoman,  and  it  cannot  be  doubted  that 
he  also  embraced  the  opportunity  of  attending  Bonnefoy's  lectures  on 
Oriental  jurisprudence.  Thus  tutored  and  thus  qualified,  his  mind 
was  deeply  impressed  with  uniform  zeal  for  the  liberties  of  his 
country  ;  and  upon  all  occasions  his  juvenile  mind  burned  with 
indignation  at  the  thought  of  papistical  tyranny.  And,  fortunately 
for  his  country,  the  time  drew  nigh  when  he  was  to  take  leave  of 
Geneva.  A  Scottish  gentleman  with  whom  Melville  had  been 
acquainted  at  St.  Andrew's,  travelling  as  tutor  to  Alexander 
Campbell,  bishop  of  Brechin,  visited  this  city  in  his  continental 
tour,  and  representing  to  Melville  the  distracted  state  of  his  native 
country,  and  the  urgent  solicitations  of  his  friends  that  he  should 
now  return  home,  he  immediately  formed  the  resolution  of  complying 
with  their  request,  and  devoting  to  the  service  of  that  country — 
hallowed  to  his  remembrance  by  every  tie  of  kindred  and  early 
piety — the  knowledge  and  experience  which  he  had  acquired  abroad. 
Without  delay  he  waited  upon  the  superiors  of  the  academy  and  his 
colleagues,  respectfully  requesting  their  concurrence  in  resigning  his 
office.  To  this  they  assented  with  great  reluctance  ;  but  at  the  same 
time  accompanied  his  demission  with  the  most  flattering  testimonials 
of  esteem  and  regret.  Beza,  particularly,  has  perhaps  passed  the 
highest  encomium  that  could  be  given  of  his  worth,  in  a  letter  to 
the  General  Assembly,  certifying  "  that  Andrew  Melville  was 
equally  distinguished  by  his  piety  and  erudition,  and  that  the  church 
of  Geneva  could  not  give  a  stronger  proof  of  affection  to  her  sister 
church  of  Scotland,  than  by  suffering  herself  to  be  bereaved  of  him 
that  his  native  country  might  be  enriched  with  his  gifts." 

Melville  now  prepared  for  his  departure  ;  and  it  may  well  be 
imagined  that  his  regrets  were  not  few,  at  bidding  adieu  to  a  place 
where  lie  had  spent  the  happiest  years  of  his  life, "in  the  acquisition 
of  knowledge,  and  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  society  of  the  most 
distinguished  men  of  the  age,  for  literature  and  piety.  To  these  he 
often  recurs  in  fancy  in  after  life,  especially  in  an  elegiac  poem  to 
the  memory  of  John  Lindsay,  a  Scotchman,  who  died  at  Geneva. 
He  left  that  "seat  of  genuine  piety,"  as  he  himself  expresses  it,  in 
the  spring  of  1.374,  taking  the  route  of  Lyons,  Franchecompte,  and 
descending  the  Loire  to  Orleans,  in  company  with  the  bishop  of 
Brechin,  ami  his  tutor.  As  the  latter  place  was  strictly  guarded  on 
account  of  the  civil  war  which  was  still  raging  in  France,  the  soldier 
on  duty  accosted  Melville,  who  was  on  horseback,  in  consequence  of 
having  sprained  his  foot,  with  "  Whence  are  you?"— "From  Scot- 
land," replied  Melville.—^  O  !  you  Scots  are  all  Hugonots." — "  Ilugo- 
notfi  !  what's  that  '.  we  do  not  know  such  people  in  Scotland." — ul*ou 
have  no  mass,"  said  the  sentinel — -  vous  vous  n'avez  pas  hi  Mesc^ — 
"No  flies*/"  retorted  Melville  Bmiling ;  "our  children  in  Scotland 


ANDREW   MELVILLE.  047 

go  to  mess  every  day.''  On  their  way  home,  Melville  and  his  fellow- 
travellers  visited  Paris,  where  he  was  for  some  days  engaged  in  a 
public  polemical  dispute  with  a  Jesuit,  the  issue  of  which  might 
have  proved  prejudicial  to  him,  had  he  not  been  warned  by  some  of 
his  friends  to  withdraw  speedily  from  the  city.  They  accordingly 
took  their  departure  for  London,  where  they  remained  for  a  short 
time.  Melville  at  length  reached  Edinburgh,  early  in  July,  1574, 
after  an  absence  of  nine  years  and  ten  months. 

Melville  had  been  but  a  short  time  in  the  metropolis,  when  he  was 
visited  by  George  Buchanan,  Alexander  Hay,  and  colonel  James 
Halyburton,  with  an  offer  of  becoming  tutor  in  the  family  of  the 
regent.  This,  however,  he  declined,  assigning  as  a  reason,  his  long 
absence  from  his  native  country,  and  his  "desire  to  spend  some  time 
with  his  friends  before  he  undertook  any  public  employment,  His 
retirement,  however,  was  of  short  duration.  Both  St.  Andrew's  and 
Glasgow  contended  for  the  honour  of  having  him  appointed  as  prin- 
cipal of  their  universities  ;  but  he  preferred  the  latter.  On  his  way 
to  Glasgow,  he  was  introduced  to  the  young  king  at  Stirling,  then 
only  nine  years  of  age.  Here  he  found  George  Buchanan  engaged 
in  writing  his  History  of  Scotland,  whom  he  consulted  regarding  the 
plan  of  education  he  should  adopt  in  the  university  over  which  he 
was  called  to  preside.  "  Such  was  his  success,"  says  James  Melville, 
"  that  I  dare  say  there  was  no  place  in  Europe  comparable  to 
Glasgow  for  good  letters  during  these  years,  for  a  plentiful  and  good 
cheap  market  of  all  kinds  of  languages,  arts,  and  sciences;"  and 
such  was  his  happy  art  of  communication,  said  one  of  his  pupils, 
"that  he  learned  more  of  Mr.  Andrew  Melville,  cracking  and 
playing,  for  understanding  of  the  authors  which  he  taught  in 
the  school,  than  by  all  his  commentators."  By  Melville's  exertions, 
the  living  of  Govan,  about  two  miles  from  Glasgow,  valued  at 
twenty-four  chalders  of  grain  yearly,  was  added  to  the  university. 
M'Gavin  says  the  regent  Morton  offered  this  to  Melville,  in  addition 
to  what  he  enjoyed  as  principal,  provided  he  would  not  insist  against 
the  establishment  of  bishops  ;  but  Melville  rejected  his  oiler  with 
scorn. 

There  is  one  part  of  Melville's  character  that  fitted  him  so 
admirably  for  the  arduous  duties  to  which  he  was  soon  to  be  called, 
that  we  cannot  pass  unnoticed  ;  we  mean,  his  acute  discernment  of 
human  character,  and  his  linn  persevering  adherence  to  what  he 
conceived  to  be  his  duty,  upon  all  occasions.  It  may  be  sufficient 
here,  to  mention  only  one  instance  of  each.  John  Colville,  minister 
of  Kilbride,  (whether  East  or  West  is  not  said,)  having  been  called 
before  the  synod  to  answer  for  dereliction  of  duty  and  deserting  his 
ministry,  made  such: plausible  excuses  upon  examination,  as  to  Batisfy 
all  his  brethren,  except  Melville.  He  was  the  only  one  who  doubted 
Colville's  sincerity.  Judging  from  the  evasive  answers  he  received 
to  some  rather  sifting  questions  upon  the  occasion,  he  told  his 
brethren  that  he  would  not  be  surprised  to  see  Colville  desert  his 
ministerial  profession,  and  renounce  Christianity  altogether ;  winch 
turned  out  exactly  as  Melville  had  suspected.  He  soon  after,  from 
one  step  to  another,  became  an  adherent  of  the  church  <A'  Rome,  and 


24:8  SCOTS  WORTHIES. 

wrote  bitterly  .against  the  protestant  religion.  "  Indeed,"  says 
M'Crie,  "  all  his  tergiversations,  political  and  religious,  were  marked 
by  uncommon  want  of  principle."  The  other  instance  refers  to  the 
state  of  discipline  then  in  practice  in  the  university  ;  viz.,  that  of 
corporal  chastisement,  which,  although  Melville  himself  never 
inflicted,  he  supported  firmly  among  the  regents  under  his  superin- 
tendence. Upon  one  occasion,  a  son  of  Lord  Hemes  had  been 
enticed  from  his  studies,  by  the  dissolute  son  of  a  wealthy  citizen, 
and  had  been  reported  to  the  principal.  In  compliance  with  his 
duty,  and  to  restrain  others  from  similar  offence,  Melville  caused  him 
to  be  cited  to  appear  before  the  whole  college,  and  reprimanded  him 
sharply  for  his  misdemeanors.  Instead,  however,  of  being  received 
with  submission  and  penitence,  the  young  gentleman  became  greatly 
irritated,  and  meditated  revenge.  With  this  intention,  he  withdrew 
into  the  city  ;  where,  having  collected  a  band  of  reckless  young  men 
like  himself,  who  were  no  friends  to  the  college,  they  waylaid  the 
professors  and  students  upon  a  sabbath-day  as  they  were  returning 
from  church,  and  Heriot,  the  ringleader,  brandished  a  sword  in  the 
principal's  face,  making  use  at  the  same  time  of  the  most  disgusting 
and  opprobrious  epithets.  Melville  bore  all  this,  says  his  nephew, 
with  the  utmost  patience,  and  with  difficulty  restrained  the  students 
from  fighting  in  defence  of  their  master  ;  for,  "  although  verie  hot  in 
all  [public]  questions,  yet  when  it  twitched  his  particular,  no  man 
could  crab  him,  contrar  to  his  common  custom."  As  soon  as  this 
came  to  the  ears  of  Lord  Hemes,  he  obliged  his  son  to  go  down 
upon  his  knees  in  the  open  court  of  the  college,  and  beg  pardon  of 
the  principal.  Melville  received  this  with  all  the  dignity  of  office, 
but  immediately  forgave  the  culprit.  "  If  they  would  have  forgive- 
ness," said  he  to  one  of  the  professors  upon  another  occasion,  "  let 
them  crave  it  humbly,  and  they  shall  have  it ;  but  ere  this  prepara- 
tive pass,  that  we  dare  not  correct  our  scholars  for  fear  of  bangsters 
and  claimed  gentlemen,  they  shall  have  all  the  blood  of  my  body 
first." 

Melville  was  satisfied  in  his  own  mind  that  prelacy  had  no  foun- 
dation in  Scripture — he  had  witnessed  the  happy  effects  of  presby 
terianism  both  in  France  and  Geneva, — he  had  taught  that  the 
words  bishop  and  presbyter  are  used  "  interchangeably'yin  the  New 
Testament,  and  that  those  who  pleaded  for  the  divine  origin  of  epis- 
copacy, did  so  from  ignorance  of  the  language  of  Scripture ;  and 
therefore  his  advice  was,  to  strike  at  once  at  the  root  of  the  evil,  and 
restore  that  equality  of  rank  among  the  ministers  of  religion,  which 
the  court  party  were  seeking  to  destroy,  and  which  certainly  existed 
among  the  early  pastors  of  the  church/  Being  a  member  of  the  first 
General  Assembly  that  had  met  since  his  appointment  in  the  univer- 
sity of  Glasgow,  hL.  stoutly  advocated  these  principles.  From  that 
period  lie  was  a  member  of  all  the  committees  that  sat  from  time  to 
time,  collecting  materials  for  the  book  of  church  polity,— he  had  a 
chief  share  in  all  disputations  both  public  and  private — "And  in- 
deid,"  says  James  .Melville,  "  that  mater  cost  him  exceeding  great 
poans,  bathe  in  mynd,  body,  and  gear,  during  the  space  of" five  or 
sax  yair,  with  the  gean  of  the  regent  Erl  of  Morton  and  his  bischopea 


ANDREW    MELVILLE.  049 

utter  indignation.  Yit  with  the  wonderful  assistance  of  God,  lie 
bure  it  out  till   the  abolishing  of  bischopes  and  establishing  of  the 

presbyteries  according  to  the  word  of  God,  wharby  hegatl  the  name 
of  the  Blinger  out  of  bischops."  That  Melville  was  at  any  time  vio- 
lent and  overbearing,  as  has  been  alleged  by  his  enemies,  is  totally 
without  evidence.  Cool  argument,  and  calm  but  firm  persuasion, 
were  the  only  weapons  he  used;  but  these  were  most  effective, — 
indeed,  the  whole  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Assembly  were  charac- 
terized by  a  deliberative  wisdom,  calmness  of  temper,  and  una- 
nimity, that  both  astonished  and  greatly  disappointed  their  enemies. 

In  1577,  Melville  and  other  seven  were  nominated  by  the  As- 
sembly, at  the  request  of  the  regent,  to  attend  a  convocation  of  pro- 
testants  at  Magdeburgh,  for  establishing  the  Augsburg  Confession  ; 
but  for  reasons  best  known  to  himself,  the  matter  dropped,  although 
frequently  urged  to  it  by  the  assembly.  Finding  that  he  could  not 
by  any  art  gain  over  Melville  to  his  party,  the  regent  attempted  to 
intimidate  him  by  accusing  him  as  a  disturber  of  the  peace,  and 
threatened  to  proceed  against  him  accordingly  ;  but  our  reformer 
was  not  to  be  so  overawed.  Not  satisfied  with  the  proceedings  of  the 
Assembly  at  the  time,  he  sent  for  Melville  to  his  chamber  one  day, 
and  after  addressing  him  for  some  time  on  the  propriety  of  preserv- 
ing the  peace  of  the  church  and  kingdom,  and  saying  that  there 
never  would  be  quietness  in  the  kingdom  till  half-a-dozen  of  them 
wTere  either  hanged  or  banished  the  country, — Melville  replied, 
"Tush,  sir;  threaten  your  courtiers  after  this  manner.  It  is  the 
same  to  me  whether  I  rot  in  the  air  or  in  the  ground.  The  earth  is 
the  Lord's.  I  have  been  ready  to  give  my  life  where  it  could  not  be 
so  well  wared,  at  the  pleasure  of  my  God.  I  have  lived  out  of  your 
country  for  ten  years,  as  well  as  in  it.  Let  God  be  glorified  :  it  will 
not  be  in  your  power  either  to  hang  or  exile  His  truth."  In  refer- 
ence to  this  and  similar  castigations  that  he  was  wont  to  hear  from 
the  lips  of  Morton,  his  nephew  writes — u  Manic  siclyke  has  he  heard, 
and  far  mae  reported  in  mair  ferful  form  ;  but  for  all  he  never  jarged 
a  jot  ather  frae  the  substance  of  the  cause,  or  forme  of  preceding 
tharin." 

The  high  state  of  learning  and  discipline  to  which  the  university 
of  Glasgow  had  now  been  raised,  and  the  comparatively  low  grade 
of  education  in  the  other  colleges,  became  an  object  of  public  noto- 
riety, and  consequently  measures  were  taken  for  reforming  and  new- 
modelling  the  same.  A  new  theological  college  was  agreed  upon 
for  St.  Andrew's  ;  and  it  was  resolved  to  translate  Melville  thither, 
and  to  install  Smeton  in  his  room. 

Melville  entered  upon  his  charge  at  St.  Andrew's  in  December, 
15S0,  and  the  persons  appointed  by  the  general  assembly  to  attend 
him  were  Sir  Andrew  Ker  of  Tandonside,  the  lairds  of  Braid  and 
Lundie,  with  James  Lawson  and  John  Dury,  says  Dr.  M'Crie  ;  and 
Calderwood  adds,  Mr.  Eobert  Pont,  and  William  Christie 
Although  he  was  permitted  to  take  with  him  from  Glasgow  what 
teachers  soever  he  thought  fit,  yet  being  unwilling  to  deprive  that 
flourishing  university  of  any  of  its  ornaments,  he  was  contonl  with 
taking  his  nephew  only,  the  celebrated  James  Melville,  whose  pre- 


250  SCOTS  WORTHIES. 

ceptor  lie  himself  had  been.  lie  appointed  him  professor  of  oriental 
languages.  His  own  lectures  here  excited  universal  admiration, 
and  were  attended  by  even  some  of  the  professors,  who,  though 
teacher^  themselves,  were  not  ashamed  to  receive  instruction  from 
this  justly  celebrated  man.  But,  enough  we  should  suppose  has 
already  been  said  to  establish  the  literary  reputation  of  Melville,  and 
therefore  our  attention  shall  now  be  exclusively  directed  to  the 
active  part  he  took  in  the  affairs  of  the  church,  and  the  sufferings  he 
underwent  in  bringing  about  the  great  work  of  the  reformation. 

In  the  Assembly  which  met  at  St.  Andrew's,  in  1582,  Melville 
was  chosen  moderator,  and  preached  the  opening  sermon  from  1  Tim. 
iv.  10 — ww  For  therefore  we  both  labour  and  suffer  reproach,  because 
we  trust  in  the  living  God,  who  is  the  Saviour  of  all  men,  specially 
of  those  who  believe."  In  his  discourse,  he  censured  in  strong 
terms  the  absolute  authority  which  was  stealing  into  the  church,  and 
pointedly  named  Beaton  and  Leslie,  as  the  principal  agents  in  the 
matter,  saying — "  I  know  this  will  be  called  interfering  with  civil 
affairs  ;  but  these  things  tend  to  the  wreck  of  religion,  and  therefore 
I  rehearse  them."  Among  other  things,  the  assembly  drew  up  a 
statement  of  their  grievances,  to  be  laid  before  the  king,  and  Mel- 
ville was  one  of  a  deputation  appointed  to  present  the  same  to  his 
majesty,  who  was  at  the  time  living  at  Perth.  His  nephew  had 
been  premonished  to  advise  his  uncle  not  to  appear,  as  Lennox  and 
Arran  were  enraged  at  the  obstacles  he  had  thrown  in  their  way  for 
the  prevention  of  their  schemes  ;  but  when  the  young  man  informed 
him  of  the  message,  and  at  the  same  time  entreated  him  not  to  make 
light  of  the  friendly  premonition,  Melville  replied — "  I  am  not 
afraid,  thank  God  ;  nor  feeble-spirited  in  the  cause  and  message  of 
Christ, — come  what  God  pleases  to  send,  our  commission  shall  be 
executed."  The  deputation,  having  been  admitted  to  the  king  and 
council,  presented  their  grievances,  craving  redress  ;  which,  after 
having  been  read,  the  earl  of  Arran,  looking  round  the  assembly 
with  a  stern  countenance,  cried  aloud  in  a  tone  of  defiance,  "  Who 
dare  subscribe  these  treasonable  articles?" — "  We  dare,"  said  Mel- 
ville, stepping  forward  to  the  table,  "  and  will  render  our  lives  for 
it ;"  and  then,  taking  the  pen  from  the  clerk's  hand,  subscribed  his 
name  before  the,  whole  audience.  Arran  wTas  thunderstruck  and 
humbled  ;  and  Lennox  became  mild  as  a  lamb;  telling  the  commis- 
sioners they  were  at  liberty  to  depart. 

Melville,  besides  his  academical  duties,  preached  frequently  in 
vacant  pulpits,  and  for  some  time  he  and  his  nephew  divided  the 
labours  "I"  the  sabbath  between  them,  in  one  of  the  churches,  where, 
through  the  profligacy  of*  the  times,  no  stipend  could  be  obtained  for 
the  minister.  For  this  reason,  the  church  was  without  a  stated 
preacher  l'<>r  three  years  ;  and,  upon  one  occasion,  Melville,  being  in 
the  pulpit,  inveighed  loudly  against  the  conduct  of  those  who 
hindered  t he  settlement  of  a  minister.  "Galled  by  his  reproofs," 
Bays  Dr.  .M-Crie,  "the  provost  rose  one  day  from  his  seat  in  the 
middle  of  the  sermon,  and  left  the  church,  muttering  his  dissatisfac- 
tion with  the  preacher.  Placards  were  atlixed  to  the  new  college 
'jate,  threatening  to  set  lire  to  the  principal's  lodging,  to  bastinado 


ANDREW    MELVILLE.  251 

him,  and  chase  him  out  of  the  town."    Melville  remained  quit) 

ease  amidst  the  general  alarm  for  his  safety,  and  summoned  the 
provost  to  appear  before  the  presbytery,  to  answer  for  his  behaviour 
in  church,  and  for  contempt  of  divine  ordinances.     Nothing  could 

deter  him  from  his  duty  ;  and  wherever  he  found  vice  to  exist,  there 
lie  exposed  it.  The  writer  of  one  of  the  placards  was  pretty  surely 
known  from  some  of  the  foreign  phrases  which  it  contained  ;  am!  this 
the  preaeher  one  day  produced  before  the  congregation,  at  the  el 
of  his  discourse.  The  suspected  writer  was  sitting  before  him,  whom 
Melville  characterized  as  "a  Frenchified,  Italianized,  jolly  gentle- 
man, who  had  polluted  many  marriage-beds,  and  who  now  boasted 
that  he  would  pollute  the  church  of  God,  by  bastinading  his 
servants."  Melville's  boldness  upon  this  and  some  former  occasions 
had  created  him  a  number  of  enemies,  who  lost  no  opportunity  of 
prepossessing  the  royal  ear  against  him;  the  consequence  of  which 
was,  that  he  was  summoned  to  appear  before  the  privy  council  on 
the  15th  day  of  February  following,  to  answer  for  "certain  treason- 
able and  seditious  expressions  uttered  by  him  in  the  pulpit,  when 
preaching  on  a  fast  day  which  had  been  kept  in  the  preceding 
mouth." 

Not  in  the  least  intimidated,  Melville  obeyed  the  citation  with  the 
utmost  consciousness  of  innocence,  and  answered  to  the  charge  ; 
solemnly  protesting,  that  neither  in  that  sermon,  nor  upon  any  other 
occasion,  had  he  ever  spoken  disrespectfully  of  his  majesty.  To  this 
effect  he  had  been  furnished  with  attestations  by  the  university,  tho 
town-council,  the  kirk  session,  and  the  presbytery  of  St.  Andrews. 
The  court,  however,  set  aside  all  these,  and  determined  to  proceed 
with  the  trial.  As  a  matter  of  justice,  Melville  requested  that  his 
trial  should  be  remitted  to  the  ecclesiastical  courts,  according  to  the 
word  of  God  and  the  laws  of  the  realm — that  he  should  be  tried  at 
St.  Andrew's  where  the  offence  was  alleged  to  have  been  committed 
— that  he  should  at  least  be  allowed  to  submit  his  cause  to  the 
judgment  of  the  rector  and  professors  of  the  university — that  he 
should  enjoy  the  benefit  of  the  apostolic  injunction,  "against  an 
elder  receive  not  an  accusation,  but  before  two  or  three  witnesses  — 
that  he  should  be  confronted  with  his  accuser;  and,  if  the  charges 
brought  against  him  turned  out  false,  that  he  should  have 
redress  for  the  calumnies.  Having  stated  these  objections,  the 
council  delayed  farther  procedure  till  the  day  following.  In  the 
mean  time,  suspecting  that  none  of  his  objections  would  be  attended 
to,  he  drew  up  a  written  protest  against  the  proceedings  of  council, 
and  appeared  next  day,  attended  by  commissioners  from  the  univer- 
sity and  presbytery,  each  determined  to  plead  for  their  respective 
rights;  but  both  were  denied  admission.  Prepared  for  what  he 
rightly  conjectured  would  be  the  issue,  he  gave  in  his  protest,— the 
reading  of  which  threw  the  king  and  Arran  into  such  a  violent  fit 
of  passion,  as  to  alarm  those  who  were  waiting  without  for  the 
decision.  Melville's  spirit  rose  with  the  emergency,— and,  boldly- 
defending  his  procedure,  he  unslung  his  small  Hebrew  Bible  which 
he  always  carried  suspended  from  his  girdle,  throwing  it  down  upon 
the  table,  saying — "These  are  my  instructions  and  authority  ,  see  u 


252  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

yon  can  show  me  that  I  have  acted  contrary  to  my  injunctions!" 
the  chancellor  took  up  the  book,  and,  observing  that  it  was  in 
a  language  of  which  he  was  ignorant,  said  to  his  majesty — 
"Sire,  he  scorns  your  majesty  and  the  council  !" — "I  scorn  not,  my 
lords  :  but  I  am  earnest  and  zealous  for  the  cause  of  Christ  and  his 
church  !" — Every  art  was  used  to  induce  him  to  withdraw-  his 
protest;  but  this  he  peremptorily  refused.  Judgment  was  therefore 
passed  upon  him  for  having  declined  the  competency  of  the  council, 
and  for  behaving  "irreverently"  in  their  presence;  and  he  was 
sentenced  to  be  imprisoned  in  Edinburgh  castle  during  the  king's 
pleasure.  The  place  of  his  confinement  was  afterwards  commuted 
for  Blackness,  a  solitary  and  damp  fortress  in  the  county  of  Linlith- 
gow, on  the  southern  banks  of  the  Forth,  kept  by  one  of  the 
chancellor's  underlings. 

Melville's  friends  were  now  at  a  loss  what  to  advise.  All  seemed 
perplexed  but  himself,  and  he  therefore  laid  his  plans  in  such  a  way 
that  his  real  intentions  were  entirely  concealed.  He  made  prepa- 
rations for  his  departure  with  all  expedition,  and  dined  with  a  party 
of  ministers  in  Edinburgh,  desiring  them,  with  great  apparent 
cheerfulness,  to  prepare  to  follow  him,  and  even  drank  to  the  health 
of  his  captain,  as  he  jocularly  styled  the  keeper  of  Blackness.  He 
desired  the  macer  to  be  brought  in,  and,  with  a  seeming  air  of 
satisfaction,  received  from  him  the  summons  to  enter  himself  at 
Blackness  within  twenty-four  hours.  Soon  after,  having  been  joined 
by  one  of  his  brothers,  he  withdrew  for  a  little  by  permission,  and, 
having  spent  the  night  in  the  vicinity  of  the  city,  he  reached 
Berwick  next  day  in  safety,  to  the  sad  disappointment  of  Arran,  who 
was  in  waiting  with  a  troop  of  horse,  to  honour  him  with  an 
equestrian  convoy  to  his  place  of  confinement. 

His  absence  in  England  turned  out  afterwards  to  be  of  great 
benefit  to  the  suffering  church  at  home.  Being  beyond  the  reach  of 
his  enemies,  he  could  watch  the  proceedings  of  the  court,  and  its 
emissaries, — one  of  whom,  Patrick  Adamson,  a  vacillating,  unprin- 
cipled creature,  began  now  to  show  his  craftiness.  The  political 
atmosphere  was  beginning  to  darken,  and  it  was  evident  that  the 
storm  would  ere  long  burst  with  awful  vengeance.  Adamson  had 
represented  to  the  French  presbyterian  ministers  in  London,  and  to 
the  churches  in  Geneva  and  Zurich,  the  principles  and  behaviour  of 
his  brethren  in  a  very  false  and  odious  light;  but,  fortunately, 
Melville  had  obtained  copies  of  these  letters,  and  without  delay  he 
wrote  and  contradicted  Adamson 's  statements.  It  is  not  difficult  to 
see  that  by  these  means  Adamson  thought  to  obtain  such  a  concur- 
rence from  the  foreign  churches,  as  might  at  least  form  a  plausible 
pretext  for  the  part  he  was  acting.  This,  however,  he  did  not 
obtain.  Even  his  residence  at  London  did  not  favour  the  cause  he 
was  scut  to  promote.  .  Upon  his  return,  however,  an  act  was  passed 
by  the  Scottish  parliament,  overthrowing  presbytery,  suppressing  the 
Genera]  Assembly,  and  consigning  the  whole  ecclesiastical  govern- 
ment to  the  will  of  the  king,  without  whose  permission  no  Assembly 
could  be  held.  Not  a  few  of  the  faithful  ministers  were  cast  into 
prison  for  their  resistance  ;  many  of  them  gave  up  their  livings,  and 


ANDREW    MELVILLE.  053 

withdrew  to  England  ;  and,  as  might  have  been  expected,  a  number 
succumbed,  to  the  reigning  power,  and  submitted  to  episcopal 
ordination.  At  this  time  Melville  wrote  a  reply  to  a  "  Vindication 
of  the  Scottish  Court,"  artfully  drawn  up  by  Adamson,  impugning 
the  banished  lords,  and  inveighing  against  the  proceedings  of  the 
church.     Melville  did  not  escape  his  own  share  of  abuse. 

In  July,  158-i,  Angus,  Mar,  and  the  master  of  Glammis,  wrote  to 
Melville  to  meet  them  at  Newcastle,  along  with  James  Lawson,  to 
consult  about  matters  too  weighty  for  their  own  deliberation  ;  but 
being  absent  from  London  at  the  time,  the  meeting  did  not  take 
place.  This,  however,  was  the  less  to  be  regretted,  as  matters  were 
beginning  to  assume  a  different  aspect  at  home.  The  nation  was 
discontented — the  principal  courtiers  were  disgusted  at  Arran's 
lordly  usurpation  and  arrogance — and  the  king  himself  began  to  feel 
uneasy.  The  exiled  lords  applied  to  Elizabeth  for  permission  to 
depart,  which  having  been  obtained,  the  people  from  all  quarters 
nocked  to  their  standard  as  soon  as  they  set  foot  in  Scotland  ;  and, 
upon  their  arrival  at  Stirling,  the  army  by  which  they  were  accom- 
panied had  such  an  imposing  effect,  that  Arran  consulted  his  safety 
by  flight.  After  mutual  explanation,  the  king  came  down  from  the 
castle,  and  the  lords,  having  laid  down  their  arms  were  immediately 
reinstated  in  power  and  favour.  Melville,  anxious  to  lend  his 
talents  once  more  to  his  suffering  countrymen,  accompanied  the 
banished  nobles,  and  returned  to  his  native  country,  in  Xovember, 
1585,  having  been  absent  twenty  months. 

Melville's  first  object  after  his  return  was  to  attempt  the  restoration 
of  the  church's  liberties,  and  to  bring  about  the  abrogation  of  the 
black  acts,  as  they  were  called;  but  he  met  with  strenuous  opposi- 
tion, even  from  quarters  where  he  least  expected  it.  The  exiled 
lords  having  regained  their  temporalities  bestirred  themselves  but 
very  slovenly  in  the  cause,  and  the  king  therefore,  emboldened  by 
their  imbecility,  declared  that  he  would  resist  any  alteration  of  the 
existing  ecclesiastical  law,  as  interfering  with  his  personal  preroga- 
tive, which  he  would  maintain  at  all  hazards  ;  and  this  the  cowardly 
nobles,  in  violation  of  their  former  good  faith,  took  no_  steps  to 
oppose.  A  deputation  of  ministers  was  therefore  nominated  to 
confer  with  the  nobility,  and  to  urge  the  fulfilment  of  their  promises ; 
but,  although  entreaties,  expostulations,  nay  threats,  were  employed, 
it  was  of  no  avail.  The  king's  determination  not  to  part  with  his 
(usurped)  prerogative,  served  as  an  objection  to  every  point.  There 
was  therefore  no  hope  but  to  apply  to  James  himself.  Their  r< 
tion  was  far  from  being  courteous;  and  in  the  course  of  the  inter- 
view, they  were  shocked  at  the  iteration  of  language,  by  which  they 
had  been  frequently  before  assailed  by  Lennox  and  Arran— 
fc{  language,"  says  Dr.  MlCrie,  "  not  more  disrespectful  to  them,  than 
indecorous  from  the  mouth  of  a  king."  Melvi]le  urged  his  suit  with 
his  wonted  firmness,  and  spoke  in  such  plain  terms  as  were  not 
altogether  agreeable  to  the  ear  of  royalty.  The  king,  however, 
relaxed  so  far  as  to  require  them  to  write  out  their  objections  to  the 
existing  law.  To  these  the  king  gave  his  own  interpretation,addtng, 
that  it  should  be  as  authentic  as  an  act  of  parliament.     .Nothing 


254  SOOTS   WORTHIES. 

farther  could  he  obtained  at  the  time,  than  that  all  ministers  and 
masters  of  colleges  were  at  liberty  to  return  to  their  places  and  pro- 
it,  on   the  other  hand,  an  act  had  just   passed   through 
ling  to  death — "to  be  executed  with   the  utmost 
;r" — all  who  should  publicly  or  privately"  speak  to  the  reproach 
of  his  majesty's  person  or  government,  or  misconstrue  his  proceed- 
-"" — prohibiting  at  the  same  time.  "  all  leagues  or  bands  among 
the  subjects,  without  his  majesty's  privity  and  consent,  under  what- 
ever pretext  they  should  be  made."     Adamson,  too,  laboured  inces- 
santly to  keep  the  breach  open,  and  to  incense  his  majesty  still  more 
against  Melville.      Discoursing  one  day  with    the  king  upon   the 
".  -     -  I    ilderwood,  he  exclaimed,  ki  By  the  Lord  God,  Sire, 
(for  the  bishop  did   not  scruple   to  encourage   his  majesty   in  his 
fane   habit  of  swearing!)  had  that  enemy  to   lawful  authority 
remained  another  half-year,  he  had  pulled  the  crown  off  your  head 
by  his  seditious  doctrine — for  he  taught  that  kings  should  come  by 
election,  as  the  multitude  pleased  to  put  them  up  or  down."     Adam- 
son  was  excommunicated  by  the  General  Assembly  for  his  double- 
dealing  ;    and    he  in   his    turn    drew   up    an    excommunication    of 
■  ille  and  other  ministers,  which  he  caused  to  be  read  publicly — 
at  the  same  time  preferring  a  complaint  to  the  king  and  parliament. 
Melville  was  now  for  a  time  laid  under  civil  restraint,  and  ordered  to 
confine  himself  to  the  north  side  of  the  Tay ;  but  at  the  solicitation 
of  the   university   of  St.   Andrew's — aided  however  by  the  secret 
influence  of  a  minion  of  majesty — Melville  was  commanded  to  wait 
upon  the  king  at  Falkland!  where  his   majesty  generally  spent  the 
summer.     Having  been  introduced  into  the  royal  presence,  he  was, 
after  mutual  explanations,  restored  to  favour,  and  ordered  to  resume 
ries  in  the  university. 
Melville's  re-admission  to  favour  now  induced  the  General  Assem- 
ose  him  their  moderator  in  the  Assembly  which  met  in 
June.  1587,  and   also  to  nominate   him  their  commissioner  to   the 
■aching  parliament.     In  virtue  of  his   office  as   moderator,  he 
at  that  time  of  signal  service,  not  only  to  the  church  but  to  the 
nati  kingdom  was   in  a  state   of' alarm    at  the  threatened 

the  Spanish  Armada,  and  the  king  was  amusing  himself 
in  writing  aentary  upon  the  book  of  Revelation,  to  prove  that 

the  Pope  was  Antichrist,  the  man  of  sin — the  Jesuits  and  priests 
wer  mding  with  the  Pope,  and  instigating  the  people  to  a 

It,  in  the  event  of  the  enemy  effecting  a  landing  ;  and  a  general 
-^ants  was  to  have  summed  up  the  catastrophe. 
1-  "'■  ~    circumstances,  Melville  felt  himself  warranted  to  summon 

"    g  of  the  Assembly,  early  in  the  following  year, 
I  with  a  brilliant  address,  in  which  he  laid  before 
.  his  reasons  for  calling  the  meeting.     All  were  unanimous  in 
B      -  dnst  the  .threatened  danger"  and  made  an  offer  of  their 
lives   and   fortunes,  in  defence  of  the  country,  and  Melville  was 
appointed  to  lay  the  same  before  the  king.     The  providential  disper- 
that  formidable  fleet  is  known  to  all,  and  fortunately  no 
required.     This,   however,    had   not   the   effect   of 
ciog  the  and  turbulent  spirit  of  the  papists.     Bent  upon 


ANDREW    MELVILLE.  255 

supremacy,  they  busied  themselves  in  fomenting  a  nev.  iracy 

and  even  wrote  to  the  Spanish  government  to  send  an  army  direct  to 
Scotland,  as  the  sure  way  of  obtaining  session  of  England. 
Melville  was  again  at  his  post  Having  called  another  meeting  of 
Assembly,  he  was  re-elected  moderator,  in  which  assisted  by  Thomas 
Craig  and  other  distinguished  lawyers,  such  measures  v 
as  enabled  the  government  to  frustrate  the  intentions  of  the  insurrec- 
tionists, by  the  discovery  of  their  correspondence. 

The  ecclesiastical  horizon  now  began  to  brighten,  in  consequence 
of  the  united  efforts  of  Melville,  Chancellor  Maitland,  and  Robert 
Bruce,  using  their  influence  with  the  king  to  retrace  hie  steps. 
James,  although  sorely  importuned  by  the  enemies  of  presbyterian- 
ism,  yet  conceiving  a  high  opinion  of  the  talent,  integrity,  and  pru- 
dence of  the  three  reformers,  lent  a  favourable  ear  to  their  ad- 
monitions. Bruce  had  particularly  gained  upon  the  king's 
opinion,  and  he  acted  in  all  things  in  perfect  harmony  with  Melville. 
During  the  king's  absence  in  Denmark,  on  the  occasion  of  his 
marriage,  he  declared  that  he  had  more  faith  in  Brace's  preserving 
public  tranquillity,  than  in  the  whole  of  his  nobility;  and,  upon 
his  return  he  found  it  to  be  exactly  as  he  had  predicted. 

By  special  invitation  Melville  was  present  at  the  coronation  of  the 
queen,  on  the  17th  of  May,  1590  ;  and  immediately  alter  the  crown 
was  placed  upon  her  head,  he  pronounced  a  Latin  poem  which  he 
had  composed  for  the  occasion,  although  he  did  not  know  that 
he  was  expected  until  two  days  before  the  ceremony.  James  was 
so  much  delighted  both  with  the  composition  and  the  manner  in 
which  it  was  recited,  that  he  publicly  thanked  the  author, — saying, 
'•that  he  had  that  day  done  him  and  the  country  such  honour  as 
he  never  could  recpiite ;"  and  at  the  same  time  gave  orders  that 
the  poem  should  be  immediately  printed.  The  title  of  the  poem 
is  SxEriiAXisiuox,  a  copy  of  which  the  learned  reader  will  find  in 
DeUcia  JPoetarwn  Scotorum,  torn.  2.  pp.  71 — 70.  Of  this  poem, 
Lipsius,  after  he  had  read  it,  exclaimed — L'-  vera  Andn 
est  serio  doctus  y  and  Scaliger,  in  a  letter  to  the  author,  wrote,  Nos 
talia  rum  posswnvus*  James,  however,  soon  forgot  his  fair  pro 
mises ;  and  the  silly  vacillating  monarch  allowed  himself  to  be 
swayed  by  the  party  at  court.  The  indifference  which  both  king 
and  courtiers  showed  to  the  murder  of  the  Earl  of  Moray  had 
given  great  offence  to  the  reformers,  and  therefore  Melville  and 
others  were  commissioned  to  wait  upon  the  king,  and  remonstrate 
with  him  for  allowing  such  barbanty  to  pass  unpunished.  The 
freedom  with  which  the  deputation  opened   their  min  the 

subject  was  far  from  being  satisfactory  to  the  king,  and  he  testified 
his  displeasure  in  terms  the  reverse  of  being  pacific.  Melville  de- 
fended himself  and  his  party  with  considerable  warmth  ;  and.  upon 
being  interrupted  by  the  chancellor,  who  did  not  feel  altogether  at 
ease  in  the  conversation,  he  replied,  "that  on  such  a  theme  he 
would  not  be  silenced  by  him  or  any  individual  beneath  his  ma- 
jesty/' The  king  said  that  Moray.  Knox,  and  Buchanan  could  be 
defended   only    by    seditious    and    traitorous    theol   _      -       Melville 

*  '■  In  fact,  Andrew  Melville  is  an  admirable  scholar."— '  I  could  not  do  tbe  li*e  '.'' 


256  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

replied,  that  tliey  were  the  men  who  had  set  the  crown  npon  his 
head,  and  therefore  deserved  better  treatment.  His  majesty  said 
that  his  crown  came  to  him  by  succession,  and  was  not  given  to  him 
by  any  man.  "But  they  were  the  instruments  (replied  Melville) ; 
and  whosoever  informs  your  majesty  sinistrously  of  these  men, 
neither  loves  you  nor  the  commonwealth."  To  such  a  pitch  of 
excitement  had  the  popular  indignation  now  risen,  in  consequence 
of  the  assassination  of  the  earl  of  Moray,  that  they  did  not  hesitate 
to  accuse  both  James  and  his  courtiers  as  having  been  accessory  to 
the  murder.  Foreseeing,  therefore,  that  nothing  would  allay  the 
ferment  but  a  timely  compliance  with  the  wishes  of  the  reformers, 
the  royal  assent  was  given  to  an  act  ratifying  presbytery,  as  "most 
just,  good,  and  lawful  ;"  and  proclamation  was  made  accordingly 
at  the  market  cross  of  Edinburgh,  to  that  effect.  After  a  painful 
but  unflinching  struggle,  for  nearly  eighteen  years,  Melville  was 
at  length  gratified  with  the  completion  of  his  wishes,  sanctioned  by 
the  state,  as  well  as  by  the  church.  Melville  now  resumed  his 
academical  labours  with  a  placidity  of  mind  to  which  he  had  long 
been  a  stranger. 

In  1590,  he  was  elected  rector  of  the  university,  in  room  of  the 
venerable  James  "Wilkie,  principal  of  St.  Leonard's  college ;  and  in 
this  new  situation  he  conducted  himself  with  that  firmness,  decision, 
and  prudence,  as  supreme,  which  had  formerly  characterized  him, 
when  subordinate.     For  several  years  he  acted  as  ruling  elder,  and 
exerted  himself  to  the  utmost,  in  filling  up  the  kirk  session,  with 
men  of  piety,  talent,  and  influence.      In  those  days  the  office  of 
elder  was  attended  with  much  labour  and  personal  inconvenience. 
Besides   giving   attendance  upon  the  .weekly  meetings  of  session, 
they  had  to  assist  the  minister  in  examining  the  congregation  before 
the   communions,   take   cognizance   of  profane   swearers,   sabbath- 
breakers,  violators  of  the  fifth  commandment,  intemperate  persons, 
slanderers,  backbiters,  as  well  as  trespassers  of  the  laws  of  chastity ; 
and,  in  all  these  our  reformer  showed  himself  ever  alive  to  the  glory 
of  God,   and  the  purity  of  the  church.     One  of  his  chief  objects 
was  to  see  that  vacant  parishes  were  supplied  with  proper  ministers. 
Previous  to  this  period,  the  deficiency  had  been  very  great ;  for 
when   Melville  came   first   to   St.  Andrew's,  there   were  only  five 
members   of  presbytery ;    and  now   the  number  had  increased  to 
sixteen.     Among  these  were  David  Black  and   Robert  Wallace,  two 
of  the  most  faithful  and  laborious  ministers  of  any  age.     The  affairs 
of  the  kingdom  were  still  in  a  very  disorderly  state ;  James  was 
still  the  same  babyish  creature  as  formerly  ; — still  in  leading  strings, 
— and  the  papists  taking  advantage  of  his  imbecility,  were  in  cor- 
respondence with  the  king  of  Spain,  to  land  thirty  thousand  men  in 
Scotland,  for  the  purpose  of  invading  England.     James  himself  was 
strongly  suspected  of  being  in  the  plot;  and,  upon  the  authority  of 
Calderwood,  we  mention,  that  upon  the  discovery  of  the  conspiracy, 
by  the  interception  of  letters,  one  of  them  was  suppressed  because 
it  "  touched  the  king  with  knowledge  and  approbation  of  the  traf- 
fiquing,  and  promise  of  assistance."      And,  indeed,  his  majesty's 
subsequent  conduct  tended  greatly  to  strengthen  the  suspicion,  "it 


ANDREW    MELVILLE.  057 

was  well  known  that  his  mind  was  secretly  addicted  to  popery  ;  and 
therefore  he  found  great  fault  with  the  presbyterian  ministers  for 
meeting  to  devise  measures  for  counteracting  the  plot.  They,  how- 
ever, defended  themselves  with  spirit,  and  told  the  king  that  it  was 
not  expedient  to  stand  upon  forms,  when  they  saw  his  person,  the 
church,  and  the  nation  in  danger.  James  was  Boon  pacified,  and 
testified  his  sense  of  their  loyalty,  by  requesting  them  to  assist  his 
council  with  their  best  advice.  The  measures  which  they  found 
necessary  to  adopt,  in  the  mean  time,  were  not,  however,  altogether 
to  the  king's  mind  ;  for,  the  first  step  which  they  deemed  it 
advisable  to  adopt,  was,  to  excommunicate  the  popish  lords  ;  and 
this  he  tried  every  method  to  counteract.  Melville  full  particularly 
under  the  royal  displeasure  for  the  part  he  had  taken  in  the  affair  ; 
but  at  a  convention  of  estates  which  was  held  at  Linlithgow,  in 
October,  1593,  he  told  the  king  his  sentiments  very  freely, — boldly 
reproving  him  for  the  manner  in  which  he  had  spoken  of  the  prin- 
cipal agents  in  bringing  about  the  reformation,  and  the  partiality  he 
had  shown  to  the  avowed  enemies  of  both  his  own  throne  and  the 
church, — challenging,  at  the  same  time,  his  advisers  to  stand  for- 
ward and  not  dissemble,  and  he  would  prove  them  traitors  to  the 
crown  and  kingdom  of  Scotland — failing  which  he  would  go  to  the 
gibbet. 

In  the  General  Assembly  which  was  held  in  May,  1594,  Melville 
was  again  placed  in  the  moderator's  chair.  The  sentence  of  excom- 
munication which  the  synod  of  Fife  had  passed  against  the  popish 
lords  was  unanimously  confirmed  and  ratified,  upon  the  grounds 
that  they  had  refused  to  take  the  benefit  of  the  act  of  abolition,  and 
were  still  in  arms,  persevering  in  their  correspondence  with  the 
Spanish  government.  At  this  assembly  the  king  and  his  ministers 
came  to  a  better  understanding  than  at  any  time  before  ;  and  they 
enjoined  all  its  members  to  beware  of  uttering  from  the  pulpit  any 
rash  or  irreverent  speeches  against  the  king  and  his  council.  Never- 
theless the  popish  lords  continued  still  unawed;  they  were  in  a 
state  of  open  rebellion ;  and,  for  all  that  had  been  said  and  done, 
they  found  not  a  few  friends  in  the  parliament  which  was  held  in 
the"  month  of  June.  Melville  was  again  at  his  post ;  and,  in  pre- 
sence of  the  lords  of  articles,  insisted  upon  speedy  measure-  being 
adopted  against  the  leading  conspirators,  in  order  to  secure  the 
safety  of  religion,  and  the  tranquillity  of  the  kingdom  ;  and,  so 
powerful  was  the  influence  which  his  speech  had  upon  the  assembly, 
that  the  majority  of  the  lords  of  articles  consented  to  the  forfeiture 
of  Huntly,  Angus,  and  Errol,  and  their  decision  was  ratified  by 
parliament. 

Melville  was  now,  at  the  express  request  of  the  king,  called  t< 
accompany  him  in  an  expedition  to  the  north,  against  the  rebels, 
who  felt  inclined  to  take  the  command  upon  himself,  after  the  del 
of  the  earl  of  Argyle,  by  lord  Glenlivet ;  and  fortunate  it  was  ' 
he  thought  of  taking  Melville  with  him;  f.»r  the  measures  which 
he  recommended  were  the  means  of  bringing  about  tranquillity 
Finding  that  they  were  to  be  hard  pressed,  the  rebels  had  retreated 
within  their  mountain  fastnesses ;  and  thus  the  king's  troops  began 
17 


258  SCOTS  WORTHIES. 

to  be  dispirited  at  the  prospect  of  a  tedious  campaign,  which 
became  so  much  the  more  grievous,  as  they  had  been  some  time 
without  pay.  In  these  circumstances,  his  majesty  was  advised 
not  to  proceed  to  extremities  against  the  insurgents;  but  Melville 
counselled  otherwise,  and  the  king  thought  it  would  be  expedient 
to  listen  to  his  admonition.  Orders  were  therefore  given  for  the 
immediate  demolition  of  the  castle  of  Strathbogie,  and  the  prin- 
cipal seats  of  those  who  had  taken  part  with  him.  This  had  the 
desired  effect,  and  the  discontented  noblemen  soon  after  left  the 
kingdom. 

Melville's  disinterested  friendship  and  strong  attachment  to  David 
Black,  one  of  the  ministers  of  St.  Andrew's,  whose  name  we  have 
already  introduced,  had  very  nearly  involved  him  in  serious  difficul- 
ties. In  consequence  of  a  lawsuit  which  Black  had  seen  it  necessary 
to  raise  for  the  cause  of  public  justice  against  a  person  of  the  name 
of  Burley,  the  latter,  fearing  that  he  would  be  nonsuited,  laid  a  com- 
plaint before  the  court,  that  Mr.  Black,  in  his  sermons,  had  spoken 
disrespectfully  of  the  late  queen,  and  at  the  same  time  accused 
Melville  of  aiding  and  abetting  him  in  the  use  of  such  language. 
Black  was  accordingly  called  before  a  meeting  of  the  privy  council 
and  a  few  select  ministers,  where,  upon  being  interrogated,  he  de- 
clared his  willingness  to  give  an  account  of  his  sermons  before  a 
proper  tribunal ;  but  begged  to  decline  giving  any  explanation 
before  that  court,  which  he  said  was  neither  ecclesiastical  nor  civil. 
These  objections,  however,  were  overruled,  and  the  examination  of 
proof  was  proceeding,  when  Melville,  suspecting  what  was  going  on, 
knocked  at  the  door  for  entrance,  and  was  admitted.  Like  his  pre- 
cursor Knox,  who  "  feared  not  the  face  of  man,"  he  craved  permis- 
sion to  be  heard  upon  a  point  of  the  most  serious  importance.  Lib- 
erty having  been  granted,  he  fearlessly  told  his  majesty,  that 
although  he  was  king  of  Scotland,  he  was  not  king  of  the  church, 
and  therefore  the  present  court  had  no  right  to  try  the  cause  which 
had  been  brought  before  them.  But  if  he  had  any  cause  of  judi- 
cature here,  it  ought  rather  to  be  to  try  the  traitor  Burley,  than  to 
interfere  with  the  faithful  servants  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  the  King 
of  the  church,  in  the  execution  of  their  duty.  Turning  to  Burley 
and  pointing  to  him,  he  then  told  the  king,  that  he  had  been  re- 
peatedly guilty  of  treason  against  the  government,  by  taking  his 
majesty's  peaceable  subjects  out  of  their  houses  in  the  nighttime, 
and  harbouring  in  his  own  house  the  king's  rebels  and  enemies. 
Hurley,  trembling  for  fear,  fell  on  his  knees,  and  cried  out  for  jus- 
tice. "Justice,1'  exclaimed  Melville, — "would  to  God  you  had  it! 
^  ou  would  nut  be  then  here  to  bring  a  judgment  from  Christ  upon 
the  king,  and  thus  falsely  and  unjustly  to  vex  the  faithful  servants 
of  God!"  Moved  at  what  he  considered  unwarranted  presumption 
in  Melville,  the  king  attempted  to  silence  him;  but  our  reformer 
WBS^not  to  bo  so  overawed;  wherefore  the  king,  addressing  both 
parties  in  a  strain  of  humour,  said  "they  were  both  little  men, 
and  their  heart  was  at  their  mouth,"  and  thus  the  affair  ended. 
Tlio,  king  by  this  time  saw  that  it  would  be  impolitic  to  turn 
Melville  against  his  government,  and  therefore  he  immediately  sent 


ANDREW    MELVILLE. 


25& 


for  him  to  a  private  audience,  where,  after  unrestrained  but  friendly 
communication  on  Loth  sides,  Melville  was  dismissed  with  the  great- 
est courtesy. 

We  have  now  come  to  another  memorable  era  in  the  history  of 
the  church  (1596) ;  and,  it  is  pleasant  to  observe,  that  as  her  diffi- 
culties began  to  thicken,  so  did  our  reformer's  vigilance  and  courage 
begin  to  be  still  more  conspicuous.  The  forfeited  lords  had  secretly 
returned  to  the  country — the  Scottish  priests  abroad  were  in  cl 
communication  with  the  king  of  Spain,  who  was  still  bent  upon 
invading  England — James  was  aware  of  all  this,  and  he  remained 
in  a  state  of  listless  inaction — and  the  country  was  in  the  greatest 
alarm,  lest  perhaps  the  popish  lords  should  obtain  a  pardon,  nay — 
be  readmitted  into  his  majesty's  counsels.  This  was  no  time  for 
inactivity  on  the  part  of  the  reformers,  and  accordingly  we  find 
them  upon  their  watchtower.  Huntley  had  made  oilers  to  the  g 
eminent,  and  a  meeting  of  the  privy  council  was  held  at  Falkland, 
to  consider  these.  The  more  moderate  of  the  clergy  were  also  sum- 
moned to  attend,  but  Melville  was  among  the  uninvited.  Conceiv- 
ing however  that  he  had  a  right  to  be  present,  as  a  commissioner 
from  the  General  Assembly,  he  appeared  along  with  the  rest  of  his 
orethren ;  and  when  the  king  asked  him  why  he  had  intruded, 
he  replied,  "Sire,  I  have  a  call  from  Christ  and  his  church,  who 
have  a  special  interest  in  this  convention  ;  and  I  charge  you  and 
your  estates  in  their  name,  that  you  favour  not  their  enemies,  nor 
go  about  to  make  citizens  of  those  who  have  traitorously  sought  to 
betray  their  country  to  the  cruel  Spaniard,  to  the  overthrow  of 
Christ's  kingdom."*  Here  he  wTas  ordered  by  his  majesty  to  with- 
draw, which  he  did,  but  not  before  his  words  had  the  happy  effect 
of  encouraging  the  other  ministers  to  hold  out,  and  resist  the  pro- 
posals of  the  court.  A  convention  of  the  estates  being  soon  after 
called  at  Dunfermline  to  take  the  matter  again  into  consideration, 
the  presbytery  sent  thither  two  of  their  number  to  watch  their  pro- 
ceedings, and  to  solicit  that  the  promise  which  the  king  had  made 
them,  declaring  that  he  did  not  intend  to  carry  the  resolutions  of  the 
privy  council  into  effect,  should  not  be  violated.  Their  petition, 
however  was  thrown  out,  and  the  Falkland  measures  confirmed  and 
ratified. 

But  the  General  Assembly  were  not  to  be  outdone  even  by  this. 
Without  delay  a  commission  was  appointed  to  go  to  Falkland,  and 
lay  their  grievances  before  the  king.  Being  graciously  admitted  to 
private  audience,  they  began  through  James  Melville,  their  president, 
to  exhort  the  king  to  consider  what  he  was  doing,  and  to  beware  of 
the  consecpiences  that  would  follow  from  the  steps  he  was  pursuing. 
Scarcely,  however,  had  he  opened  his  speech,  when  the  king  began 
to  storm  and  rage,  saying  that  they  themselves  had  been  the  cause 
of  all  the  alarm,  by  infusing  into  the  minds  of  the  people  the  most 
unwarrantable  and  groundless  fears.  The  president  was  ]  *ceeding 
to  reply  in  his  usually  calm  manner,  when  his  uncle,  our  reformer, 
unable  to  bear  any  longer,  caught  his  majesty  by  the  sleeve,  in  thu 

•  M'Crie;s  Life  of  Melville. 


2G0  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

warmth  of  his  excitement,  and  calling  him  God's  silly  vassal,  says 
Dr.  M'Crie,  he  thus  addressed  him, — "  Sire,  we  will  always  humbly 
reverence  your  majesty  in  public  ;  but  since  we  have  this  occasion  to 
be  with  your  majesty  in  private  ;  and,  since  ye  are  brought  in 
extreme  danger  both  of  your  life  and  crown,  and  along  with  you  the 
country  and  the  church  of  God  are  like  to  goto  wreck,  for  not  telling 
you  the  truth,  and  giving  you  faithful  counsel,  we  must  discharge 
our  duty,  or  else  be  traitors  both  to  Christ  and  }Tou.  Therefore,  Sire, 
as  divers  times  before  I  have  told  you,  so  now  again  I  must  tell  you, 
there  are  two  kings  and  two  kingdoms  in  Scotland — there  is  Christ 
Jesus  the  King  of  the  church,  whose  subject  king  James  the  Sixth 
is,  and  of  whose  kingdom  he  is  not  a  king  nor  a  lord, nor  ahead, but 
a  member.  Those  whom  Christ  has  called  and  commanded  to  watch 
over  his  church,  and  govern  his  spiritual  kingdom,  have  sufficient 
power  and  authority  to  do  this  both  jointly  and  severally — the  which 
no  Christian  king  or  prince  should  control  and  discharge,  but  fortify 
and  assist, — otherwise  they  are  not  faithful  subjects  of  Christ  and 
members  of  his  church.  We  will  yield  to  your  place,  and  give  you 
all  due  obedience  ;  but  again  I  say  you  are  not  the  head  of  the  church 
— you  cannot  give  us  that  eternal  life  which  even  in  this  world  we 
seek  for,  and  you  cannot  deprive  us  of  it.  Permit  us  then  freely  tc 
meet  in  the  name  of  Christ,  and  to  attend  to  the  interests  of  that 
church  of  which  you  are  the  chief  member.  Sire,  when  you  were  in 
yonr  swaddling  clothes,  Christ  Jesus  reigned  freely  in  this  land,  in 
spite  of  all  his  enemies : — his  officers  and  ministers  convened  and 
assembled  for  the  ruling  and  welfare  of  his  church,  which  was  ever 
for  your  welfare,  defence,  and  preservation,  when  these  same  enemies 
were  seeking  your  destruction  and  cutting  off.  Their  assemblies 
since  that  time  continually  have  been  terrible  to  these  enemies  and 
most  steadable  to  you.  And  now,  when  there  is  more  than  extreme 
necessity  for  the  continuance  and  discharge  of  that  duty,  will  you? 
drawn  to  your  own  destruction  by  a  devilish  and  most  pernicious 
council,  begin  to  hinder  and  dishearten  Christ's  servants  and  youi 
most  faithful  subjects,  quarrelling  them  for  their  convening  and  the 
care  they  have  of  their  duty  to  Christ  and  you,  when  you  should 
rather  commend  and  countenance  them,  as  the  godly  kings  and 
emperors  did  ?  The  wisdom  of  your  counsel,  which  I  call  devilish, 
is  this,  that  ye  must  be  served  by  all  sorts  of  men,  to  come  to  your. 
purpose  and  grandeur,  Jew  and  Gentile,  papist  and  protestant ; — and 
because  the  protestants  and  ministers  of  Scotland  are  over  strong  and 
control  the  king,  they  must  be  weakened  and  brought  low  by  stirring 
up  a  party  against  them  ;  and,  the  king  being  equally  indifferent, 
both  shall  be  fain  to  flee  to  him.  But,  Sire,  if  God's  wisdom  be  the 
only  true  wisdom,  this  will  prove  mere  and  mad  folly — his  curse 
cannot  but  light  upon  it — in  seeking  of  both  ye  shall  lose  both— 
whereas  in  cleaving  uprightly  to  God,  his  true  servants  would  be 
your  sure  friends,  and  he  would  compel  the  rest  counterfeitly  and 
lyingly  to  give  over  themselves  and  serve  you."  Undissem'bling, 
free,  and  bold,  as  this  speech  certainly  was,  it  had  the  effect  of 
quieting  the  king — for  the  moment,  at  least.  He  solemnly  declared 
his  ignorance  of  the  return  of  the  popish  lords ;  and  assured  the 


ANDREW   MELVILLE.  2G1 

commissioners  that  no  favour  should  be  shown  them  until  the  church 
was  satisfied.  But  James  was  master  of  finesse,  and  his  future 
conduct  plainly  evinced  that  he  spoke  with  insincerity. 

Melville  took  his  departure  from  Edinburgh  on  the  loth  of  Decem- 
ber, and  of  course  was  not  present  at  the  much-talked  of  feud  between 
the  octavio.ns  and  cvbicidars,  as  the  parties  were  called,  and  which 
has  been  much  exaggerated  by  almost  all  writers.     This   tumult, 
however,  was  the  cause  of  James  issuing  a  proclamation  that  all  the 
courts  of  justice  should  from  that  time  be  transferred  to  Perth  ;  and 
that  no  Assembly,  synod,  or  presbytery,  should  be  held   in   Edin- 
burgh.     A   meeting   of   the   estates   and   General    Assembly   was 
summoned  by  the  king,  to  be  held  in  February  at  Perth,  to  consider 
the  state  of  affairs  ;  but  Melville  was  prevented  from  attending,  in 
consequence    of    business    connected    with   the    university,    which 
required  his  presence.     Of  the  proceedings,  however,  he  had  timely 
information  from  his  nephew,  who  left  the  convention  in  disgust.    At 
this  assembly  the  king  carried  all  his  measures,  swaying  the  members 
as  he  found  most  convenient  for  his  own  ends.     It  cannot  be  doubted 
that   this  was   almost  entirely   owing   to   Melville's    absence;  and, 
indeed,  the  king  was  heard  to  express  himself  in  words  to  that  effect, 
and  to  add,  that  on  that  account,  he  dreaded  his  opposition  in  the 
Assembly  which  was  appointed  to  meet  at  Dundee,  on  the  10th  May 
following.     Melville   was   greatly    agitated    on    learning   how    the 
convention  had  acted;  but  the  repeated  victories  he  had  obtain    I 
over  the  king,  and  the  powerful  influence  he  had  among  his  brethren, 
kept,  him  from  desponding.     For  presbyterianism  he  was  ready  to 
submit  to  any  sacrifice — even  to  lay  down  his  life  for  it,  if  necessary  ; 
and  therefore,  that  he  might  avoid  even  the  semblance  of  submitting 
to   the   king's   usurped   prerogative,    he,   with   some    others    of  his 
brethren,    held    the   meeting   of    Assembly   on   the   ordinary    .lay. 
Having   opened   the   meeting   according    to   prescribed    form,    and 
considered  the  steps  most  proper  to  be  taken,  the  moderato 
their  proceedings  with  fervent  prayer  to  God  for  direction.     It  was 
agreed  to  refer  all  business  to  the  king's  Assembly  appointed  to  meet 
at  Dundee.     At  the  time  appointed  Melville  made  his  appearance 
there  among  the  rest;  but  before  the  hour  of  meeting,  James  Melville 
was  sent  for  to  advise  his  uncle  to  return  home,  for  fear  of  tl 
displeasure.     To  this  his  reply  was,  that  it  would  be  to  no  pur; 
for  he  knew  well,  that  his  uncle  would  submit  to  death,  rather  than 
act  contrary  to  what  he  conceived  to  be  his  duty.     Melville  and  his 
nephew  were  both  desired  to  wait  upon  the  king  next  day  ;  and.  Bays 
James  Melville  in  his  diary,  they  were  at  first  both  very  calm,  but 
when  my  uncle  began  to  speak  his  mind  freely,  the  king  became  hot 
and   furious— "and  there  they  heckled  on,  till  all  the  house  and 
close  baith  heard."     At  this  meeting  also,  James,  by  the  help  < 
northern  ministers  gained  so  far  upon  the  assembly  as  to  get  fourteen 
ministers  nominated,  to  advise  with  him  "  in  all  affiurs  concerning 
the  weal  of  the  church,  and  entertainment  of  peace  and  obe 
his  Majesty  within  his  realm."     The  kings  real  intention  m  this  was 
to  get  quit  of  presbyterianism  altogether,  under  the  pre! 
arranging  regarding  the  ministers  of  Edinburgh  and  bt.  An<U 


262  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

providing  ministers  for  vacant  entireties,  and  allocating  stipends  for 
the  whole  throughout  the  kingdom;  although  he  had  artfully 
concealed  this  from  the  Assembly. 

James  now  began  to  rule  with  a  high  hand,  and,  by  virtue  of  his 
assumed  prerogative,  summoned  the  presbytery  of  St.  Andrew's  to 
appear  before  him  at  Falkland  ;  and  there,  in  opposition  to  all  their 
remonstrances,  he  restored  to  his  ministerial  office  and  living,  a 
minister  who  had  been  deposed  for  immoralities.  ISTot  content  with 
this,  attended  by  his  privy  counsellors,  he  visited  St.  Andrew's  with 
the  intention  of  ejecting  the  ministers,  and  placing  the  university 
under  such  subjugation  as  might  deter  them  from  thwarting  him  in 
the  schemes  which  he  was  meditating  :  and,  to  such  a  length  did  he 
carry  his  insolence,  that  he  imperiously  ordered  Robert  Wallace  to 
desist  in  the  middle  of  a  sermon.  But  Melville  was  not  silent  upon 
the  occasion.  Regardless  of  the  royal  presence,  and  that  of  his 
attending  sycophants,  he  rebuked  the  king  sharply  for  his  inter- 
ference, and  at  the  same  time  did  not  spare  the  commissioners  for 
their  tacit  acquiescence  in  such  unwarranted  and  unauthorized 
conduct,  although  he  could  not  at  the  time  be  free  from  the  suspicion 
that  he  himself  might  be  the  next  object  of  royal  persecution. 
And,  so  indeed  it  happened.  Every  method  was  tried  to  intrap  our 
reformer.  The  king  dreaded  him  more  than  all  the  other  ministers 
in  the  kingdom  ;  and,  therefore,  to  get  him  out  of  the  way  was  the 
grand  aim  of  James  and  his  party.  At  the  visitation  of  the 
university  which  took  place  at  this  time,  a  long  catalogue  of 
complaints  was  handed  in  to  the  king,  from  persons  whose  displea- 
sure he  had  incurred  ;  but  from  all  these  Melville  cleared  himself  so 
satisfactorily,  that  even  the  tortuous  mind  of  James  could  find 
nothing  plausible  enough  whereon  to  found  an  accusation.  It 
was  however  necessary  to  visit  him  With  some  mark  of  royal 
censure,  and  therefore  he  was,  to  suit  the  king's  purposes,  degraded 
from  the  Rectorship  of  the  college — an  office  which  he  had  held  for 
seven  years,  with  much  honour  to  himself,  and  great  usefulness  to 
the  seminary.  It  was  easy  for  James  to  find  pretexts  for  this 
measure;  but  his  main  object  was  to  get  Melville  debarred  from 
attending  the  church  courts,  where  he  had  always  been  a  sharp 
thorn  in  the  king's  side  ;  and  this  he  attempted  to  effect  by  enacting 
a  regulation,  that  no  doctor  or  regent,  teaching  only  theology  or 
philosophy,  without  having  the  pastoral  charge  of  a  particular 
congregation,  should  have  a  seat  either  in  kirk  sessions,  presbyteries, 
synods,  or  Genera]  Assembly,  under  pain  of  deprivation  of  office. 
All  this,  however,  did  not  in  the  least  intimidate  Melville  ;  for  he 
determined  to  adhere  to  his  privilege,  cost  what  it  might;  and  this 
he  very  soon  had  an  opportunity  of  evincing,  by  his  attendance  at  a 
meeting  of  the  synod  of  File,  where,  upon  being  challenged  by 
Thomas  Buchanan,  an  apostate,  as  to  his  right  to  be  present,  he 
defended  himself  by  telling  the  tergivefsator,  that  it  had  been  his 
province  to  expound  the  word  of  God,  and  to  sit  and  vote  ;  nay,  even, 
preside  in  ecclesiastical  courts^  when  he  was  only  teaching  7uc,  hose, 
7iue,  to  young  men  and  boys. 

At  the  General  Assembly  held  at  Dundee,  in  15SS,  Melville  made 


ANDREW    MELVILLE. 


203 


his  appearance,  notwithstanding  the  restrictions  under  which  he  had 
been  laid  at  the  royal  visitation  at  St.  Andrew's  ;  but  when  hia  came 
was  called,  his  majesty  objected,  and  declared  that  he  would  permit 
no  business  to  be  done,  until    Melville   had    withdrawn.     Melvi 
defended  himself  with  his  wonted  boldness,  and  presence  of  mind, 
and  told    James  that  his   veto   could   extend   only  to   his   official 
academical   situation,  as   rector  of  the  university,  which    he   had 
obeyed  ;  but  not  to  his  theological  status,  as  a  minister  of  Christ,— 
that  he  was  nominated  by  his  presbytery  as  their  commissioner,  and 
he  was  determined  not  to  betray  it.     That  the  business  of  the  court 
might  not  be  interrupted,  however,  Melville  judged   it  prudent  to 
retire  ;  but  not  until  he  had  delivered  his  sentiments  freely  upon  the 
topics  regarding  the  church,  which  were  to  occupy  the  attention  of 
the  Assembly.     The  king's  commands  were,  that  he  should  not  come 
forth  from  his  lodgings  ;  but  this  would  not  do,  as  his  brethren  found 
him  out  there,  and  therefore  the  royal  mandate  was  given,  that  be 
should  leave  Dundee  without  delay.     By  this  it  was  evident,  that  the 
poor  imbecile  monarch  durst  not  proceed  with  his  business  so  long 
as  the  magnanimous  reformer  was  within  reach,  although  he  had  a 
packed  assembly  of  cringing  commissioners,  and   "a  trained    band 
of  voters  from  the  extremities  of  the  north."     The  king's  measure, 
which  he  wanted  to  carry  at  this  Assembly,  was,  "  that  the  ministry, 
as  the  third  state  of  the  realm,  should,  in  the  name  of  the  church, 
have   a  vote   in  parliament."     This   was   stoutly   opposed   by   the 
reformers,  who   plainly  foresaw  that   it   was  but   a   prelude  to  the 
introduction  of  episcopacy.     It  was  therefore  put  off,  from  wanl 
unanimity,  until  the  sentiments  of  the  different  church  courts  should 
be  ascertained,  after  which  a  deputation  from  these  bodies,  along 
with  the  professors  of  theology,  were  to  hold  a  conference  in  presence 
of  his  majesty,  on  the  points  that  had  been  left  unsettled.     At  th 
preparatory  meetings  Melville  gave  sedulous  attendance.     So  dissat- 
isfied was  the  king  with  the  meeting  held  at  Falkland  after  I1 
conferences,  that  the  general  assembly  summoned  to  meet  at  Aber- 
deen was  put  off  sine  die.     Melville  could  neither  be  deterred  by 
threats,  nor  allured  by  fair  promises  from  watching  this  momentous 
question  ;    and    accordingly  we    find   him   again    at   a   meeting   in 
Holy  rood-house,  in  November   1500,  telling  the  king  in  th 
upon  the  lawfulness  of  clergymen  to  sit  in  parliament,  to  beware  that 
he  did  not  set  up  those  who  would  cast  him  or  his  successors  down. 
Upon  the  second  topic,  viz.,  the  duration  of  the  office,  a  very  ' 
and  animated  debate  was  kept  up;  in  course  of  which  it  was  said, 
says   Dr.  M'Crie — "that    his   majesty  and    the    parliament    would 
not   admit   the   voters   otherwise  than  for  life."     "Them"    replied 
Melville,  "the  loss  will  be  small !"— "  Oh  but!"  it  was  answered, 
'■ministers  will  then  have  to  lie  in  contempt  and   poverty." 
was  their  Master's  case  before  them,"   answered   our   ref 
"better  poverty  with  sincerity,  than  promotion  with  corru] 
"  Others  will  then  be  promoted  to  the  place,"  retorted  the  fri 
the  measure,  "who  will  oppress  and  ruin  the  church,  for  1 
will  not  want  his  third  estate  I"     "  Then  let  Christ,  the  King  ot  the 
church,  avenge  her  wrongs,  as  he  has  done    before! 


264: 


SCOTS    WORTHIES. 


measure,  "  the  denomination  of  the  voter  in  parliament,"  gave  rise 
to  a  lung  and  interesting  debate,  and  afforded  Melville  an  opportunity 
of  keen°  and  cutting  satire,  which  with  his  usual  tact  he  handled 
with  great  dexterity.  It  was  contended  by  James  and  his  party, 
that  nothing  inferior  to  the  dignity  of  Ushop  would  satisfy.  "  Very 
well,*'  said  "Melville,  "  I  grant  the  name  of  Ushop  to  be  scriptural, 
certainly  ;  but  I  would  propose  to  prefix  to  it,  an  epithet  which  is 
scriptural  also,  and  in  this  I  am  supported  by  the  apostle  Peter,— I 
would  christen  them  busy-bishops,  because  they  interfere  with  matters 
totally  unconnected  with  their  office  as  ministers  of  Christ!" 
Resuming  his  gravity,  however,  he  said  that  the  church  of  Scotland 
had  decided,  that  no  idea  of  superiority  was  attached  to  the  word 
bishop  in  the  New  Testament ;  but  that  it  was  applied  indiscriminately 
to  all  preaching  presbyters,  and  therefore  he  conceived  that  the  title 
was  only  calculated  to  flatter  the  vanity  of  ambitious  men,  whose 
tastes  savoured  more  of  the  things  of  this  world,  than  of  the  things 
that  be  of  God. 

All  eyes  were  now  bent  upon  the  General  Assembly  that  was  to 
meet  at  Montrose,  on  the  28th  of  March,  1600  ;  which  Eow  says 
was  "  notified  only  by  sound  of  trumpet  at  the  cross  of  Edinburgh, 
and  other  needful  places,  whereat  many  good  Christians  wondered, 
seeino*  there  was  never  the  like  before."  Melville  was  returned  by 
the  presbytery  of  St.  Andrew's  as  one  of  their  commissioners  ;  and 
he  hastened  to  Montrose  at  the  time  appointed ;  but  no  sooner  was  it 
known  that  he  had  arrived,  than  a  royal  mandate  was  issued,  com- 
manding his  immediate  appearance.  Nothing  intimidated,  he  obeyed 
the  summons ;  but  scarcely  had  he  been  introduced,  when  James,  in 
an  imperious  tone,  demanded  why  he  was  so  troublesome,  knowing 
that  against  him  there  was  a  positive  prohibition.  Melville  answered 
that  he  had  been  deputed  by  his  presbytery,  and  their  unanimous 
voice  he  durst  not  disobey,  under  pain  of  displeasing  one  much 
higher,  and  of  far  greater  dignity  than  any  earthly  sovereign.  His 
fortitude  rose  with  the  crisis.  The  king's  rage  served  only  to  nerve 
him  the  more; — and,  before  leaving  the  royal  presence,  he  cmite 
coolly  lifted  up  his  hand  to  his  throat,  and  said,  "Sire,  if  it  is  this 
you  want,  you  shall  have  it  before  I  betray  the  cause  of  Christ!" — 
He  was  refused  a  seat  in  the  Assembly,  however  ;  but  he  remained 
in  the  town  during  the  sitting,  and  was  of  great  service  by  his  advice 
in  keeping  his  brethren  to  their  duty.  The  result  of  this  meeting  is 
well  known.  Calderwood  mentions  that  Melville  wTas  present  at  an 
Assembly  which  met  at  Burntisland,  in  Ma}^  1601,  and  that  he  voted 
against  the  translation  of  the  ministers  of  Edinburgh.  Nothing  fur- 
ther seems  to  be  recorded  of  him  at  that  meeting;  but  no  sooner 
was  the  Assembly  dissolved,  than  a  story  was  got  up  by  the  church 
commissioners,  that  the  king  of  Spain  was  about  to  attempt  another 
descent  upon  Britain,  and  calling  upon  all  ministers  to  rouse  their 
parishes  to  a  sense  of  the  country's  danger,  and  to  unite,  heart  and 
hand,  to  repel  the  common  foe.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  this 
fcma  was  propagated,  solely  with  a  view  to  divert  the  attention  of  the 
reformers  rrom  the  real  danger  with  which  they  were  threatened ;  and 
Melville3  foreseeing  this,  took  every  opportunity  of  warning  all  with 


ANDREW   JIELVILLE. 


whom  he  was  connected,  find  over  whom  lie  had  any  influence. 
what  he  conceived  to  be  the  true  state  of  the  matter.     This  having 
been  told  to  the  king,  he  immediately  came  to  St.  Andrew's;  and 
there,  without  even  the  sanction  of  his  privy  council,  issued  the  fol- 
lowing precept,  which  we  give  in  the  words  of  Calderwood. 

"  At  St.  Andrew's,  the  eleventh  day  of  the  month  of  July,  in  the 
year  of  our  Lord,  1602  —The  king's  Majesty,  for  certain  causes  and 
considerations  moving  his  Highness,  ordains  a  macer  or  other  officer 
of  arms,  to  pass  and  in  his  name  and  authority  command  and  cha 
Mr.  Andrew  Melville,  principal  of  the  new  college  of  St.  Andrew^ 
to  remain  and  contain  himself  in  ward,  within  the  precincts  of 
said  college,  and  in  no  wise  to  resort  or  repair  without  the  Baid 
precincts  while  he  be  lawfully  and  orderly  relieved,  and  freed  by  bis 
Majesty,  under  the  pain  of  rebellion  and  putting  of  him  to  the  horn 
— with  certification  to  him,  if  he  fail  and  do  in  the  contrary,  that  he 
shall  be  incontinent  thereafter  denounced  rebel  and  put  to  the  horn, 
and  all  his  moveables  goods  escheat  to  his  Highness'  use,  for  his 
contemption. 

"  Thomas  Fenteun,  Messenger."' 

Elizabeth,  cpieen  of  England,  having  died  about  this  time,  James, 
before  his  departure  to  that  kingdom,  in  a  speech  which  he  delivered 
in  the  High  Church  of  Edinburgh,  declared  that  ho  had  no  intention 
of  making  any  further  alteration  in  the  government  of  the  church; 
and,  through  the  intercession  of  the  queen,  Melville  had  obtained 
permission  to  go  anywhere  six  miles  around  St.  Andrew's.  But 
even  the  king's  most  solemn  asseverations  were  not  to  be  regarded, 
and  this  the  ministers  of  Scotland  well  knew.  He  had  set  his  heart 
upon  uniting  the  two  kingdoms,  and  therefore  it  became  necessary 
to  watch  that  he  did  not  insist  upon  uniformity  of  ecclesiastical  wor- 
ship and  government,  as  well  as  political  jurisdiction.  To  the  latter 
Melville  yielded  his  decided  approbation  ;  but  he,  with  an  over- 
whelming majority  of  his  brethren,  maintained  that  they  would  part 
with  their  lives,  rather  than  renounce  any  of  the  articles  of  their 
religion.  Instructions  to  this  effect  were  given  to  the  commissioners 
to  lay  before  parliament,  and  to  demand  that  former  laws  made  for 
the  security  of  the  church  should  be  ratified,  and  that  no  alteration 
or  innovation,  not  founded  on  the  word  of  God,  as  already  sanctioned 
by  law,  solemn  promises,  and  oaths,  should  have  any  place  in  the 
articles  of  Union. 

It  will  be  remembered,  that  in  the  year  1592,  when  Presbytery 
received  the  civil  sanction,  it  wras  then  secured  to  the  church,  that 
the  General  Assembly  should  meet  at  least  once  a  year  ;  but  James 
had  repeatedly  set  this  at  naught ;  and  to  applications  now  made  to 
him  for  liberty  to  meet,  he  said  that  it  was  neither  necessary  nor 
sonable.  Melville  took  an  active  part  in  urging  on  the  different 
synods  to  assert  their  rights,  by  petitioning  his  majesty  to  allow  the 
Assembly  to  meet  for  the  dispatch  of  important  business ;  and  for 
this  he  was  represented  to  James  as  being  the  cause  ut'  all  the 
anxiety  that  was  agitating  the  country.  Orders  were  immediately 
sent  from  London  to  put  him  in  prison  ;  but  this  was  not  enforced, 
probably  owing  to  the  spirit  which  was  then  abroad  in  the  nation. 


26G  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

Despite  of  all  the  solicitations  that  had  been  used,  however,  the 
Assembly  that  should  have  met  in  1605  was  again  prorogued  sine 
die  ;  hut  before  this  was  made  public,  several  presbyteries  had  made 
uioice  of  their  representatives,  and  therefore  it  was  judged  expedient 
that  they  should  go  to  Aberdeen,  and  constitute;  but  adjourn  to 
some  future  day,  without  proceeding  to  any  business.  This  was 
done  accordingly;  and  just  after  they  had  broken  up  ten  other 
ministers  came  forward,  who,  by  their  subscriptions,  approved  of 
v,hat  their  brethren  had  done.  This  step,  on  the  part  of  the  church, 
was  highly  resented  by  James.  No  sooner  was  he  informed  of  what 
had  taken  place,  than  he  ordered  the  ministers  who  had  met  at 
Aberdeen,  to  be  summoned  before  the  privy  council  to  answer  for 
their  conduct.  Fourteen  of  them  having  stood  to  their  defence 
were  incarcerated  in  different  prisons.  It  is  amusing  to  see  how  this 
unprincipled  monarch  acted  upon  this  occasion,  in  order  to  jDut  a 
plausible  pretext  upon  his  conduct ;  and  therefore  we  here  give  part 
of  the  letter  which  he  sent  to  Secretary  Balmerino,  dated  from 
"  Havering  in  the  boure"  the  19th  of  July,  1605.  In  the  Assembly's 
letter  to  the  privy  council,  James  had  marked  with  his  own  hand, 
such  passages  as  he  thought  would  render  the  ministers  censurable, 
and  bring  them  within  the  compass  of  the  law.  The  following  one 
chiefly  attracts  notice  : — "  In  the  said  Ire  thereafter  at  this  signe  4-} 
they  wald  mak  this  thair  apologie  for  thair  proceeding,  '  that  they 
suld  not  be  the  first  oppenaris  of  ane  gap  to  the  oppin  breach  and 
violatioun  of  the  lawis  and  statutis  of  this  realme  f  willing  the  coun- 
sell  to  wey  and  considder  thairoff;  as  giff  they  wald  mak  ane  plane 
accusatioun  of  sum  tyrannie  intendit  be  us  to  the  prejudice  of  the 
lawis  of  our  kingdom e,  ane  speich  altogidder  smelling  of  treasoun 
and  less  majestic"  When  brought  to  trial,  the  whole  of  the  accused 
declined  the  jurisdiction  of  the  privy  council ;  and  therefore,  after 
every  illegal  measure  that  could  be  devised  by  the  council  and  crown 
officers,  the  prisoners  were  found  guilty  of  treason.  Sentence,  how- 
ever, was  delayed,  and  the  king  would  neither  listen  to  the  voice  of 
the  nation  supplicating  for  pardon  to  the  condemned,  nor  would  he 
impart  to  the  council  what  punishment  he  intended  to  inflict,     At 

:th,  after  much  painful  uncertainty, 'eight  of  them  were  banished 
to  Orkney  and  Shetland,  and  six  to  France.  Melville  interested 
himself  deeply  in  their  fate ;  openly  avowing  his  approval  of  their 
conduct,  and  helping  forward  petitions  to  parliament  in  their  favour. 
During  their  trial  at  Linlithgow  he  was  present  to  assist  them  with 

advice  ;  and  after  their  conviction,  he  accompanied  them  to  their 
i>lace  of  confinement. 
Notwithstanding  all  that  happened  to  our  reformer,  the  presbytery 
i.  Andrew's  nominated  him  their  commissioner,  to  attend  a 
meeting  of  parliament  which  Avas  to  be  held  at  Perth,  in  August, 
1606,  with  instructions  to  watch  over  the  interests  of  the  church, 
in  conjunction  with  the  deputies  from  other  presbyteries.  The 
church  was  now  in  imminent  danger,  and  therefore,  knowing  well 
what  the  king's  instructions  were,  he  and  his  brethren  presented  to 
the  Lords  of  Articles  a  memorial,  craving,  that  whatever  changes 
might  be  in  contemplation,  the  privileges  of  the  presbyterian  church 


ANDREW   MELVILLE. 


might  be  regarded,  as  these  Lad  been  enacted  by  the  General 
Assembly,  and  sanctioned  by  the  king's  most  solemn  concurrence. 
To  this,  answer  was  made  by  the  chancellor,  that  bishops  would  be 

restored  to  the  rank,  dignity,  and  power  which  was  attached  to  th< 
office  a  hundred  years  ago.     All  that  the  ministers  could  do  in  this 
case  was  to  remonstrate  ;  and,  therefore,  they  gave  in  a  protei  t, 
taming  forty-two  signatures,  of  which  Melville's  was  the  firsl 
the  list,  couched  in  the  most  respectful  language,  but  most  decided!) 
hostile  to  the  measures  proposed;  and  maintaining,  that  to  the  last 
they  would  preserve  inviolate  what  had  been  given  to  the  church  hv 
her  Divine  Head.     Reasons  of  protest  were  drawn  up  by  J 
Melville,  with  the  assistance  of  his  uncle;  but  James  could  n\ 
swayed  from  his  purpose.     This  was  the  last  appearance  that    '  • 
ville  was  permitted  to  make  in  Scotland;  for,  in  the  end  of  Ma 
this  same  year,  he  was   commanded  by  the  king  to  appear  at  Lon- 
don, on  the  loth  of  September  following,  under  the  pretence  of 
conferring  with  him  upon  the  best  method  of  settling  the  peace 
of  the  church.     Letters  to  the  same  effect  were  also  sent  to  his 
nephew,  and  seven  other  ministers,  his  majesty's  most  formidable 
opponents  in  Scotland.     Melville,  his  nephew,  and  other  two  minis- 
ters, sailed  from  Anstruther,  in  Fife,  on  the  15th  of  August;  and, 
in  a  few  days  after  they  arrived  in  London,  they  were  joined  by  the 
other  four,  who  had  made  the  journey  by  land. 

On  being  admitted  into  the  royal  presence,  they  were  very  graci- 
ously received,  and  had  the  honour  to  kiss  his  majesty's  hand.  This 
first  conference  was  managed  by  the  king  with  the  most  artful 
duplicity,  who  introduced  nothing  into  the  conversation  that  might 
have  the  most  distant  tendency  to  excite  alarm.  At  the  se 
conference,  however,  James  threw  off  the  mask,  and  at  once 
demanded  an  explicit  answer  to  the  two  following  epiestions  : — 1st. 
Did  they  approve  of  the  late  Assembly  held  at  Aberdeen,  and  of 
the  conduct  of  those  who  held  it?  2nd.  What  did  the\ 
to  be  the  best  mode  of  obtaining  a  peaceable  meeting  of  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly,  so  as  to  restore  a  proper  understanding  and  harmony 
in  the  church  ? — To  these  James  Melville,  in  name  of  the  rest, 
requested  time  for  deliberation;  and  they  were  accordingly  granted 
liberty  till  next  day.  On  entering  the  royal  apartment,  Melville 
was  not  a  little  hurt  at  finding  the  room  crowded  with  English 
nobility,  bishops,  and  other  subordinates  of  the  episcopalian  church  ; 
and  therefore  the  earl  of  Dunbar  cautioned  him  to  be  guarded  in 
his  speech  before  such  high  and  honourable  strangers;  but  the 
ministers  had  made  choice  of  James  Melville  to  be  their  speaker 
upon  the  occasion,  in  the  hope  that  they  would  he  saved  from 
making  speeches  upon  the  subject.  This,  however,  would  not 
satisfy  the  king;  and  he  therefore  told  them  that  every  man  must 
speak  for  himself.  Beginning  with  the  bishops,  James  first  v  i 
to  know  from  them,  what  was  their  opinion  concerning  the  pre- 
tended Assembly  which  had  met  at  Aberdeen.  One  and  all  of 
them  answered,  that  it  was  "daring  and  illegal."  CTpon  which, 
turning  to  Melville,  the  king  thus  addressed  him—'"  Well.  Mr. 
Andrew,  what  is  y<mr  opinion  ;  you  have  heard  how  your  brethren 


268  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

condemn  that  convocation  ?  Do  you  think  that  eight  or  nine  min- 
isters, met  without  any  warrant,  wanting  the  chief  members,  the 
moderator  and  scribe,  convening  unmannerly  without  a  sermon, 
being  also  discharged  by  open  proclamation,  can  make  an  Assembly 
or  not  ?"  Undismayed  either  at  the  splendour  or  dignity  of  the 
audience,  Melville,  in  a  speech  of  great  length,  of  which  we  can 
give  only  a  few  brief  extracts  from  Dr.  M'Crie,  spoke  thus : — 

"For  myself,!  have  been  for  along  time  debarred  from  public 
meetings  ;  but,  since  it  is  your  majesty's  pleasure,  I  shall  endeavour 
to  give  satisfaction  on  the  different  objections  your  majesty  has 
stated.  With  respect  to  the  paucity  of  members,  I  presume  there 
is  no  rule  fixing  the  precise  number.  In  the  days  of  our  Lord's 
humiliation,  two  or  three,  met  in  his  name,  had  the  assurance  of  his 
presence  ;  and  the  promise  will  continue  to  the  end  of  time.  An 
ordinary  meeting  of  a  court,  established  by  law,  cannot  be  declared 
unlawful  on  account  of  the  smallness  of  the  number  who  may 
choose  to  attend.  Besides,  the  ministers  who  attended  at  Aberdeen 
were  sufficiently  numerous  for  transacting  all  the  business  they 
intended,  which  was  only  to  constitute  the  Assembly,  and  prorogue 
till  a  future  day.  As  to  their  warrant,  it  is  founded  on  Scripture, 
your  majesty's  laws,  and  the  commissions  which  they  received  from 
their  presbyteries.  The  presence  of  the  former  moderator  and  clerk 
was  not  essential  to  the  validity  of  the  Assembly,  which,  in  case 
these  office-bearers  were  either  necessarily  or  wilfully  absent,  might 
choose  others  in  their  room  according  to  reason  and  the  practice 
of  the  church.  With  regard  to  no  sermon  having  been  preached, 
your  majesty  has  been  misinformed  ;  because  one  of  the  ministers 
of  Aberdeen  delivered  a  discourse  at  the  opening  of  the  meeting. 
And,  as  to  the  alleged  discharge  of  the  Assembly  on  the  day  before 
it  met"  (turning  and  addressing  himself  to  Lauriston,*  the  king's 
commissioner,  who  was  present,  he  said),  "  I  charge  you,  in  the  name 
of  the  church  of  Scotland,  as  you  shall  answer  before  the  great  God  at 
the  appearance  of  Jesus  Christ  to  judge  the  quick  and  the  dead,  to 
testify  the  truth,  and  tell  whether  any  such  discharge  was  given  of 
not !"  (Lauriston  remained  silent,  and  the  king  desired  Melville  to  go 
on  and  state  his  reasons  for  not  condemning  the  conduct  of  the 
ministers.)  "  May  it  please  your  majesty,  I  am  here  but  as  a 
private  individual,  come  upon  your  majesty's  letter,  without  any 
commission  from  the  church  of  Scotland ;  and  as  no  person  has 
made  me  a  judge,  I  cannot  take  upon  me  to  condemn  them.  Your 
majesty  has,  by  your  proclamation  at  Hampton  court"  (here  Mel- 
ville produced  the  proclamation),  "  remitted  their  trial  to  a  General 
Assembly,  expecting  there  reparation  of  wrongs,  if  any  have  been 
done.  I  cannot  prejudge  the  church  and  Assembly  of  my  vote, 
which,  if  I  give  now,  I  shall  be  sure  to  have  my  mouth  shut  then, 
as  I  and  others  of  my  brethren  have  found  before.     Besides,  the 

*  Lauriston  gave  out  that  he  had  discharged  the  Assembly,  by  open  proclamation  at  the 
market-cross  of  Aberdeen,  on  the  day  before  it  met ;  but  no  person  heard  this,  and  it  was 
'•aiversally  believed  that  he  antedated  his  proclamation,  to  conciliate  the  king  and  the 
court  ministers,  who  were  offended  at  him  for  the  countenance  which  he  had  given  to  the 
meeting. — Dr.  MlCrk. 


ANDREW   MELVILLE.  26? 

case  is  already  prejudged  by  your  majesty's  council  ;  whether 
rightly  or  not,  I  remit  to  God,  before  whom  one  day  they  must 
appear  and  answer  for  that  sentence  ;  and  therefore,  I  am  of  opinion 
that  your  majesty  would  not  much  relish  it,  if  I  should  now  centra- 
diet  your  majesty's  council  and  their  proceedings.  How  then  can  I 
condemn  my  brethren,  who  have  not  yet  been" put  upon  their  trial, 
having  neither  heard  your  majesty's  accusation,  nor  their  defence  ?" 

At  the  close  of  this  speech,  his  nephew  handed  to  the  king  a 
petition  from  the  condemned  ministers,  upon  which  his  majesty 
said,  "  I  am  glad  to  see  this !"  It  was  evident  that  James  felt 
uneasy  at  Melville's  oration  ;  and  the  more  so,  because  he  had  been 
supported  by  every  one  of  his  brethren,  in  everything  he  had  ad- 
vanced. But  Melville  was  quite  master  of  himself.  In  a  discussion 
which  at  the  same  time  took  place  between  the  lord  advocate  of 
Scotland,  and  one  of  the  ministers,  upon  the  trial  of  the  Scottish 
clergy  for  treason,  Melville  caught  some  expressions  uttered  by  the 
former,  that  he  could  not  refrain  from  answering  ;  and,  falling  upon 
his  knees  before  his  majesty,  begged  to  be  heard  again.  Permission 
having  been  granted,  he  now  threw  off  all  restraint,  and  in  a  strain 
of  bold,  impassioned  eloquence,  which  astonished  the  audience, 
fearlessly  vindicated  his  brethren  in  all  that  they  had  done.  Nor  did 
the  lord  advocate  escape  without  a  severe  castigation.  "  I  charge 
you,  Sir,"  said  Melville  sternly,  "  with  having  employed  all  your 
craft  and  eloquence  to  convict  the  unoffending  servants  of  Christ. 
The  accuser  of  the  brethren  could  not  have  done  more  against  the 
saints  of  God,  than  you  did  against  these  men  at  Linlithgow  ;  and, 
not  satisfied  with  the  part  you  then  and  there  acted,  you  take  upon 
you  still  to  show  yourself  o  KarrjjoQog  tojv  AdeXcpcov" — *  i.  e.  "  the 
accuser  of  the  brethren." 

Instead  of  pacifying  the  enraged  monarch,  as  might  have  been 
expected,  or  swaying  his  mind  to  more  pacific  measures,  the  unani- 
mous expression  of  sentiment  b}^  Melville  and  his  brethren  served 
only  to  determine  the  king  to  more  harsh  and  unprincely  conduct ; 
and  therefore  before  the  ministers  had  time  to  reach  their  lodgii 
they  were  overtaken  by  one  of  the  royal  secretaries,  who  read  to 
them  a  charge  not  to  appear  in  the  presence  of  either  king,  queen, 
or  prince,  without  special  liberty.  This  did  not  affect  them  much  ; 
but  on  the  28th  September,  they  were  again  sent  for  to  meet  the 
Scottish  council,  in  the  presence  of  the  earl  of  Dunbar  and  the  lord 
advocate.  Melville  was  the  last  of  being  admitted.  With  his  wonted 
boldness  he  told  these  noblemen,  that  they  were  a  disgrace  to  their 
country  and  their  forefathers,  who  scrupled  not  to  hazard  life  and 
fortune  in  defence  of  the  gospel ;  whereas  they,  their  descendants, 
were  leaguing  together  for  its  overthrow.  Each  of  the  mini-' 
before  his  dismissal,  received  in  writing  the  following  questions, 
which  he  was  desired  to  answer  :— 1st.  Have  you  not  transj 

*  At  this  expression,  the  king,  turning  to  the  archbishop  of  Canterbury,  exclaimed, 
"  What's  that  he  said  ?  I  think  he  calls  him  Antichrist.  Nay,  by  G— ;  it  is  the  J>; 
name  in  the  Revelation  of  their  well-beloved  John."  Then  rising  hastily,  he  said,  Uod 
be  with  you,  Sirs !;'  But,  recollecting  himself,  he  turned  to  the  ministers,  and  Baked  «  hat 
advice  they  had  to  give  him  for  pacifying  the  church;  to  winch  they  a.l,  with  one  \oice, 
replied,  A  free  General  Jsscmbly  .'—Dr.  M'Crie. 


270 


SCOTS   WORTHIES. 


your  duty  by  praying  for  your  condemned  brethren,  and  are  }tou 
willing  to  ask  his  'Majesty's "pardon  for  your  offence  ?  2nd.  Do  you 
acknowledge  that  his  majesty,  in  virtue  of  his  royal  prerogative,  has 
full  power  to  convocate,  prorogue,  and  dismiss,  all  ecclesiastical 
assemblies  within  his  dominions  ?  3rd.  Has  the  king  a  lawful 
right,  by  his  royal  authority,  to  call  before  him  and  his  council,  all 
persons,"  ecclesiastical  and  civil,  for  whatsoever  faults  ;  and  are  all 
subjects  bound  to  appear,  answer,  and  obey,  in  the  premises?  To 
these,  answers  were  given  in, — guarded,  but  explicit;  without  the 
most  distant  tendency  to  deviate,  in  the  least,  from  the  principles 
they  had  hitherto  maintained.  Along  with  these  they  also  tendered 
their  advice  as  to  the  best  method  of  allaying  the  disturbances,  and 
securing  the  tranquillity  of  the  church,  in  a  paper  to  which  all  their 
names  were  adhibited.  Melville  and  his  brethren,  thinking  all  was 
now  over,  were  anxious  to  return  home ;  but  nothing  was  farther 
from  James'  intention.  Every  method  was  tried  to  entrap  them  ; 
their  conduct  was  watched  upon  all  occasions  ;  they  were  compelled 
to  listen  to  harangues  from  the  English  bishops ;  they  were  marched 
to  and  from  church  like  penitentiaries,  day  after  day,  without  any 
prospect  of  release  ;  and  on  the  28th  of  the  same  month,  they  were 
by  a  message  from  the  king  ordered  to  attend  in  the  royal  chapel,  it 
being  the  feast  of  St.  Michael.  Several  foreigners  of  distinction 
were  present ;  and  all  imaginable  pomp  suited  to  the  day  was  ex- 
hibited, in  order  to  attract  the  attention  of  the  reformers.  Melville's 
eye  was  particularly  drawn  to  the  altar,  on  which  were  two  books, 
shut ;  two  empty  chalices,  and  two  candlesticks  with  candles  un- 
lighted.  On  this  dumb,  dark,  and  empty  display,  he  composed  the 
following  epigram,  after  he  returned  to  his  lodgings  : — 

Cur  stant  clausi  Anglis  libri  duo  regia  in  ara, 

Lumina  caeca  duo,  pullubra  sicca  duo  ? 
Num  senium  cultemque  Dei  tenet  Anglia  clausum, 

Lumine  caeca  sno,  sorde  sepulta  sua  ? 
Romano  an  ritu  dum  regalem  instruit  aram 

Purpuream  pingit  religiosa  lupam  ? 

As  these  verses  were  afterwards  made  the  subject  of  serious 
accusation  against  Melville,  we  hope  it  will  not  be  judged  improper 
for  having  introduced  them  into  our  narrative ;  and  therefore  we 
shall  give  the  following  old  translation,  which  is  perfectly  accurate, 
copied  verbatim  from  Dr.  M'Crie  : — 

Why  stand  there  on  the  Royal  Altar  hie 
Two  closed  books,  blind  lights,  two  basins  drie? 
Doth  England  hold  God's  mind  and  worship  closs, 
Blind  of  her  sight,  and  buried  in  her  dross? 
Doth  she,  with  Chapel  put  in  Romish  dress, 
The  purple  whore  religiously  express  ? 

These  verses  were  not  long  in  being  shown  to  the  king ;  and  it  was 
supposed  to  have  been  done  by  one  of  the  spies,  who  were,  under 
various  pretences,  in  the  constant  habit  of  frequenting  the  ministers' 
lodgings ;  the  result  of  which  was,  that  Melville  was  summoned  to 
attend  a  meeting  of  the  English  privy  council  at  Whitehall,  on  the 


ANDREW    MELVILLE.  271 

30th  of  November.  A  copy  of  the  verses  having  been  shown  to 
him,  he  acknowledged  the  composition  to  be  his  own  ;  and  said  that 
he  had  done  it  out  of  pity  and  indignation,  at  seeing  a  church, 
calling  itself  reformed,  so  far  lost  to  true  religion,  and  the  pure  light 
of  the  gospel,  as  to  introduce  such  gross  and  base  idolatry.  How  if 
had  come  to  his  majesty's  hand  he  knew  not;  but  of  this  he  was 
certain,  that  he  had  not  given  a  copy  to  any  one;  but  his  mind  was 
quite  at  ease  upon  the  subject,  however,  as  he  intended  to  have 
embraced  the  earliest  opportunity  of  showing  them  to  his  m 
himself.  He  said,  at  the  same  time,  that  he  was  not  con 
any  crime  in  having  penned  these  verses;  but  the  archbishop  of 
Canterbury  declared  that  having-  spoken  in  such  terms  of  the  church 
of  England  was  a  high  misdemeanor,  and  brought  the  writer  fairly 
within  the  laws  of  treason.  Melville  maintained  that  he  had  never 
been  a  traitor,  and  told  the  archbishop  to  his  face,  that  he  considered 
him  the  capital  enemy  of  all  the  reformed  churches  in  Europe;  and 
as  such  he  professed  himself  to  be  his  enemy  to  the  last  drop  of  blood 
in  his  body  ;  and  that  he  was  sorry  that  such  a  person  should  lie  so 
near  his  majesty,  and  have  a  seat  in  his  councils.  One  of  the 
Scottish  noblemen — fearing  that  Melville  was  going  too  far,  desired 
him  to  remember  in  whose  presence  he  was,  and  to  whom  he  was 
speaking — received  from  him  the  following  sharp  rebuke;  "I 
remember  very  well,  my  lord,  and  am  sorry  that  your  lordship,  by 
sitting  here,  and  countenancing  such  proceedings  against  me,  should 
furnish  a  precedent  which  may  yet  be  used  against  yourself  and 
your  posterity."  The  king  had  not  thought  it  proper  to  be  present 
upon  this  occasion,  but  the  court  had  instructions  how  to  act;  and 
Melville  was  therefore  committed  to  the  custody  of  the  dean  of  St. 
Paul's,  to  remain  a  close  prisoner  in  his  house,  without  liberty  either 
to  make  or  receive  visits,  until  the  9th  of  March  in  the  following 
year,  when  he  was  ordered  to  remove  to  the  house  of  the  bishop  01 
Winchester. 

The  plot  against  Melville  wTas  deeply  laid — they  had  got  into  their 
hands  the  man  of  whom  they  were  most  afraid;  and  therefore  it  was 
determined,  contrary  to  all  justice,  and  the  law  of  nations,  that  he 
should  never  revisit  his  native  country.  Before,  however,  placing 
himself  under  the  superintendence  of  his  new  overseer,  he  paid  a 
visit' to  his  brethren,  where  he  remained  without  molestation  for  a 
few  weeks,  until  the  26th  of  April,  when  he  received  a  message  from 
the  bishop,  requesting  his  presence  at  Whitehall.  Before  taking 
leave  of  his  brethren,  his  nephew  said  to  him, — "They  know  you 
will  speak  your  mind  freely,  and  therefore  they  will  be  all  on  the 
watch  to  find  something  farther  against  you,  with  a  view  to  keep  vera 
longer  from  returning"  to  Scotland  ;"— to  which  the  uncle  r< 
—"If  God  have  any  business  for  me  to  do  in  Scotland,  he  will  carry 
me  thither;  and,  if  not,  it  is  my  desire  to  glorify  him  wherever  I 
am  ;  but  1  have  still  something  to  say,— let  them  make  of  me  what 
they  will,  I  will  never  pass  in  silence  the  abominabl 
and  errors  which  they  seek  to  introduce,  in  order  to  shut  out  Hie 
pure  and  blessed  light  of  the  gospel."  Before  he 
depart,  two  messages  arrived,  informing  him  that  the  council  were 


1 


272  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

waiting  for  him.  Having  heard  tins  with  perfect  composure,  he 
commended  himself  and  his  brethren  to  God,  in  a  short  but  fervent 
prayer,  and  withdrew.  The  epigram  being  the  only  plausible  charge 
which  the  council  had  against  him,  recourse  was  had  to  this,  in 
order,  if  possible,  to  convict  him  of  treason.  Upon  this  occasion,  the 
king  had  secreted  himself  in  an  adjoining  room,  that  he  might 
overhear  what  was  said  without  being  seen  ;  and  probably  thinking 
that  Melville  would  be  less  guarded  in  his  speech,  and  might 
thereby  be  the  more  easily  caught.  Bat  this  had  no  effect, — the 
lace  of  majesty  would  have  laid  him  under  no  restraint.  Like  his 
great  precursor,  "  he  feared  not  the  face  of  man,"  when  duty  to 
his  God  required  him  to  speak  out.  Melville  spared  neither  king, 
lords,  nor  bishops ;  but  fearlessly  reproved  them  all.  In  vain  did 
they  attempt  to  bring  out  an  apology,  or  extort  a  retractation.  He 
adhered  resolutely  to  all  that  he  had  either  written  or  spoken ;  and 
made  such  an  open  exposure  of  the  delinquencies  of  both  king  and 
court,  that  they  wished  in  their  hearts  they  had  never  brought  him 
from  St.  Andrew's.  Finding,  therefore,  every  effort  unavailing,  and 
seeing  no  other  way  in  which  they  could  be  revenged,  he  was 
committed  prisoner  to  the  tower.  Upon  hearing  his  sentence,  he 
magnanimously  cried  out :  "  To  this  comes  England's  boasted  pride 
at  last ! — very  lately  you  put  a  priest  to  death,  and  to-morrow  you 
would  do  the  same  to  a  minister!"*  Having  said  so,  he  appealed  to 
the  duke  of  Lennox,  and  the  earl  of  Mar,  and  told  them  he  was  a 
true  Scotsman,  and  to  take  care  that  it  did  not  end  with  them,  as  it 
began  with  himself.  This  expression  enraged  the  king  more  than 
anything  that  he  had  spoken ;  wherefore  he  gave  orders  that  he 
should  be  immediately  conveyed  to  the  Tower,  by  water,  without  any 
of  his  friends  being  permitted  to  see  him.  Aware  that  he  could 
never  have  regained  his  liberty  without  sacrificing  his  principles,  he 
resolved  to  speak  out  his  mind  freely,  and,  rather  than  accept  it  upon 
any  other  terms,  than  free  unfettered  restraint  in  the  exercise  of  his 
duty  as  a  public  teacher,  and  minister  of  Christ,  he  preferred  an 
honourable  captivity.  The  fate  of  Melville  cast  a  gloom  over  the 
hope  of  release  for  his  brethren  ;  and  so  it  turned  out, — his  nephew 
was  commanded  to  leave  London  within  six  days,  and  to  betake 
himself  to  Newcastle-upon-Tyne,  under  heavy  penalties  if  he  should 
be  afterwards  found  above  ten  miles  distant  from  that  place.  The 
rest  of  the  ministers  were  sent  to  different  parts  of  Scotland,  and  not 
only  prohibited  from  preaching,  but  also  from  attending  upon  church 
courts ;  and  to  be  ready  to  produce  testimonials  of  good  behaviour 
from  the  bishops,  when  required,  or  to  return  to  London  within  a 
stipulated  time. 

It  would  be  unfeeling  to  close  this  part  of  our  narrative,  without 
casting  a  retrospective  glance  at  the  final  farewell  of  these  eminent 
and  affectionate  friends,  who  were  now  to  be  separated  for  ever  in 

*  In  the  end  of  1607,  a  minister  in  London  was  reprimanded  for  some  freedom  which  he 
had  taken  from  the  pulpit,  with  the  estate  of  bishops.  Having  afterwards  given  out  some 
copies  of  his  sermon,  he  was  publicly  whipped,  made  to  stand  four  hours  in  the  pillory,  and 
had  one  of  his  ears  cut  off.  Two  days  after,  he  was  again  brought  out,  stood  other  four 
hours  in  the  pillory,  lost  his  remaining  ear,  and  was  condemned  to  perpetual  banishment. 
-Dr.  BPCrie  F    ^ 


ANDREW    MELVILLE. 


273 


this  world.  Melville  bad  been  delivered  over  to  the  governor  of  tbe 
Tower,  with  positive  orders  that  no  one  should  be  admitted  into  his 
presence  ;  but,  through  the  kindness  of  one  of  the  keepers,  bis 
nephew  bad  obtained  permission  to  converse,  for  a  short  time,  every 
day,  with  bis  uncle,  outside  the  prison,  while  the  former  continued  in 
Londom  Forgetful  of  his  own  sentence,  and  tarrying  for  a  fortnight 
in  the  city  beyond  tbe  period  prescribed  fur  his  departure,  he  thought 
only  how  lie  might  alleviate  his  uncle's  sufferings  ;  but,  all  that°he 
could  obtain  was,  that  his  servant  was  allowed  to  incarcerate  himself 
along  with  his  master.  Melville  had  been  to  him  a  father,  a  teacher, 
and  a  friend  ;  and  he  was  repaid  with  the  affection  of  a  dutiful  son, 
tbe  gratitude  of  a  much  attached  disciple,  and  the  fidelity  of  one  who 
would  have  died  to  save  his  benefactor.  Old  age  was  now  stealing 
apace  upon  his  uncle,  and  his  tender  heart  wjis  ready  to  rend  at 
the  thought  of  leaving  him  in  captivity  and  poverty.  But  he  could 
do  no  more.  Having  therefore  conveyed  to  his  uncle  all  the  money 
be  could  spare,  he  went  on  board  a  vessel  bound  for  Newcastle,  at 
the  foot  of  the  Tower  stairs,  on  the  2nd  of  July,  1607.  When  sailing 
down  the  river,  be  remained  on  deck  as  long  as  his  eyes  could  catch 
a  glimpse  of  his  uncle's  prison  ;  and,  with  eyes  suffused  with  tears, 
be  breathed  out  prayers  for  him  whom  he  so  ardently  and  enthusi- 
astically loved,  and  whose  face  he  was  never  again  to  behold  on 
earth. 

Scarcely  bad  Melville  slept  in  his  new  apartment,  until  the  king 
wrote  to  St.  Andrew's,  declaring  that  the  privy  council  had  found 
the  Reformer  guilty  of  a  high  trespass,  and  as  he  would  not  be 
allowed  to  return  to  the  university,  they  might  proceed  to  fill  up  the 
vacancy.  To  add  to  the  miseries  of  his  confinement,  a  pretence  was 
soon  found  for  removing  his  servant  from  him,  and  no  person  was 
allowed  to  see  him,  except  the  one  who  carried  his  food.  lie  was 
denied  the  use  of  writing  materials  ;  but,  notwithstanding  the  dismal 
loneliness  of  his  situation,  his  spirit  remained  unsubdued,  and  he 
amused  himself  by  writing  verses  upon  the  walls  of  his  cell,  with  the 
tongue  of  his  shoe-buckle.  In  this  state  he  lingered  out  ten  months. 
In  the  course  of  the  following  year,  however,  through  the  interest  of 
Sir  James  Sempell  of  Belltrees,  he  was  removed  to  a  more  comfort- 
able apartment,  where  his  friends  were  occasionally  admitted  to  visit 
him,  and  where  he  was  indulged  with  paper,  ink,  and  pens.  _  In  the 
month  of  May  he  wrote  to  his  nephew,  that  notwithstanding  the 
severity  of  the  previous  winter,  his  health  was  not  in  the  least  im- 
paired, and  that  he  felt  comparatively  cheerful  in  the  cause  for 
whicb  he  was  suffering,— well  in  body  and  soul— prepared  for  what- 
ever might  be  the  event,  either  to  remain  where  he  was,  to  return 
home,  or  to  go  into  exile.  During  his  confinement  he  was  visited  by 
several  persons  of  distinguished  reputation,  with  whom  he  conversed 
with  the  most  apparent  cheerfulness  and  affability,  showing  to  those 
of  them  who  were  capable  of  judging,  a  Latin  paraphrase  of  the 
psalms  of  David,  with  which  he  occupied  his  hours.  In  the  month 
of  November,  1610,  the  Duke  de  Boillon  applied  to  James  for  Mel- 
ville's release,,  and  for  liberty  to  send  him  to  Sedan  in  France;  but 
this  negotiation  was  soon  broken  off  by  the  queen  regent  oi  that 
18 


274  SCOTS  WORTHIES, 

country,  who,  having  heard  that  Melville  was  of  a  turbulent  disposi- 
tion judged  it  unsafe  to  admit  a  man  of  such  habits  within  her 
dominions.  James  himself  had  been  the  propagator  of  these  calum- 
nies in  order  to  save  his  own  reputation  abroad ;  but  the  truth 
having  come  out  at  length,  the  duke  was  more  fortunate  in  February, 
1611  having  procured  his  final  release  from  the  place  of  his  cap- 
tivity. Pecuniary  embarrassment,  however,  prevented  him,  in  the 
mean  time,  from  accepting  the  duke's  invitation  to  go  to  Sedan,  and 
his  nephew  was  unable  to  assist  him.  Although  his  health  had  held 
out  well  during  his  confinement,  yet  upon  being  set  at  liberty  it 
be^an  to  give  way,  and  he  at  last  caught  a  fever,  which  confined 
him  for  a  short  time.  Powerful  influence  was  now  exerted  by  many 
of  his  friends,  that  he  might  be  allowed  to  return  to  his  native  coun- 
try ;  but  the  terms  dictated  by  the  king  were  such  a?,  when 
rehearsed  to  Melville,  he  would  by  no  means  accept.  Having 
through  the  liberality  of  some  of  his  friends  in  Scotland  been 
favoured  with  a  sum  of  money,  sufficient  to  enable  him  to  make  a 
respectable  appearance  in  France,  and  his  health  being  considerably 
recruited,  he  set  sail  for  that  country,  after  having  been  four  years 
confined  a  prisoner  in  the  Tower.  The  state  of  his  mind  at  that  time 
will  be  best  known  from  himself,  and  therefore  we  hope  it  is  un- 
necessary to  apologize  for  the  following  letter,  which  we  extract  from 
Dr.  M'Crie,  written  to  his  nephew,  immediately  before  he  em- 
barked : — 

"  My  dear  son,  my  dear  James,  farewell,  farewell  in  the  Lord.  I 
must  now  go  to  other  climes.  Such  is  the  pleasure  of  my  divine  and 
heavenly  Father,  and  1  regard  it  as  a  fruit  of  his  paternal  love 
towards  me.  Why  should  I  not,  when  he  has  recovered  me  from  a 
sudden  and  heavy  distemper,  and  animates  me  to  the  journey  by  so 
many  tokens  of  his  favour  ?  Now  at  length  I  feel  the  truth  of  the 
presage  which  I  have  frequently  pronounced — that  it  behoved  me 
to  confess  Christ  on  a  larger  theatre  ;  which,  so  far  as  it  may  yet  be 
unfulfilled,  shall  soon,  I  augur,  receive  a  complete  verification.  In 
the  mean  time  I  retain  you  in  my  heart,  nor  shall  anything  in  this 
life  be  dearer  to  me,  after  God,  than  you.  To-day  I  set  out  on  my 
journey  under  the  auspices  of  Heaven, — may  the  God  of  mercy  give 
it  a  prosperous  issue.  Join  with  me  in  supplicating  that  it  may  turn 
out  lor  his  glory  and  the  profit  of  his  church.  Although  I  have  no 
uneasiness  about  my  library,  yet  I  must  request  you  to  charge  those 
who  arc  intrusted  with  its  keeping,  to  be  careful  of  it,  both  for  my 
sake,  and  for  the  sake  of  the  church  to  which  I  have  dedicated  my- 
self and  all  my  property.  Who  knows  but  we  may  yet  meet  again 
to  give  thanks  publicly  to  God  for  all  his  benefits  to  us  ?  Why 
should  we  not  cherish  the  hope  of  better  clays ;  seeing  the  fraud  and 
pride  of  our  enemies  have  brought  us  to  a  condition  which  appears  to 
prognosticate  the  ruin  of  the  lately  reared  fabric  ?  Our  three  pre- 
tended bishops  affirm  that  they  urged,  and  on  their  knees  suppli- 
cated his  Majesty  to  restore  me  to  my  native  country;  but  you  know 
the  disposition  of  the  men,  and  what  was  the  drift  of  their  request. 
The  vessel  is  under  weigh,  and  I  am  called  on  board.    My  salutation 


ANDREW   MELVILLE. 


275 


to  all  friends.     The  grace  of  God  be  with  you  always.      From  the 
Tower  of  London,  just  embarking,  the  19th  of  April,  1611. 

"  Yours  as  his  own  in  the  Lord, 

"  Andrew  Melville." 

Melville,  on  arriving  in  France,  paid  a  short  visit'  to  Eouen  and 
Paris,  and  immediately  after  hastened  off  to  Sedan,  where  he  was 
admitted  as  joint  professor  in  theology  with  Daniel  Tilenus, — the 
latter  teaching  the  system,  and  the  former  prelecting  on  the  Scrip- 
tures. In  a  letter  to  his  nephew  he  thus  expresses  "himself  in  the 
language  of  Dr.  M'Crie — "  The  Lord,  on  whom,  and  not  on  the 
pleasures  or  wishes  of  men,  I  depend  wholly,  has  his  own  times.  I 
keep  all  my  friends  in  my  eye  ;  I  carry  them  in  my  bosom  ;  I  com- 
mend them  to  the  God  of  mercy  in  my  daily  prayers.  "What  c<> 
to  my  hand  I  do;  I  fill  up  my  station  to  the  best  of  my  ability.  My 
conversation  is  in  heaven.  I  neither  importune  nor  deprecate  the 
day  of  my  death — I  aspire  after  things  divine, — I  maintain  my  post. 
About  human  things  I  give  myself  little  trouble.  In  fine  I  live  to 
God  and  the  church.  I  do  not  sink  under  adversity, — I  reserve  my- 
self for  better  days.  My  mind  is  prepared  by  the  grace  of  God  ; 
and,  strong  in  the  Lord,  for  whose  sake  I  am  not  afraid  to  meet  death 
in  that  new  and  living  way  which  he  hath  consecrated,  and  which 
leads  to  heaven  alike  from  every  quarter  of  the  globe." 

The  report  of  his  nephew's  death,  which  reached  him  in  April, 
1614,  gave  a  powerful  shock  to  his  feelings  ;  and  this  is  not  to 
be  wondered  at ;  for  like  Saul  and  Jonathan,  they  had  been  "lovely 
in  their  lives.''  This  excellent  man,  this  paragon  of  humility,  and 
gentleness,  and  faith,  and  good  works,  when  asked  upon  his  death- 
bed, if  he  had  a  wish  to  be  restored  to  health,  replied,  "  No !  not 
for  twenty  worlds."  The  first  expression  that  escaped  Melville  when 
the  melancholy  tidings  reached  him  was,  "  The  Lord  hath  taken  to 
himself  the  faithful  brother,  my  dearly  beloved  son.  I  fear  melan- 
choly to  have  abridged  his  days.  Now  he  is  out  of  all  doubt  and 
trouble,  enjoying  the  fruits  of  his  sufferings  here  :  God  forgive  the 
instruments  of  his  withholding  from  his  flock."  Soon  after  this,  the 
infirmities  of  age  began  to  distress  him;  but  amidst  all  his  sufferings 
he  kept  up  his  natural  cheerfulness  of  mind.  In  1012,  we  find  him 
writing  in  the  following  strain,  "  Am  I  not  threescore  and  eight 
years  old, — unto  the  which  age  none  of  my  fourteen  brethren  came  \ 
And  yet,  I  thank  God,  I  eat,  I  drink,  I  sleep,  as  well  as  I  did  these 
thirty  years  bygone,  and  better  than  when  I  was  younger, — in  the 
very  flower  of  youth.  Only  the  gravel  now  and  then  seasons  my 
mirth  with  some  little  pain,  which  I  have  felt  only  since  tho 
beginning  of  March,  last  year,  a  month  before  my  deliverance  from 
prison.  I  feel,  thank  God,  no  abatement  of  alacrity  and  ardour  of 
mind  for  the  propagation  of  the  truth.  Neither  use  I  spectacles  now 
more  than  ever — yea,  I  use  none  at  all,  nor  ever  did  ;  and  I  see  now 
the  smallest  Hebrew  without  points,  and  the  smallest  charact 
Why,  may  I  not  live  to  see  a  change  for  the  better,  when  the  prince 
shall  be  informed  truly  by  honest  men,  or  God  open  his  eyes  and 
move   his   heart   to   see   the   pride   of   stately   prelates!"     In   the 


276  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

following  year,  in  a  letter  to  the  same  correspondent,  lie  says — "  My 
heart  is  a  Scotch  heart,  and  as  good  or  better  nor  ever  it  was,  both 
toward  God  and  man.  The  Lord  only  be  praised  thereof,  to  whom 
belongs  all  glory.  Who  can  tell  when  out  of  this  confusion  it  may 
please  him  to  draw  out  some  good  order,  and  to  the  comfort  of  his 
children  and  relief  of  his  servants? — Courage,  courage,  brother!  we 
shall  judge  angels  ;  how  much  more  mortals  !"  In  the  year  1616,  to 
the  same  person  he  writes, — "Let  the  bishops  be  moles;  we  shall 
lay  our  treasures  in  heaven,  where  they  shall  be  safe.  My  colic, 
gravel,  and  gout,  are  messengers  to  spoil  my  patience,  but  to  exercise 
my  faith.  My  health  is  better  than  I  would  look  for  at  this  age, — 
praised  be  the  true  Mediator,  to  whose  glory  may  it  serve  and  to  the 
benefit  of  his  church  !" 

To  his  dying  hour  Melville  felt  a  deep  interest  in  the  affairs  of  the 
church  of  Scotland.  He  had  heard  of  the  five  articles  of  Perth, 
which  for  the  sake  of  some  of  our  readers  we  shajl  here  name, — 
kneeling  when  receiving  the  sacrament — the  observance  of  holidays — 
confirmation  by  bishops  before  being  first  admitted  to  communion — 
private  baptism — and  private  communicating — and  he  said  he  could 
not  have  believed  that  the  government  would  have  carried  matters 
to  such  extremity.  He  was  greatly  distressed  for  the  church.  "Let 
us  not  fear  the  wiles  of  her  enemies,"  he  said  ;  "  but  turn  our  eyes  to 
Him  who  governs  and  over-rules  all  things  for  the  good  of  those  who 
love  him.  He  that  shall  come  will  come,  and  will  cleanse  his  floor, 
and  consume  the  chaff  and  rubbish  with  the  fire  of  his  wrath.  Let 
us  reserve  ourselves  for  better  times,  and  He  who  is  at  once  our  way, 
and  our  guide,  and  the  beginning  and  end  of  our  course,  will  bring 
all  things  to  a  happy  termination.  I  had  rather  remain  the  captive 
of  a  legitimate  sovereign,  than  become  the  servant  of  the  legitimate 
lords.  I  esteem  it  more  honourable  to  wear  the  chains  of  a  lawful 
king,  than  the  insignia  of  unlawful  prelates.  I  am  filled  with  grief 
and  indignation  at  the  present  deplorable  state  of  affairs,  and  at  the 
hard  fate  of  good  m»n,  who  cannot  obtain  corporal  liberty  without 
submitting  to  a  spiritual  bondage."  His  constitution  began  to  give 
way  in  1020,  and  gradually  wore  down  that  frame,  which  had  been 
"  in  perils  oft,  in  bonds  and  in  imprisonment"  for  the  cause  of  Christ 
and  his  church.  Little  more  is  known  of  him  from  this  period  till 
the  time  of  his  death,  which  took  place  at  Sedan,  in  the  course  of 
the  year  1622.  The  whole  tenor  of  his  life,  however,  contradicts  the 
assertion  of  a  certain  writer,  that  lie  became  unconcerned  about  the 
aife rests  of  the  church  of  Scotland  before  his  death — as  a  refutation 
of  which,  we  might  adduce  the  testimony  of  Eobert  Boyd  of 
Trochrig,  at  that  time  principal  of  the  university  of  Edinburgh  ;  but, 
as  we  shall  have  occasion  to  notice  this  in  our  account  of  that 
eminent  divine,  we  shall  content  ourselves  with  translating  from 
"  Sinison's  Annals,"  the  following,  which,  from  its  brevity,  point,  and 
originality,  is  not  unworthy  of  notice.  "  Andrew  Melville  was  a 
man  of  the  greatest  piety,  of  singular  zeal  (the  zeal  of  God's  house 
ate  him  up),  the  foremost — nay  he  stood  alone — for  his  acumen  in  all 
languages  and  sciences.  He  introduced  Athens  and  Jerusalem 
(Greek  and  Hebrew,)  into  Scotland — he  was  an  enemy  to  pseudo- 


•     ANDREW    MELVILLE.  277 

episcopacy  and  popery,  ever  upon  the  alert — throughout  life  he 
continued  in  a  state  of  celibacy,  and  strict  chastity.  By  warrant  of 
the  king  he  was  cast  into  the  Tower,  where  he  remained  till  the 
Duke  of  Bouillon  took  him  to  France.  In  that  country  he  was  a 
valiant  wrestler  for  the  truth,  until  the  day  of  his  death,  in  1022  : — 
an  octogenarian" — His  exact  age,  however,  was  seventy-seven. 

In  the  beginning  of  our  memoir  we  have  dwelt  at  so  great  a 
length  upon  his  intellectual  endowments,  as  to  render  it  altogether 
superfluous  to  say  much  more  upon  this  head,  than  that  even  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  he  had  few  equals,  and  certainly  no  superiors. 
To  Latin  poetry  he  was  peculiarly  attached,  being  a  very  common 
amusement  among  scholars  in  the  age  in  which  he  lived.  His  style 
was  pure,  chaste,  flowing,  and  elegant ;  but  when  he  chose  to  dip  his 
pen  in  gall,  it  was  master  satire, — keen,  pointed,  and  effective.  In 
this,  however,  he  indulged  only  against  episcopal  hierarchy  and 
antichristian  popery.  His  versification  of  many  of  the  psalms  of 
David  is  but  little  inferior  to  that  of  his  great  prototype,  and  his 
paraphrase  on  the  song  of  Moses  will  be  admired,  so  long  as  the 
beauties  of  the  language  in  which  it  is  written  are  studied  and 
appreciated.  His  panegyric  on  the  two  Scaligers  and  his  preceptor 
Buchanan  will  do  him  honour  while  time  endures.  Of  his  natural 
temper,  the  attentive  reader  must  have  come  to  the  conclusion,  that 
it  was  lofty,  ardent,  and  independent ;  far  removed  from  the  fear  of 
threat  or  suffering;  but  at  the  same  time  candid,  forgiving,  open, 
generous,  and  above  suspicion.  Of  dissimulation  he  knew  nothing. 
Hypocrisy  formed  no  part  of  his  character ;  and  the  despicable  art 
of  cringing  had  no  place  in  his  heart.  But,  it  is  with  his  character 
as  a  Scottish  Reformer,  a  public  minister,  a  saint,  a  man  of  God, 
that  we  have  here  chiefly  to  do.  Others  of  his  contemporaries  were 
perhaps  nearly  as  unflinching  as  he,  in  their  opposition  to  the 
introduction  of  episcopacy  ;  but  to  him  certainly  appertains  the 
merit  of  being  the  first  to  denounce  the  scheme  ;  viewing  it  as  he 
did  at  first  in  its  remote  bearings,  he  threw  down  the  gauntlet  even 
before  majesty,  who  had  the  foolhardiness  to  take  it  up,  and  thereby 
to  render  himself  the  scorn,  and  contempt,  and  pity,  not  only  of  the 
age  in  which  he  lived  ;  but  even  to  hand  down  his  name  to  posterity 
for  universal  execration.  Whether  James  or  Melville  had  the 
mastery  it  will  not  be  difficult  to  decide.  The  monarch  could 
deprive  him  of  office,  and  debar  him  from  his  presence  ;  but  did  he 
ever  deter  him  from  meeting  with  his  brethren,  and  helping  on  the 
great  cause  by  his  example  and  advice  ? — he  could  shut  him  up  in  a 
dungeon,  and  keep  at  a  distance  from  him  the  sweets  of  social 
conversation,  and  the  apparatus  for  conveying  his  meditations  to 
those  who  were  without ;  but  did  he  thereby  fetter  his  genius  I — the 
very  walls  of  his  cell  afforded  him  ample  space  for  his  effusions, 
written  with  a  style  sharp  as  the  point  of  a  diamond — he  could  drive 
him  into  exile,  far  from  his  church,  and  his  country  ;  but  could 
he  persuade  him  to  restrain  prayer  before  God,  or  prevent  him  from 
pouring  forth  his  supplications  for  the  afflicted,  persecuted,  church 
of  Scotland  %  Kever  ; — no  sufferings  could  force  him  to  retract  his 
opposition, — no  favours  induce  him  even  to  smile  approbation.     As 


27S 


SCOTS   WORTHIES. 


a  preacher  of  God's  word,  lie  was  talented  in  a  very  high  degree  ; 
zealous,  untiring,  instant  in  season  and  out  of  season,  and  eminently 
successful  ;  and  as  a  saint  of  God,  he  was  a  living  epistle  of  the 
power  of  religion  on  the  heart.  Sound  in  faith  and  pure  in  morals, 
he  recommended  the  gospel  in  his  life  and  conversation — he  fought 
the  good  fight ;  and,  as  a  shock  of  corn  cometh  in  in  its  season,  so 
he  bade  adieu  to  this  mortal  life,  ripe  for  everlasting  glory.  If  John 
Knox  rid  Scotland  of  the  errors  and  superstitions  of  popery, — 
Andrew  Melville  contributed  materially,  by  his  fortitude,  example, 
and  counsel,  to  resist  even  to  the  death,  the  propagation  of  a  form  of 
worship,  uncongenial  to  the  Scottish  character ;  and  therefore  his 
name  deserves  to  be  handed  down  to  latest  generations,  as  an 
eminent  scholar,  a  sound   presbyterian,  a  faithful  minister,  and  a 


distinguished  servant  of  God 


WILLIAM  ROW. 


"William  Row  was  a  son  of  John  Row,  minister  at  Perth.  His 
father,  John  Row,  had  gone  abroad  in  early  youth,  and  the  fame  of 
his  talents  and  learning  having  reached  the  Vatican,  he  was,  in 
1559,  selected  by  the  pope  as  an  emissary  to  watch  over  the  dawn- 
ing reformation  in  Scotland.  He,  however,  shortly  after  his  return 
to  his  native  country,  embraced  the  principles  of  the  reformed 
religion,  and  advocated  them  with  zeal  and  ability.  He  was  in 
15G0  appointed  minister  of  Perth,  and  from  that  time  had  consider- 
able influence  in  the  councils  of  the  reformed  clergy, — sharing  the 
friendship  of  Knox  and  other  distinguished  men  of  that  age.  His 
son  William,  the  subject  of  this  memoir,  enjoyed  a  very  liberal 
education  under  his  own  eye.  The  day  of  his  birth  is  not  recorded  ; 
but  there  is  reason  to  believe,  that  it  was  in  the  year  1563.  Some 
say  his  first  and  only  appointment  was  to  the  parish  of  Forgan- 
denny,  in  the  presbytery  of  Perth.  According  to  others,  he  was 
settled  minister  at  Strathmiglo,  in*  Fife,  about  the  year  1600,  and 
continued  there  for  several  years.  His  life,  though  short,  is  pecu- 
liarly interesting. 

He  was  one  of  those  ministers  who  refused  to  give  public  thanks 
for  the  king's  deliverance  from  his  danger  in  Gowrie's  conspiracy, 
until  the  truth  of  that  plot  should  be  made  to  appear.  This  refusal 
brought  upon  him  the  king's  displeasure,  and  he   was   summoned 


WILLIAM   ROW. 


279 


to  appear  before  the  king  and  council  at  Stirling  soon  after.  On 
the  day  appointed  for  his  compearance,  two  noblemen  were  sent, 
the  one  before  the  other,  to  meet  him  on  the  road,  and,  under  pre- 
tence of  friendship,  to  inform  him  that  the  council  had  a  design 
upon  his  life,  that  so  he  might  be  prevailed  on  to  decline  appearing. 
The  first  met  him  near  his  own  house,  the  second  a  few  miles  from 
Stirling  ;  but  Row  told  them  that  he  would  not,  by  disobedience  of 
the  summons,  make  himself  justly  liable  to  the  pains  of  law  ;  and 
proceeded  to  Stirling  to  the  amazement  of  the  king  and  his  court. 
"When  challenged  for  disbelieving  the  truth  of  that  conspiracy,  he 
told  them,  as  one  reason  of  his  hesitation,  that  one  Henderson, 
who  was  said  to  have  confessed  that  Gowrie  hired  him  to  kill  the 
king,  and  to  have  been  found  armed  in  his  majesty's  chamber 
for  that  purpose,  was  not  only  suffered  to  live,  but  rewarded : 
"Whereas,"  said  he,  "if  I  had  seen  the  king's  life  in  hazard,  and 
not  ventured  my  life  to  rescue  him,  I  think  I  deserved  not  to  live." 

The  two  following  anecdotes  will  show  what  an  uncommon  degree 
of  courage  and  resolution  he  possessed. 

Being  at  Edinburgh  previous  to  a  meeting  of  Assembly  there,  at 
which  the  king  wanted  to  bring  in  some  innovation,  and  meeting 
with  Mr.  James  Melville,  who  was  sent  for  by  the  king,  he  accom- 
panied him  to  Holyroodhouse.  While  Melville  was  with  the  king, 
Row  stood  behind  a  screen,  and  not  getting  an  opportunity  to  go 
out  with  his  brother,  undiscovered,  he  overheard  the  king  say  to 
some  of  his  courtiers,  "  This  is  a  good  simple  man,  I  have  stroked 
cream  on  his  mouth,  and  he  will  procure  me  a  good  number  of 
voters,  I  warrant  you!"  This  said,  Row  got  off;  and  overtaking 
Melville,  asked  him  what  had  passed?  Melville  told  him  all  ;  and 
said,  the  king  is  well  disposed  to  the  church,  and  intends  to  do  her 
good  by  all  his  schemes.  Row  replied,  "  the  king  looks  upon  you  as 
a  fool  and  a  knave  ;  and  wants  to  use  you  as  a  coy-duck  to  draw  in 
others  ;"  and  then  told  him  what  he  had  overheard.  Melville  sus- 
pecting the  truth  of  this  report,  Row  offered  to  go  with  him,  and 
avouch  it  to  the  king's  face.  Accordingly,  they  went  back  to  the 
palace,  when  Melville  seeing  Row  as  forward  to  go  in  as  he  was, 
believed  his  report,  and  stopped  him :  and  next  day,  when  the 
assembly  proceeded  to  voting,  Melville  having  voted  against  what 
the  king  proposed,  his  majesty  would  not  believe  that  such  was  his 
vote,  till  he,  being  asked  again,  repeated  it. 

Again,  he  being  to  open  the  synod  of  Perth,  in  1607,  to  which 
king"  James  sent  lord  Scoon,  captain  of  his  guards,  to  force  them  to 
accept  a  constant  moderator,  Scoon  sent  notice  to  Row,  that  if,  in 
his  preaching,  he  uttered  ought  against  constant  moderators,  he 
should  cause  ten  or  twelve  of  his  guards  to  discharge  their  culverins 
at  his  nose;  and,  when  he  attended  the  sermon  introductory  to  that 
synod,  he  stood  up  in  a  menacing  posture  to  outbrave  the  preacher. 
But  Row,  no  way  dismayed,  knowing  what  vices  Scoon  was  charge- 
able with,  particularly  that  he  was  a  great  glutton,  drew  his  picture 
so  like  the  life,  and  condemned  what  was  culpable  in  it,  with  so 
much  severity,  that  Scoon  was  forced  to  sit  down,  and  even  to  cover 
his  face.     Alter  which  Row  proceeded  to  prove  that  no  constant 


280  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

moderator  ought  to  be  suffered  in  the  church  ;  but  knowing,  that 
Scoon  understood  neither  Latin  nor  Greek,  he  wisely  avoided  nam- 
ing the  words,  constant  moderator,  in  English,  and  always  gave  the 
Greek  or  Latin  phrase.  Sermon  being  ended,  Scoon  said  to  some 
of  the  nobles  attending  him,  "  You  see  I  have  scared  the  preacher 
from  meddling  with  the  constant  moderator;  but  I  wonder  who  he 
spoke  so  much  against  by  the  name  of  prcestes  ad  vitaraP  The  told 
him  that  in  was  in  Latin,  the  constant  moderator,  which  so  incensed 
him,  that  when  Row  proceeded  to  constitute  the  synod  in  the  name 
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  Scoon  said,  "  The  devil  a  Jesus  is  here  :" 
and  when  he  was  calling  over  the  roll  to  choose  their  moderator 
after  the  ancient  form,  Scoon  would  have  pulled  it  from  him  ;  but 
How,  being  a  strong  man,  held  off  Scoon  with  one  hand,  and  hold- 
ing the  synod  roll  in  the  other,  called  out  the  names  of  the  mem- 
bers. 

After  this,  Row  was  put  to  the  horn  ;  and  on  the  11th  June  fol- 
lowing, he  and  Henry  Livingstone,  the  moderator,  were  summoned 
before  the  council,  to  answer  for  their  proceedings  at,  the  synod. 
Livingstone  compeared,  and  with  great  difficulty  obtained  the 
favour  to  be  warded  in  his  own  parish.  But  How  was  advised  not 
to  compear,  unless  the  council  would  relax  him  from  the  horning, 
and  make  him  free  of  the  Scoon  party,  who  had  letters  of  caption 
to  apprehend  him,  and  commit  him  to  Blackness.  This  was  refused, 
and  a  search  made,  which  obliged  him  to  abscond  and  lurk  among 
his  friends  for  a  considerable  time. 

He  was  subjected  to  several  other  hardships  during  the  remainder 
of  his  life,  but  still  maintained  that  steady  faithfulness  and  courage 
in  the  discharge  of  his  duty,  which  is  exemplified  in  the  above  in- 
stances, until  the  day  of  his  death. 

Alexander  Lindsay,  bishop  of  Dunkeld,  and  minister  of  St. 
Madoes,  in  the  presbytery  of  Berth,  was  the  patron  of  Forgandenny, 
who,  having  been  acquainted  with  How  from  the  time  they  had 
been  at  college,  although  they  differed  in  opinion  on  some  church 
matters,  esteemed  him  for  his  good  qualities,  and  generously  ap- 
4  pointed  his  son  William  assistant  and  successor  in  that  parish. 

The  following  interesting  anecdote,  in  reference  to  this  event,  is 
found  in  Bow's  own  manuscript.  Lindsay  said  to  him,  "Mr. 
William,  I  do  not  come  to  this  meeting  as  a  bishop,  but  as  your 
co-presbyter;  and  I  promise  you  I  shall  not  ask  your  son  any  other 
questions  than  those  which  are  contained  in  the  Bsalm-book,"  that 
is,  in  the  old  form  of  admission,  which  together  with  other  forms 
and  prayers,  were  prefixed  to  the  metrical  version  of  the  Bsalms. 
Row  enjoyed  the  bishop's  friendship,  and  could  therefore  easily 
exonerate  his  conscience  by  refraining  from  calling  him  "My  lord;" 
accordingly  when  they  went  to  dinner,  to  which  the  bishop  came 
uninvited,  Row,  in  the  manner  of  tiie  times,  showed  the  behaviour 
of  a  rigid  presbyterian.  "Mr.  Alexander,"  said  he,  "you  know 
you  and  I  were  co-disciples  at  college,  and  Mr.  John  Malcolm,  now 
minister  of  Berth,  was  our  master;  it  is  therefore  fit  that  your  mas- 
ter should  sit  at  table  above  you."  "  It  is  exceedingly  right,"  said 
the  bishop  ;  and  with  a  great  deal  of  good  humour,  he  gave  place 


PATRICK  SIMPSON. 


2S1 


to  Mr.  Malcolm.  Indeed  Lindsay,  who  was  laird  of  Evelick,  in  the 
Garse  of  Gowrie,  was  in  his  last  years  a  presbyterian. 

Kow  died  in  the  beginning  of  October,  1634.     William  his  son 

followed  in  the  footsteps  of  his  father;  for,  in  the  time  of  the  civil 
war  he  was  a  zealous  covenanter,  and  attended  the  Scots  army  into 
England  as  one  of  its  chaplains.  He  died  in  1660.  If  he  had  lived 
till  the  establishment  of  episcopacy  in  the  following  year,  he  would 
likely  have  been  deprwed  for  non-conformity* 


PATRICK  SIMPSON. 


Patrick  Simpson  was  the  son  of  Andrew  Simpson,  minister  of 
Dunbar,  one  of  the  first  in  the  church  of  Scotland  who  boldly 
opposed  popery,  and  instructed  many,  both  of  the  clergy  and  laity, 
in  the  protestant  faith.  lie  was  also  one  of  five  brothers,  who,  after  the 
example  of  their  father,  devoted  themselves  to  the  church.  After 
haying  finished  his  academical  course,  he  spent  a  considerable  time  in 
retirement,  which  he  employed  in   reading  the  Greek   and  Latin 

*  The  Rows  have  been  a  very  distinguished  family  for  the  part  they  bore  in  the  eccle- 
siastical history  of  their  country.  James  Row  was  for  fifty-two  years  minister  of  Car- 
nock  in  Fife.  He  partly  wrote  the  history  of  the  Kirk  of  Scotland,  from  the  year  1558, 
to  August  1637,  finished  by  .Mr.  John  Row,  late  minister  at  Carnock.  This  is  preserved 
in  manuscript  in  the  Advocate's  library,  and  is  considered  a  valuable  though  rather  prolix 
work.  John  Row.  a  younger  brother,  was  at  an  early  age  appointed  rector  of  the  gram- 
mar school  at  Perth.  He  was  one  of  the  first  Hebrew  schoars  of  his  day.  an  acquire- 
ment which  was  likewise  common  to  his  father,  and  grandfather.  Through  the  influence 
of  the  famous  Andrew  Cout,  he  received  an  appointment  to  be  one  of  the  ministers  of 
Aberdeen.  In  1613,  he  published  a  vocabulary  of  the  Hebrew  language,  which  he  dedi- 
cated to  his  patrons,  the  town  council  of  Aberdeen,  from  whom  as  their  mark  of  respect, 
he  received  four  hundred  merks,  Scots  money.  He,  with  Mr.  Cout,  supported  presby- 
terianism,  and  of  course  were  obnoxious  to  those  who  favoured  episcopacy.  Row  was 
chosen  moderator  of  the  provincial  Assembly  at  Aberdeen,  in  1644  ;  in  the  year  following, 
when  Montrose  approached  at  the  head  of  the  royalist  forces,  lie.  with  Cout  and  oilier 
covenanters,  sought  refuge  with  the  earl  marischal  in  the  castle  of  Dunnotter.  He  was 
one  of  the  six  clergymen  chosen  to  act  with  the  committee  appointed  by  the  Scottish  par- 
liament to  remonstrate  against  the  contemplated  murder  ot  Charles  I.  He  was  chosen 
principal  of  king's  college,  Aberdeen,  in  1652  ;  and.  the  eighth  of  October.  1656,  being  ap- 
pointed for  a  public  thanksgiving,  he  preached  at  Westminster  Abbey  before  the  parlia- 
ment, a  sermon  entitled  "Man's  duty  in  magnifying  God's  w  ■rk,"  which  was  afterwards 
printed  by  their  orders.  Having  published  some  works  reflecting  on  the  royal  family, 
they  were  burned  at  the  cross  of  Aberdeen  by  the  hangman  in  the  year  1661 :  at  this  time 
he  resigned  his  office  as  principal.  Hereafter  this  distinguished  man  supported  him 
though  scantily  for  some  years,  by  teaching  a  school  in  Aberdeen  His  fasl  days  "ere 
spent  in  the  family  of  a  son-in-law  in  the  parish  of  Kinellar,  eight  miles  from  Aberdeen, 
and  his  mortal  remains  were  interred  in  the  churchyard  there. 


282 


SCOTS   WORTHIES. 


classics,  the  ancient  Christian  fathers,  and  the  history  of  the  primi- 
tive church.  Being-  blamed  by  one  of  his  friends  for  wasting  so 
much  time  in  the  study  of  Pagan  writers,  he  replied  that  he  intended 
t  >  adorn  the  house  of  God  with  these  Egyptian  jewels. 

He  was  first  ordained  minister  of  Cramond,  but  was  afterwards 
translated  to  Stirling,  where  he  continued  until  his  death.  He  was 
n  faithful  contender  against  the  lordly  encroachment  of  prelacy.  In 
1584,  when  there  was  an  express  charge  given  by  the  king  to  the 
ministers,  either  to  acknowledge  Patrick  Adamson,  as  archbishop 
of  St.  Andrew's,  or  lose  their  benefices,  Simpson  opposed  that  order 
with  all  his  power,  although  Adamson  was  his  uncle  by  the  mother's 
side  ;  and  when  some  of  his  brethren  seemed  willing  to  acquiesce  in 
the  king's  mandate,  and  subscribe  their  submission  to  Adamson,  so 
far  as  it  was  agreeable  to  the  word  of  God,  he  rebuked  them  sharply, 
saying,  it  would  be  no  salvo  to  their  consciences,  seeing  it  was  alto- 
gether absurd  to  subscribe  an  agreement  with  any  human  invention, 
when  it  was  condemned  by  the  word  of  God.  A  bishopric  was 
offered  him,  besides  a  yearly  pension  from  the  king,  in  order  to 
bring  him  over  to  his  designs  ;  but  he  positively  refused  all,  saying, 
that  he  regarded  that  preferment  and  profit  as  a  bribe  to  enslave  his 
conscience,  which  was  dearer  to  him  than  anything  whatever.  He 
did  not  stop  with  this;  but  having  occasion,  in  1598,  to  preach 
before  the  king,  he  publicly  exhorted  him  to  beware  that  he  drew  not 
the  wrath  of  God  upon  himself,  by  patronizing  a  manifest  breach  of 
the  divine  laws.  Immediately  after  sermon,  the  king  stood  up,  and 
charged  him  not  to  intermeddle  in  these  matters. 

When  the  Assembly  which  was  held  at  Aberdeen,  in  1604,  was 
condemned  by  the  state,  he  in  a  very  solemn  manner  denounced  the 
judgment  of  God  against  all  such  as  had  been  concerned  in  distress- 
ing, and  imprisoning  the  ministers  who  maintained  its  lawfulness, 
and  justified  its  proceedings  ;  and  in  1606,  when  the  parliament  met 
at  Perth  to  repeal  the  statute  which  annexed  the  episcopal  temporal- 
ities to  the  crown,  and  to  restore  the  order  of  bishops  to  their  ancient 
privileges,  Simpson,  seeing  that  no  attention  was  paid  to  the  remon- 
strances of  the  clergy,  drew  up  a  protest,  which  was  given  in  to  each 
of  the  three  estates,  after  having  been  most  insultingly  thrown  out  by 
the  lords  of  articles.  This  important  document,  of  which  we  subjoin 
a  copy,  was  signed  by  forty-two  ministers,  and  by  him  delivered  into 
the  hands  of  the  earl  of  Dunbar. 

Protestation  offered  to  the  estates  convened  in  Parliament  at  Perth,  in 
the  beginning  of  July,  anno  1606. 
"  The  earnest  desire  of  our  hearts  is  to  be  faithful,  and  in  case  we 
could  have  been  silent  and  unfaithful  at  this  time,  when  the  under- 
mined estate  of  Christ's  kirk  craveth  a  duty  at  our  hands,  we  should 
have  locked  up  our  hearts  with  patience  and  our  mouths  with  tacitur- 
nity, rather  than  to  have  impeached  any  with  our  admonition.  But 
that  which  Christ  commanded],  necessity  urgeth,  and  duty  wringeth 
out  of  us  ;  to  be  faithful  office-bearers  in  the  kirk  of  God,  no  man 
can  justly  blame  us,  providing  we  hold  ourselves  within  the  bounds 
of  that  Christian  moderation,  which  followeth  God,  without  injury 


PATRICK   SIMPSON.  283 

done  to  any  man,  especially  these  whom  God  Lath  lapped  np  within 
the  skirts  of  his  own  honourable  styles  and  names,  calling-  them  gods 
upon  earth. 

"Now,  therefore,  my  lords,  convened  in  this  present  parliament, 
under  the  most  high  and  excellent  majesty  of  our  dread  sovereign, 
to  your  honours  is  our  exhortation,  that  ye  would  endeavor  with  all 
singleness  of  heart,  love  and  zeal,  to  advance  the  building  of  the 
house  of  God,  reserving  always  unto  the  Lord's  own  hand,  thatglory 
which  he  will  communicate  neither  with  man  nor  angel,  viz.,  to 
prescribe  from  his  holy  mountain,  a  lively  pattern,  according  to  which 
his  own  tabernacle  should  be  formed.  Remembering  always,  that 
there  is  no  absolute  and  undoubted  authority  in  this  world,  excepting 
the  sovereign  authority  of  Christ,  the  King,  to  whom  it  belongeth  as 
properly  to  rule  the  kirk,  according  to  the  good  pleasure  of  his  own 
will,  as  it  belongeth  to  him  to  save  his  kirk,  by  the  merit  of  his  own 
sufferings.  All  other  authority  is  so  intrenched  within  the  marches 
of  divine  commandment,  that  the  least  overpassing  of  the  bounds 
set  by  God  himself,  bringeth  men  under  the  fearful  expectation  of 
temporal  and  eternal  judgments.  For  this  cause  my  lords,  let  that 
authority  of  your  meeting  in  this  present  parliament,  be  like  the 
ocean,  which,  as  it  is  the  greatest  of  all  other  waters,  so  it  containeth 
itself  better  within  the  coasts  and  limits  appointed  by  God,  than  any 
rivers  of  fresh  running  waters  have  done. 

"  Next,  remember  that  God  hath  sent  you  to  be  nursing  fathers  to 
the  kirk,  craving  of  your  hands,  that  ye  would,  maintain  and  advance 
by  your  authority,  that  kirk  which  the  Lord  had  fashioned,  by  the 
uncounterfeited  work  of  his  own  new  creation,  as  the  prophet, 
speaketh,  He  hath  made  U8,  and  not  we  ourselves j  not  that  ye  should 
presume  to  fashion  and  shape  a  new  portraiture  of  a  kirk,  and  anew 
form  of  divine  service,  which  God  in  his  word  hath  not  before 
allowed  ;  because,  that  were  you  to  extend  your  authority  farther  than 
the  calling  ye  have  of  God  doth  permit,  as  namely,  if  ye  should  (as 
God  forbid,)  authorize  the  authority  of  bishops,  and  their  pre-emi- 
nence above  their  brethren,  ye  should  bring  into  the  kirk  of  (rod  the 
ordinance  of  man,  and  that  thing  which  the  experience  of  preceding 
ages  hath  testified  to  be  the  ground  of  great  idleness,  palpable  igno- 
rance, insufferable  pride,  pitiless  tyranny,  and  shameless  ambition,  in 
the  kirk  of  God  ;  and,  finally,  to  have  been  the  ground  of  that  anti- 
christian  hierarchy,  which  mounted  up  on  the  steps  of  pre-eminence 
of  bishops,  until  that  man  of  sin  came  forth,  as  the  ripe  fruit  of  man's 
wisdom,  whom  God  shall  consume  with  the  breath  of  his  own  mouth. 
Let  the  sword  of  God  pierce  that  belly  which  brought  forth  such  a 
monster;  and  let  the  staff  of  God  crush  that  egg  which  hath  hatched 
such  a  cockatrice:  and  let  not  only  that  Roman  antichrist  be  thrown 
clown  from  the  high  bench  of  his  usurped  authority,  hut  also  let  all 
the  steps,  whereby  he  mounted  up  to  that  unlawful  pre-eminence,  he 
cut  down,  and  utterly  abolished  in  this  land. 

"Above  all  things,  my  lords,  beware  to  strive  against  God  with 
an  open  and  displayed  banner,  by  building  up  again  th<  wall-  of 
Jericho,  which  the  Lord  hath  not  only  cast  down,  bat  hath  also  laid 
them    under  a   horrible    interdiction  and   execration:    so    that  the 


2g4  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

building  of  them  again  must  needs  stand  to  greater  charges  to  the 
builders  than  the  re-edifying  of  Jericho  to  Hiel  the  Bethelite,  in 
the  days' of  Ahab  :  for  he  had  nothing  but  the  interdiction  of  Joshua, 
and  the  curse  pronounced,  to  stay  him  from  the  building  again  of 
Jericho  ;  but  the  noblemen  and  states  of  this  realm,  have  the  reve- 
rence of  the  oath  of  God,  made  by  themselves,  and  subscribed  with 
their  own  hands,  in  the  Confession  of  Faith,  called  the  king's 
majesty's,  published  oftener  than  once  or  twice,  subscribed  and 
sworn  by  his  most  excellent  majesty,  and  by  his  highness,  the 
nobility,  estates,  and  whole  subjects  of  this  realm,  to  hold  them 
back  from  setting  up  the  dominion  of  bishops  :  because  it  is  of 
verity  that  they  subscribed  and  swore  the  said  Confession,  contain- 
ing, not  only  the  maintenance  of  the  true  doctrine,  but  also  of  the 
discipline  professed  within  the  realm  of  Scotland. 

"  Consider  also,  that  this  work  cannot  be  set  forward,  without  the 
great  slander  of  the  gospel,  defamation  of  many  preachers,  and 
evident  hurt  and  loss  of  the  people's  souls,  committed  to  our 
charge.  For  the  people  are  brought  almost  to  the  like  case,  as  they 
were  in  Syria,  Arabia,  and  Egypt,  about  the  year  of  our  Lord  600, 
when  the  "people  were  so  shaken  and  brangled  with  contrary  doc- 
trines ;  some  affirming,  and  others  denying  the  opinion  of  Eutychus, 
that  in  the  end  they  lost  all  assured  persuasion  of  true  religion  ;  and 
within  short  time  thereafter,  did  cast  the  gates  of  their  hearts  open 
to  the  peril ;  to  receive  that  vile  and  blasphemous  doctrine  of 
Mahomet ;  even  so  the  people  in  this  land  are  cast  into  such  admi- 
ration, to  hear  the  preachers  who  damned  so  openly  this  stately 
pre-eminence  of  bishops,  and  then,  within  a  few  years  after,  accept 
the  same  dignity,  pomp,  and  superiority,  in  their  own  persons, 
which  they  before  had  damned  in  others,  that  the  people  know  not 
what  way  to  incline,  and  in  the  end  will  become  so  doubtful,  in 
matters  of  religion  and  doctrine,  that  their  hearts  will  be  like  an 
open  tavern,  patent  to  every  guest  that  chooses  to  come  in. 

"  We  beseech  your  honours  to  ponder  this  in  the  balance  of  a 
godly  and  prudent  mind,  and  suffer  not  the  gospel  to  be  slandered 
by  the  behaviour  of  a  few  preachers,  of  whom  we  are  bold  to  affirm, 
that,  if  they  go  forward  in  this  defection,  not  only  abusing  and  ap- 
propriating the  name  of  bishops  to  themselves,  which  is  common  to 
all  the  pastors  of  God's  kirk,  but  also  taking  upon  themselves  such 
offices,  that  carry  witli  them  the  ordinary  charge  of  governing  the 
civil  affairs  of  the  country,  neglecting  their  flocks,  and  seeking  to 
subordinate  their  brethren  to  their  jurisdiction;  if  any  of  them,  we 
say,  be  found  to  step  forward  in  this  cause  of  defection,  they  are 
more  worthy  as  rotten  members,  to  be  cut  off  from  the  body  of 
Christ,  than  to  have  superiority  and  dominion  over  their  brethren 
within  the  kirk  of  God. 

"  This  piv-eminence  of  bishops  is  that  Dagon,  which  once  already 
fell  before  the  ark  of  God  in  this  land,  and  no  band  of  iron  shall 
be  able  t<>  hold  him  up  again.  This  is  that  pattern  of  that  altar 
brought  from  Damascus,  but  not  showed  to  Moses  in  the  mountain  ; 
and  therefore  it  shall  fare  with  it,  us  it  did  with  that  altar  of  Damas- 
cus, it  came  last  into  the  temple  and  went  first  out.     Likewise  the 


PATRICK   SIMPSON.  285 

institution  of  Christ  was  anterior  to  this  pre-eminence  of  bishops, 
and  shall  consist  and  stand  within  the  house  of  God,  when  this  new 
fashion  of  the  altar  shall  go  to  the  door. 

"Remember,  my  lords,  that  in  times  past  your  authority  was  for 
Christ  and  not  against  him.  Ye  followed  the  light  of  &od,  and 
strived  not  against  it ;  and,  like  a  child  in  the  mother's  hand,  ye 
said  to  Christ : — Draw  us  after  thee.  God  forbid  that  ye  -Ik mid 
now  leave  off,  and  fall  away  from  your  former  reverence  borne  to 
Christ,  in  presuming  to  lead  him  whom  the  Father  hath  appointed 
to  be  leader  of  you.  And  far  less  to  trail  the  holy  ordinances  of 
Christ,  by  the  cords  of  your  authority,  at  the  heels  of  the  ordi- 
nances of  men. 

"  And  albeit  your  honours  have  no  such  intention  to  do  anything 
which  may  impair  the  honour  of  Christ's  kingdom  ;  yet  remember, 
that  spiritual  darkness,  flowing  from  a  very  small  beginning,  doth 
so  insinuate,  and  thrust  itself  into  the  house  of  God,  as  men  can 
hardly  discern  by  what  secret  means  the  light  was  dimmed,  and 
darkness  creeping  in,  got  the  upper  hand  ;  and  in  the  end,  at  un- 
awares, all  was  involved  in  a  misty  cloud  of  horrible  apostasy. 

"And  lest  any  should  think  this  our  admonition  out  of  time,  in  so 
far  it  is  statute  and  ordained  already  by  his  majesty,  with  advice 
of  his  estates  in  parliament,  that  all  ministers,  provided  to  prelacies, 
should  have  vote  in  parliament;  as  likewise,  the  General  Assembly 
(his  majesty  being  present  thereat,)  hath  found  the  same  lawful  and 
expedient,  we  would  humbly  and  earnestly  beseech  all  such  to  con- 
sider, 

"  First,  That  the  kingdom  of  Jesus  Christ,  the  office-bearers  and 
laws  thereof,  neither  should  nor  can  suffer  any  derogation,  addition, 
diminution,  or  alteration,  besides  the  prescript  of  his  holy  word,  by 
any  inventions  or  doings  of  men,  civil  or  ecclesiastical.  And  we 
are  able,  by  the  grace  of  God,  and  will  offer  ourselves  to  prove  that 
this  bishoprick  to  be  erected,  is  against  the  word  of  God,  the  ancient 
fathers,  and  canons  of  the  kirk,  the  modern  most  learned  and  godly 
divines,  the  doctrine  and  constitution  of  the  kirk  of  Scotland  since 
the  first  reformation  of  religion  within  the  same  country,  the  laws 
of  the  realm,  ratifying  the  government  of  the  kirk  by  the  general 
and  provincial  assemblies,  presbyteries,  and  sessions,  also  against  the 
weal  and  honour  of  the  king's  most  excellent  majesty,  the  weal  and 
honour  of  the  realm,  and  quietness  thereof;  the  established  estate 
and  weal  of  the  kirk,  in  the  doctrine,  discipline,  and  patrimony 
thereof;  the  weal  and  honour  of  your  lordships,  the  most  ancient 
estate  of  this  realm ;  and  finally,  against  the  weal  of  all,  and  every 
one,  the  good  subjects  thereof,  in  soul,  body,  and  substance. 

"JVext,  That  the  act  of  parliament,  granting  vote  in  parliament  to 
ministers,  is  with  a  special  provision,  that  nothing  thereby  be  dero- 
gatory or  prejudicial  to  the  present  established  discipline  of  the 
kirk,  and  jurisdiction  thereof,  in  general  and  synodical  assemblies, 
presbyteries,  and  sessions. 

"  Thirdly,  and  lastly,  The  General  Assembly  (his  majesty  Bitting, 
voting,  and  consenting  therein),  fearing  the  corruption  of  thai  office. 
Lath' circumscribed    and    bounded    the   same    with    a   number   ot 


2SG  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

cautions  ;  all  which,  together  with  such  others  as  shall  be  concluded 
upon  by  the  Assembly,  were  thought  expedient  to  be  inserted  in 
the  body  of  the  act  of  "parliament,  as  most  necessary  and  substantial 
parts  of  the  same.  And  the  said  Assembly  hath  not^  agreed  to 
give  thereunto  the  name  of  bishops,  for  fear  of  importing  the  old 
corruption,  pomp,  and  tyranny,  of  papal  bishops,  but  ordained  them 
to  be  called  commissioners  for  the  kirk  to  vote  in  parliament.  And 
it  is  of  verity,  that  according  to  these  cautions,  neither  have  these 
men,  now  called  bishops,  entered  to  that  office  of  commissionary  to 
vote  in  parliament,  neither  since  their  ingoing  have  they  behaved 
themselves  therein.  And  therefore,  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  who  shall  hold  the  great  court  of  parliament  to  judge  both 
the  quick  and  the  dead,  at  his  glorious  manifestation ;  and  in  the 
name  of  his  kirk  in  general,  so  happily  and  well  established  within 
this  realm,  and  whereof  the  said  realm  hath  reaped  the  comfortable 
peace  and  unity,  free  from  heresy,  schism,  and  dissension,  these 
forty-six  years  bypast ;  also  in  name  of  our  presbyteries,  from  which 
we  have  our  commission  ;  and  in  our  name,  office-bearers  and  pas- 
tors within  the  same,  for  discharging  of  our  necessary  duty,  and 
disburdening  of  our  consciences  in  particular,  we  except  and  protest 
against  the  said  bishoprick,  and  bishops,  and  the  erection,  or  con- 
firmation, or  ratification  thereof,  at  this  present  parliament ;  most 
humbly  craving  that  this  our  protestation  may  be  admitted  by  your 
honours,  and  registered  among  the  statutes  and  acts  of  the  same,  in 
case  (as  God  forbid,)  these  bishopricks  be  erected,  ratified,  or  con- 
firmed therein." 

The  above  protestation  was  subscribed  by  the  following  ministers  : 
— Messrs.  Andrew  Melville,  James  Melville,  William  Scott,  James 
Ross,  John  Carmichael,  John  Gillespie,  William  Erskine,  Colin 
Campbell,  James  Muirhead,  John  Mitchell,  John  Davidson,  John 
Colden,  John  Abernethy,  James  Davidson,  Adam  Bannatyne,  John 
Row,  William  Buchanan,  John  Kennedy,  John  Ogilvie,  John 
Scrimgeour,  John  Malcolm,  James  Burden,  Isaac  Blackfoord,  Isaac 
Strachan,  James  Row,  William  Row,  Robert  Mercer,  Edmund 
Myles,  John  French,  Patrick  Simpson,  John  Dykes,  William  Young, 
William  Cooper,  William  Keith,  Hugh  Duncan,  James  Mercer, 
Robert  Oolvill,  William  Hogg,  Robert  Wallace,  David  Barclay, 
John  Weenies,  William  Cranston. 

Simpson  was  not  more  distinguished  for  zeal  in  the  cause  of 
Christ,  than  for  piety  and  an  exemplary  life,  which  had  a  happy 
effect  upon  the  people  with  whom  he  stood  connected.  He  was  in  a 
very  eminent  degree  blessed  with  the  spirit  and  return  of  prayer ; 
and  the  following  fact,  attested  by  old  Mr.  Row  of  Carnock,  shows 
how  much  of  the  divine  countenance  he  had  in  this  duty  : — His 
wife,  Martha  Barron,  a  woman  of  singular  piety,  fell  sick ;  and 
under  her  indisposition,  was  strongly  assaulted  by  the  common 
enemy  of  salvation,  suggesting  to  her  that  she  should  be  delivered 
up  to  him.  This  soon  brought  her  into  a  very  uneasy  state  of  mind, 
which  continued  for  some  time  increasing  ;  and  she  frequently  broke 


PATRICK    SIMPSON. 


287 


forth  mto  very  dreadful  expressions. — Being  in  one  of  these  fits  of 
despair,  one  Sabbath  morning,  when  her  husband  was  going  to 
preach,  he  was  exceedingly  troubled  at  her  condition,  and  went  to 
prayer,  which  she  took  no  notice  of.  After  he  had  done,  he  turned 
to  the  company  present,  and  said,  that  they  who  had  been  witnesses 
to  that  sad  hour,  should  yet  see  a  gracious  work  of  God  on  her,  and 
that  the  devil's  malice  against  that  poor  woman  should  have  a 
shameful  foil.  Her  perturbation  of  mind  continued  for  some  days 
after.  Unwearied  in  his  supplications  in  her  behalf,  his  mind 
became  gradually  more  and  more  confident  that  they  would  be 
graciously  answered  ;  when  on  the  Tuesday  morning  preceding  her 
death,  upon  his  return  from  secret  prayer,  he  said  to  the  people  who 
were  in  the  chamber : — "  Be  of  good  comfort,  for  I  am  sure,  that  ere 
ten  hours  of  the  day,  that  brand  shall  be  plucked  out  of  the  fire  ;" 
after  which  he  went  to  prayer,  at  his  wife's  bedside.  She  continued 
for  some  time  quiet,  but,  upon  his  mentioning  Jacob  wrestling  with 
God,  she  sat  up  in  the  bed,  drew  the  curtain  aside,  and  said,  "  Thou 
art  this  day  a  Jacob,  who  hast  wrestled  and  hast  prevailed  :  and  now 
God  hath  made  good  his  word,  which  he  spoke  this  morning  to  you, 
for  I  am  plucked  out  of  the  hands  of  Satan ,  and  he  shall  have  no 
power  over  me."  This  interruption  made  him  silent  for  a  little  ; 
but  afterwards  with  great  melting  of  heart,  he  proceeded  in  prayer, 
and  magnified  the  riches  of  grace  towards  him.  From  that  hour 
she  continued  to  utter  nothing  but  the  language  of  joy  and  comfort, 
until  her  death,  which  was  on  Friday  following,  August  13th,  1601. 

He  lived  for  several  years  after  this,  fervent  and  faithful  in  the 
work  of  the  ministry.  In  1608,  when  the  bishops  and  some 
commissioners  convened  in  the  palace  of  Falkland,  for  the  purpose 
of  coming  to  an  agreement  respecting  the  affairs  of  the  church, 
towards  the  summoning  of  a  General  Assembly,  several  ministers 
assembled  also  in  the  kirk  of  the  town,  and  chose  him  for  their 
moderator ;  after  which,  they  spent  some  time  in  prayer,  and  tasted 
some  of  the  comfort  of  their  former  meetings.  They  then  agreed 
upon  certain  articles  for  concord  and  peace  to  be  given  in  to  the 
bishops.  This  Simpson  and  some  others  did  in  the  name  of  the  rest ; 
but  the  bishops  shifted  them  off  to  the  next  Assembly,  and  in  the 
mean  time  took  all  possible  precautions  to  strengthen  their  own 
party,  which  they  effected. 

In  1610,  the  noblemen  and  bishops  came  to  Stirling,  after  dissolv- 
ing the  Assembly.  In  preaching  before  them,  Simpson  openly 
charged  the  bishops  with  perjury  and  gross  defection.  They  hesitated 
for  some  time,  whether  they  should  accuse  him  or  compound  the 
matter:  but,  after  deliberation,  they  dropt  the  affair  altogether  for 
the  present.  There  is  no  reason  to  doubt  but  he  would  have  Keen 
subjected  to  the  same  sufferings  with  many  others  of  his  brethren, 
had  he  lived  ,  but  before  the  copestone  was  laid  on  prelacy  in 
Scotland,  he  had  entered  into  the  joy  of  his  Lord.  In  March  1618, 
which  was  about  four  months  before  the  Assembly  at  Perth,  in 
which  the  five  articles  were  agreed  upon,  he  said,  that  that  mouth 
should  put  an  end  to  all  his  troubles  ;  and  he  died  accordingly  about 
the  end  of  it,  blesssing  the  Lord,  that  he  had  not  been  perverted  by 


2S8  SCOTS  WORTHIES. 

the  sinful  courses  of  these  times ;  and  saying,  As  the  Lord  had  said 
to  Elijah  in  the  wilderness,  so  in  some  respects,  he  had  dealt  with 
him  all  the  days  of  his  life. 

He  wrote  a  history  of  the  Church,  for  the  space  of  about  ten 
centuries ;  besides  some  other  little  tracts,  and  a  History  of  the 
Councils  of  the  Church.  Upon  some  of  his  books  he  had  written, 
"  Remember,  O  my  soul,  and  never  forget  the  9th  of  August,  what 
consolation  the  Lord  gave  thee,  and  how  he  performed  what  he 
spake  according  to  Zechariah, — Is  not  this  a  brand  plucked  out  of 
the  fire?" 


ANDREW  DUNCAN. 


Soon  after  the  illustrious  Melville  was  made  principal  of  the  new- 
college  of  St.  Andrew's,  Andrew  Duncan,  the  subject  of  this  memoir, 
became  a  keen  opponent  of  what  were  then  thought  his  unwarranta- 
ble strictures  on  the  philosophy  of  Aristotle.  Duncan  was  at  that 
time  a  Regent  in  St.  Leonard's  college,  who,  in  common  with  other 
members  of  the  university,  regarded  the  novel  views  of  the  princi- 
pal as  calculated  to  destroy  the  credit  of  his  teaching.  But  his  pre- 
judices against  Melville  soon  subsided,  and  from  being  an  adversary 
he  became  an  ardent  admirer  and  a  steady  friend. 

He  was  afterwards  settled  Minister  at  Crail,  in  Fife,  and  became 
a  sufferer  for  the  presbyterian  cause.  He  was  present  at  the  famous 
Assembly  held  at  Aberdeen  in  1605;  and  was  the  following  year 
along  with  five  other  ministers,  tried  and  found  guilty  of  high  trea- 
son because  they  had  attended  said  Assembly.  After  having  been 
imprisoned  for  fourteen  months  in  Blackness  castle,  he  was  with  his 
live  brethren  banished  to  France.  On  making  some  acknowledg- 
ments to  the  king  and  counsel,  he  was  allowed  to  return  to  his 
native  land  about  six  years  thereafter. 

In  1610,  he  was  summoned  before  the  high  commission  court,  at 
St.  Andrew's,  on  account  of  his  faithfulness  in  opposing  the  five 
articles  of  Perth.  At  his  first  compearance  he  declined  their  author- 
ity ;  and  at  the  second,  adhering  to  his  former  declinature,  the  high 
commission  court  passed  sentence  of  deposition  against  him;  and 
ordained  him  to  enter  himself  in  ward  at  Dundee.  After  sentence 
was  pronounced,  he  gave  in  a  protestation,  which  was  as  follows : 
"  Now  seeing  I  have  done  nothing  of  this  business,  whereof  I  have 


ANDREW    DUNCAN.  059 

been  accused  by  yon,  but  have  been  serving  Jesus  Christ,  my  Mas- 
ter, in  rebuking  vice,  in  simplicity  and  righteousness  of  heart,  I 
protest,  seeing  ye  have  done  me  wrong,  for  a  remedy  at  God's 
hand,  the  righteous  judge;  and  summon  you  before  his  dreadful 
judgment-seat,  to  be  censured  and  punished  for  such  unrighteous 
dealings,  at  such  a  time  as  his  majesty  shall  think  expedient ;  and  in 
the  mean  time  decline  this  your  judgment  simpliciter,  now  as  before, 
and  appeal  to  the  ordinary  Assembly  of  the  church,  for  reasons  be- 
fore produced  in  writ.  Pity  yourselves  for  the  Lord's  sake ;  lose  not 
your  own  dear  souls,  I  beseech  you,  for  Esau's  pottage  :  remember 
Balaam,  who  was  cast  away  by  the  deceit  of  the  wages  of  unright- 
eousness ;  forget  not  how  miserable  Judas  was,  who  lost  himself  for 
a  trifle  of  money,  that  never  did  him  good.  Better  be  pined  to 
death  by  hunger,  than  for  a  little  pittance  of  the  earth,  to  perish  for 
ever,  and  never  be  recovered,  so  long  as  the  days  of  heaven  shall 
last,  and  the  years  of  eternity  shall  endure.  "Why  would  ye  distress 
your  own  brethren,  sons  and  servants  of  the  Lord  Jesus?  This  is 
not  the  doing  of  the  shepherds  of  the  flock  of  Christ :  if  ye  will  not 
regard  your  souls  nor  consciences,  look,  I  beseech  you,  to  your  fame  : 
why  will  ye  be  miserable  both  in  this  life  and  in  the  life  to  come  !" 

When  the  bishop  of  St.  Andrew's  had  read  a  few  lines  of  this 
admonition,  he  cast  it  from  him  ;  the  bishop  of  Dunblane  took  it  up, 
and  reading  it,  said,  he  calls  us  Esaus,  Balaams,  and  Judases.  "  Not 
so,"  said  Duncan,  "  read  again,  beware  that  ye  be  not  like  them." 
In  the  space  of  a  month  after,  he  was  deposed  for  non-comformity.* 

In  July  1621,  he  presented  a  large  supplication,  in  name  of  him- 
self, and  some  of  his  faithful  brethren,  who  had  been  excluded 
from  the  General  Assembly,  to  Sir  George  Hay,  clerk  register ;  on 
which  account  he  was  in  a  few  days  after  apprehended  by  the  cap- 
tain of  the  guard  and  brought  before  the  council,  who  accused  him 
of  breaking  ward,  after  he  had  been  suspended  and  confined  to  Dun- 
dee, for  having  preached  the  week  before  at  Crail.  Duncan  denied 
that  he  had  been  put  to  the  horn  ;  and  as  for  breaking  ward,  he  said, 
that  for  the  sake  of  obedience,  he  staid  at  Dundee,  separated  from  a 
wife  and  six  children  for  half  a  year,  and  that  the  winter  approach- 
ing had  forced  him  to  go  home.  In  the  end,  he  requested  them  not 
to  imprison  him  on  his  own  charges  ;  but  the  sentence  had  been  re- 
solved upon  before  he  compeared.  He  was  conveyed  next  day  to 
Blackness  castle,  where  he  remained  until  October  thereafter,  when 
he  was  again  brought  before  the  council,  and  by  them  confined  to 
Kilrennie,  a  parish  adjacent  to  his  own,  upon  his  own  charges. 

Upon  another- occasion  of  the  same  nature,  this  worthy  man  was 
banished  out  of  the  kingdom,  and  went  to  settle  at  Berwick ;  but 

*  Next  to  the  satisfaction  that  flows  to  the  mind  of  the  falsely  accused,  from  the  imme- 
diate approval  of  God  and  his  own  conscience,  must  be  that  resulting  from  an  appeal  to 
the  great  day  ;  for  then  every  unjust  judgment  shall  be  reversed,  and  righteousness  rewarded. 
But  while  the  solemn  appeal  of  an  unjustly  condemned  man  is  consolatory  to  himself, 
how  ought  it  to  make  the  heart  of  an  unrighteous  judge  quail  !  Surely  then  the  bishops  of 
St.  Andrew's  and  Dunblane  had  manifested  more  wisdom,  had  they  not  treated  Andrew 
Duncan's  admonition  with  contempt.  Let  judges,  whether  in  civil  or  sacred  matters 
always  feel,  when  they  give  judgment,  that  the  rights  of  the  poorest  will  be  vindicated  in 
the  judgment  of  the  great  day. 

iy 


O90  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

having  several  children,  and  his  wife  again  near  her  confine- 
ment tiiey  were  reduced  to  great  hardships,  being  obliged  to  part 
with  'their  servant,  having  scarcely  subsistence  sufficient  lor  them- 
selves. One  night  in  particular,  the  children  asking  for  bread,  and 
there  being  none  to  give  them,  they  cried  very  sore  :  the  mother  was 
likewise  much  depressed  in  spirit ;  the  minister  himself  had  recourse 
sometimes  to  prayer  ;  and  in  the  intervals  endeavoured  to  cherish  his 
wile's  hope,  and  please  the  children,  and  at  last  got  them  to  bed  ;  but 
she  continued  to  mourn  heavily.  He  exhorted  her  to  wait  patiently 
upon  God,  who  was  now  trying  them,  but  would  undoubtedly  pro- 
vide for  them  ;  and  added  that  if  the  Lord  should  rain  down  bread 
from  heaven,  they  should  not  want.  This  confidence  was  the  more 
remarkable,  because  they  had  neither  friend  nor  acquaintance  in  that 
place  to  whom  they  could  make  their  case  known.  And  yet  before 
morning,  a  man  brought  them  a  sackful  of  provision,  and  went  off,  with- 
out tellino-  them  from  whence  it  came,  though  entreated  to  do  so. 
When  the  father  opened  the  sack  he  found  in  it  a  bag  with  twenty 
pounds  Scots,  two  loaves  of  bread,  a  bag  of  flour,  another  of  barley, 
and  such  like  provisions ;  and  having  brought  the  whole  to  his  wife, 
he  said,  "  See  what  a  good  Master  I  serve."  After  this  she  hired  a 
servant  again,  but  was  soon  reduced  to  a  new  extremity  :  the  pains 
of  childbearing  came  upon  her  before  she  could  make  any  provision 
for  her  delivery  ;  but  Providence  interposed  in  their  behalf  at  this 
time  also.  While  she  travailed  in  the  night  season,  and  the  good 
man  knew  not  where  to  apply  for  a  midwife,  a  gentlewoman  came 
early  in  the  morning  riding  to  the  door,  and  having  sent  her  servant 
back  with  the  horse,  with  orders  when  to  return,  she  went  in,  and 
asked  the  maid  of  the  house,  how  her  mistress  was,  and  desired 
access  to  her,  which  she  obtained.  She  first  ordered  a  good  lire  to 
be  made,  then  desired  Mrs.  Duncan  to  rise,  and  without  any  other 
assistance  than  the  house  afforded,  she  delivered  her,  and  afterwards 
accommodated  Mrs.  Duncan  and  the  child  with  abundance  of  very 
fine  linen  which  she  had  brought  along  with  her.  She  gave  her 
likewise  a  box,  containing  some  necessary  cordials,  and  five  pieces 
of  gold,  bidding  them  both  be  of  good  comfort,  for  they  should  not 
want.  After  which  she  rode  away  on  the  horse,  which  had  by  this 
time  returned  for  her;  but  would  not  tell  her  name,  nor  from  whence 
she  came. 

Thus  did  God  take  his  own  servant  under  his  immediate  care  and 
providence,  when  men  had  wrongfully  excluded  him  from  enjoying 
his  worldly  comforts.  lie  continued  zealous  and  steadfast  in  the 
faith,  enduring  his  severe  trials  with  the  most  exemplary  resigna- 
tion ;  and  to  the  end  of  his  life,  his  conduct  was  uniform  with  the 
circumstances  of  this  brief  narrative. 


JOHN    SCRIMGEOUR. 


291 


JOHN  SCRIMGEOUR. 

Nothing  seems  to  be  known  of  the  parentage  and  birth  of  this  godly 
man.  The  earliest  authentic  notice  we  have  of  him,  is,  that  he  was 
minister  of  Kinghorn,  in  Fife,  and  that,  in  1590,  John  Scrimgeour 
was  the  person  selected  to  attend  king  James  as  chaplain,  in  his 
voyage  to  Denmark  to  bring  home  his  queen.  He  was  afterwards 
concerned  in  several  important  affairs  of  the  church,  until  that  fatal 
year  1618,  when  the  five  articles  of  Perth  were  agreed  on  in  an 
Assembly  held  at  that  place.  He  attended  at  this  Assembly,  and 
gave  in  some  proposals,  upon  being,  along  with  others  of  his  faithful 
brethren,  excluded  from  having  a  vote,  by  the  prevailing  party  of 
that  Assembly. 

In  1620,  he  was,  with  some  others,  summoned  before  the  high 
commission  court,  for  not  preaching  upon  holidays,  and  not  adminis- 
tering the  communion  conform  to  the  agreement  at  Perth  ;  with  cer- 
tification, if  this  were  proved,  that  he  should  be  deprived  of  exercis- 
ing the  functions  of  a  minister  in  all  time  coming.  But  there  being 
none  present  on  the  day  appointed,  except  the  bishops  of  St. 
Andrew's,  Glasgow,  and  the  Isles,  and  Walter  "Whiteford,  they  were 
dismissed  at  that  time  ;  but  were  summoned  ajmd  acta  to  compear 
again  on  the  1st  of  March,  and  the  bishops  caused  the  clerk  to  exact 
their  consent  to  deprivation,  in  case  they  did  not  compear  against 
that  day.  Nevertheless,  they  all  protested,  with  one  voice,  that  they 
would  never  willingly  renounce  their  ministry ;  and  such  was  the 
resolution  and  courage  of  Scrimgeour,  that,  notwithstanding  all  the 
threatenings  of  the  bishops,  he  celebrated  the  communion  conform  to 
the  ancient  practice  of  the  church,  a  few  days  thereafter. 

On  the  day  appointed  for  their  next  compearance,  the  bishops  of 
St.  Andrew's,  Dunkeld,  Galloway,  the  Isles,  Dunblane,  Hewison, 
commissary  of  Edinburgh,  and  Dr.  Blair,  being  assembled  in  the 
bishop  of  St.  Andrew's  lodging  in  Edinburgh,  John  Scrimgeour  was 
again  called  upon  to  answer.  The  bishop  of  St  Andrew's  alleged 
against  him,  that  he  had  promised  either  to  conform  or  quit  his  min- 
istry, as  the  act  at  his  last  compearance  on  January  26th  reported  ; 
to  which  he  replied,  "  I  am  sore  straitened,  I  never  saw  reason  to 
conform  ;  and  as  for  my  ministry,  it  was  not  mine,  and  so  1  could  not 
quit  it."  After  long  reasoning  betwixt  him  and  the  bishops  c 
ing  church  policy  and  the  keeping  of  holidays,  he  was  removed  tor 
a  little.  Being  called  in  again,  the  bishop  of  St.  Andrew's  said  to 
him,    "  You   are   deprived  of  all   function   within   the   kirk,   and 


292  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

ordained  within  six  days  to  enter  in  ward  at  Dundee."  "  It  is  a 
very  summary  and  peremptory  sentence,"  said  Scrimgeour,  "  Ye 
might  have  been  advised  better,  and  first  have  heard  what  I  would 
have  said."  "  You  shall  be  heard,"  said  the  bishop.  This  brought 
on  some  further  reasoning,  in  the  course  of  which  Scrimgeour  gave  a 
faithful  testimony  against  the  king's  supremacy  over  the  church,  and, 
among  other  things,  said,  I  have  had  opportunity  to  reason  with  the 
king  himself  on  this  subject,  and  have  told  him,  that  Christ  was  the 
Sovereign,  and  only  Director  of  his  house  ;  and  that  his  Majesty  was 
subject  to  him.  I  have  had  occasion  to  tell  other  men's  matters  to 
the  king,  and  could  have  truly  claimed  this  great  preferment."  "  I 
tell  you,  John,"  said  the  bishop  of  St.  Andrew's,  "  that  the  king  is 
pope,  and  shall  be  so  now."  lie  replied,  "  that  is  an  evil  style  you 
give  him,"  and  then  gave  in  his  reasons  in  writ,  which  they  read  at 
leisure.  Afterwards  the  bishops  of  St.  Andrew's  said  to  him,  "  take 
up  your  reasons  again  ;  if  you  will  not  conform  I  cannot  help  it ;  the 
king  must  be  obeyed,  the  Lords  have  given  sentence,  and  will  stand 
to  it"  "  Ye  cannot  deprive  me  of  my  ministry,"  said  Scrimgeour; 
*•'  I  received  it  not  from  you ;  I  received  it  from  the  whole  synod  of 
Fife,  and,  for  anything  ye  do,  I  will  never  think  myself  deposed." 
The  bishop  of  St.  Andrew's  replied,  "  You  are  deprived  only 
of  the  present  exercise  of  it."  Then  he  presented  the  following  pro- 
testation :  "  I  protest  before  the  Lord  Jesus,  that  I  get  manifest 
wrong  ;  my  reasons  and  allegations  are  not  considered  and  answered. 
I  obtest  you  to  answer  at  his  glorious  appearance,  for  this  and  such 
dealings ;  and  protest,  that  my  cause  should  have  been  heard  as  I 
pled,  and  still  plead  and  challenge.  I  likewise  appeal  to  the  Lord 
Jesus,  his  eternal  Word  ;  to  the  king,  my  dread  sovereign,  his  law,  to 
the  constitution  of  this  kirk  and  kingdom,  to  the  councils  and  assem- 
blies of  both  ;  and  protest,  that  I  stand  minister  of  the  evangel,  and 
only  by  violence  I  am  thrust  from  the  same."  "  You  must  obey  the 
sentence,"  said  the  bishop  of  St.  Andrew's.  He  answered,  "  that 
Dundee  was  far  off,  and  he  was  not  able  for  far  journeys,  as  phy- 
sicians can  witness."  And  he  added,  "  little  know  ye  what  is  in  my 
purse."  "Then  where  will  you  choose  the  place  of  your  confine- 
ment?" said  the  bishop.  He  answered,  "  at  a  little  room  of  my 
own,  called  Bowhill,  in  the  parish  of  Auchterderran."  Then  said  the 
bishop,  "  write  at  Bowhill,  during  the  king's  pleasure."  Thus  this 
worthy  servant  of  Christ  lived  the  rest  of  his  days  in  Auchterderran. 
In  his  old  age  he  was  grievously  afflicted  with  the  stone.  He  said  to 
a  godly  minister  who  went  to  see  him  before  his  death,  "  I  have 
been  a  rude  stunkard  all  my  life,  and  now  by  this  pain  the  Lord  is 
humbling  me  to  make  me  a  lamb  before  he  take  me  to  himself.* 

He  was  a  man  somewhat  negligent  in  his  clothing,  and  inelegant 
in  some  of  his  expressions  and  behaviour  ;  and  yet  was  a  very  lovinc 

*  While  the  above  conversation  between  the  bishop  and  Scrimgeour  is  an  illustration 
of  the  Erastian  nature  of  the  government,  it  shows  the  minister  of  Christ  in  his  true 
d.gnity.  F"om  his  answers  to  the  bishops  it  is  evident  Scrimgeour  did  not  follow  his  holy 
vocation  for  filthy  lucre's  sake ;  that  he  understood  who  was  his  spiritual  master,  and  was 
faithful  in  his  service.  Before  his  tyrannic  judges  he  nobly  supported  the  spiritual  head- 
ship of  Christ,  in  opposition  to  the  king's  supremacy,  and  that  of  the  bishops "  holding 

fast  the  form  of  sound  words"  in  the  face  of  their  threats  and  punishments. 


JOHN    SCRIMGEOUR.  293 

tender-hearted  man  ;  of  a  deep  natural  judgment ;  and  very  learned, 
especially  in  Hebrew.  He  often  wished  that  most  books  were  burnt 
except  the  Bible  and  some  short  notes  thereon.  lie  had  a  peculiar 
talent  for  comforting-  the  dejected.  He  used  a  very  familiar,  but 
pressing  manner  of  preaching.  lie  was  also  an  eminent  wrestler 
with  God,  and  had  more  than  ordinary  fervency  and  success  in  that 
exercise,  as  appears  from  the  following  instances. 

When  minister  of  Kinghorn,  there  was  a  certain  godly  woman 
under  his  charge,  who  fell  sick  of  a  very  lingering  disease,  and  was 
all  the  while  assaulted  with  strong  temptations,  leading  her  to  think 
that  she  was  a  castaway,  notwithstanding  that  her  whole  conversa- 
tion had  put  the  reality  of  grace  in  her  beyond  a  doubt.  He  often 
visited  her  while  in  this  dee])  exercise,  but  her  trouble  and  terror  still 
remained.  As  her  dissolution  drew  on,  her  spiritual  trouble  in- 
creased, lie  went  with  two  of  his  elders  to  her,  and  began  first,  in 
their  presence  to  comfort  her,  and  pray  with  her;  but  she  still  grew 
worse.  He  ordered  his  elders  to  pray,  and  afterwards  prayed  him- 
self; but  no  relief  came.  Then  sitting  pensive  for  a  little  space,  he 
thus  broke  silence  :  "  What  is  this?  Our  laying  grounds  of  comfort 
before  her  will  not  do  :  prayer  will  not  do.  "We  must  try  another 
remedy.  Sure  I  am,  this  is  a  daughter  of  Abraham, — sure  I  am,  she 
hath  sent  for  me, — and,  therefore,  in  the  name  of  God,  the  Father  of 
Mir  Lord  Jesus,  who  sent  him  to  redeem  sinners  ;  in  the  name  of 
Jesus  Christ,  who  obeyed  the  Father,  and  came  to  save  us  ;  in  the 
name  of  the  Holy  and  Blessed  Spirit,  our  Quickener  and  Sanctifier — 
I,  the  elder,  command  thee,  a  daughter  of  Abraham,  to  be  l'oosed 
from  these  bonds  !"     And  immediately  peace  and  joy  ensued. 

Scrimgeour  had  several  friends  and  children  taken  away  by  death  ; 
and  his  only  daughter  who  at  that  time  survived,  and  whom  he 
dearly  loved,  being  seized  with  the  king's  evil,  by  which  she  was 
reduced  to  the  very  point  of  death,  so  that  he  was  called  up  to 
see  her  die  ;  and  finding  her  in  this  condition,  he  went  out  to  the 
fields,  (as  he  himself  told,)  in  the  night  time,  in  great  grief  and 
anxiety,  and  began  to  expostulate  with  the  Lord,  with  such  expres- 
sions as,  for  all  the  world,  he  durst  not  again  utter.  In  a  fit  of  dis- 
pleasure, he  said,  "Thou,  O  Lord,  knowest  that  I  have  been  serving 
thee  in  the  uprightness  of  my  heart,  according  to  my  power  and 
measure  ;  nor  have  I  stood  in  awe  to  declare  thy  mind  even  unto 
the  greatest  in  the  time,  and  thou  seest  that  I  take  pleasure  in  this 
child.  O  that  I  could  obtain  such  a  thing  at  thy  hand  as  to  spare 
her  !"  And  being  in  great  agony  of  spirit,  at  last  it  was  said  to  him 
from  the  Lord,  "  I  have  heard  thee  at  this  time,  but  use  not  the  like 
boldness  in  time  coming,  for  such  particulars."  When  he  came 
home  the  child  was  recovered,  and,  sitting  ilp  in  the  bed,  took  some 
meat :  and  when  he  looked  at  her  arm,  it  was  perfectly  whole. 


291  SCOTS  WORTHIES. 


JOHN    WELCH. 


John  "Welch  was  by  birth  a  gentleman,  his  father  being  laird  of 
Collieston,  in  Nithsdale,  an  estate  rather  competent  than  large.  He 
was  born  about  the  year  1570,  and  throughout  life  was  a  rich  in- 
stance of  divine  grace  and  mercy,  although  with  him  the  night 
went  before  the  day.  He  was  a  very  irregular,  hopeless  boy,  fre- 
quently running  away  from  school,  and  playing  truant ;  but  after  he 
had  past  his  grammar,  and  was  come  to  be  an  adult,  he  left  his 
studies,  and  his  father's  house,  and  went  and  joined  himself  to  the 
thieves  on  the  English  border,  who  lived  by  robbing  the  two  nations, 
and  amongst  them  he  stayed  till  he  wore  out  a  suit  of  clothes.  When 
he  came  to  be  clothed  only  with  rags,  the  prodigal's  misery  brought 
him  to  the  prodigal's  resolution  :  then  he  resolved  to  return  to  his 
father's  house,  but  durst  not  venture  till  he  should  interpose  a  recon- 
ciler. In  his  return  homeward,  he  took  Dumfries  in  his  way,  where 
he  had  an  aunt,  one  Agnes  Forsyth,  and  with  her  he  spent  some 
days,  earnestly  entreating  her  to  reconcile  him  to  his  father.  While 
he  remained  in  her  house,  his  father  came  providentially  to  visit 
her ;  and  after  they  had  talked  a  while,  she  asked  him,  whether  he 
ever  heard  any  word  of  his  son  John  ?  To  this  he  replied  with 
great  grief,  "  O  cruel  woman,  how  can  you  name  him  to  me  ! — the 
first  news  I  expect  to  hear  of  him  is,  that  he  is  hanged  for  a  thief." 
She  answered,  "  many  a  profligate  boy  had  become  a  virtuous  man," 
and  thus  comforted  him.  He  insisted,  however,  upon  his  sad  com- 
plaint;  but  asked,  whether  she  knew  if  his  lost  son  was  yet  alive! 
She  answered,  "  Yes  ;  and  hoped  he  should  prove  a  better  man  than 
he  had  been  a  boy ;"  and  with  that  she  called  upon  him  to  come  to 
his  father.  He  came  weeping,  and  kneeled,  beseeching  his  father, 
for  Christ's  sake,  to  pardon  his  misbehaviour,  engaging  heartily  to 
be  a  new  man.  His  father  reproached  and  threatened  him.  Yet  at 
length,  by  his  tears,  and  Mrs.  Forsyth's  importunities,  he  was  per- 
suaded to  a  reconciliation.  The  boy  entreated  his  father  to  send 
him  to  college,  and  there  to  try  his  behaviour;  and  if  ever  there- 
after he  should  break  off,  he  said,  he  should  be  content  that  his 
father  should  disclaim  him  fur  ever.  His  father  therefore  took  him 
home,  and  put  him  to  college,  and  there  he  became  a  diligent 
student,  of  great  expectation,  and  showed  himself  a  sincere  convert; 
and  so  he  proceeded  to  the  ministry. 

His  first  settlement  was  at  Selkirk,  while  he  was  yet  very  young, 
and  the  country  very  uncivilized.     AVhile  there,  his  ministry  was 


JOHN    WELCH. 


295 


rather  admired  by  some,  than  received  by  many  ;  for  he  was  always 
attended  with  the  prophet's  shadow, — the  hatred  of  the  wicked  : 
yea,  even  the  ministers  of  that  country  were  more  ready  to  pick  a 
quarrel  with  his  person,  than  to  follow  his  doctrine,  as  appears  to 
this  day  in  their  synodical  records,  where  we  find  he  had  many  to 
censure,  and  few  to  defend  him  ;  yet  it  was  thought  his  ministry  in 
that  place  was  not  without  fruit,  though  his  stay  was  but  short. 
Being  unmarried,  he  lodged  in  the  house  of  one^Mitchelhill,  and. 
took  a  young  boy  of  his  to  be  his  bedfellow,  who  to  his  dying  day 
retained  the  highest  respect  for  "Welch  and  his  ministry,  from  the 
deep  impression  then  made  upon  his  mind  though  but  a  child. 
"Welch's  custom  was,  when  he  went  to  bed  at  night,  to  lay  a  Scots 
plaid  above  his  bed-clothes,  that  when  he  rose  to  his  night  prayers, 
he  might  cover  himself  therewith  ;  for,  from  the  beginning  of  his 
ministry  till  his  death,  he  reckoned  the  day  ill  spent,  if  he  staved 
not  seven  or  eight  hours  in  prayer  :  and  this  the  boy  did  not  forget 
even  to  his  old  age. 

An  old  man  of  the  name  of  Ewart,  in  Selkirk,  who  remembered 
"Welch's  being  in  that  place,  said  he  was  a  type  of  Christ;  an  ex- 
pression more  magnificent  that  proper  ;  for  his  meaning  was,  that  in 
heart  and  life  he  imitated  Christ,  as  indeed  in  many  things  he  did. 
He  also  said  that  his  custom  was  to  preach  publicly  once  every  day, 
and  to  spend  his  whole  time  in  spiritual  exercises  ;  that  some  in  that 
place  waited  well  upon  his  ministry,  with  great  tenderness  ;  but 
that  he  was  constrained  to  leave  that  place,  because  of  the  malice 
of  the  wicked. 

The  special  cause  of  his  departure  was,  the  enmity  of  a  profane 
gentleman  in  the  country  (Scott  of  Headschaw,  whose  family  is  now 
extinct),  who,  either  because  "Welch  had  reproved  him,  or  merely 
from  malignity,  treated  him  most  unworthily.  Among  the  rest  of 
the  injuries  he  did  him,  the  following  is  one  of  great  cruelty.  That 
gentleman,  either  with  his  own  hand,  or  by  those  of  his  servants, 
cut  off  the  rumps  of  Welch's  two  horses,  in  consequence  of  which 
they  both  died.  Such  base  usage  as  this  persuaded  him  to  listen  to 
a  call  to  the  ministry  at  Kircudbright,  which  was  his  next  station. 

When  about  to  leave  Selkirk,  he  could  not  find  a  man  in  all  the 
town  to  transport  his  furniture,  except  one  Ewart,  who  was  at  that 
time  a  poor  young  man,  but  master  of  two  horses,  with  which  he 
transported  Welch's  goods,  and  so  left  him.  As  he  took  his  leave, 
Welch  gave  him  his  blessing,  and  a  piece  of  gold  for  a  token,  ex- 
horting him  to  fear  God,  and  promised  he  should  never  want ;  which 
Baying  Providence  made  good  through  the  whole  course  of  the  man's 
life,  as  was  observed  by  all  his  neighbours.* 

*  What  a  libel  upon  the  Selkirk  of  that  period?  We  need  not  say,  that  the  modern 
Selkirk  and  the  delightful  rural  district  around,  though  occupying  the  same  situation,  and 
presenting  the  same  features  of  natural  scenery  as  before  affords  as  striking  a  moral  con- 
trast as  can  well  be  imagined  or  desired.  The  hills  and  dales  of  that  deliuliilul  country 
are  associated  now  writh  emotions  and  feelings  very  different  from  those  which  the\ 
merly  had  a  tendency  to  awaken.  The  days  of  feudalism  and  barbaric  rudeness  are  long 
since  gone,  and  in  no  part  of  Scotland  do  we  meet  with  finer  specimens  of  household 
liness,  and  its  uniform  attendant,  disinterested  hospitality,  than  in  the  classic  and  religious 
county  of  Selkirk. 

Although  the  conduct  of  these  people  to  Welch  while  he  resided  amongst  them,  as  their 


296  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

At  Kircudbright  he  stayed  not  long:  but  there  he  reaped  a  har- 
vest of  converts  which  subsisted  long  after  his  departure,  and  were 
part  of  Samuel  Rutherford's  flock,  though  not  his  parish,  while  he 
was  minister  at  Anworth  :  yet  when  his  call  to  Ayr  came  to  him,  the 
people  of  the  parish  of  Kircudbright  never  offered  to  detain  him; 
so  his  translation  thither  was  the  more  easy. 

While  he  was  at  Kircudbright,  he  met  with  a  young  man  in 
scark-t  and  silver  lace,  whose  name  was  Robert  Glendinning,  newly 
returned  from  his  travels;  whom  lie  very  much  surprised  by  telling 
him,  he  behoved  to  change  his  garb,  and  way  of  life,  and  betake 
himself  to  his  studies,  for  he  should  be  his  successor  in  the  ministry 
at  Kircudbright.     This  accordingly  came  to  pass  some  time  after.  _ 

Welch  was  translated  to  Ayr  in  1590,  and  there  he  continued  till 
he  was  banished,  in  the  year  1G06.  In  that  place  he  had  a  very 
hard  beginning  but  a  very  sweet  end  ;  for  when  he  came  first  to  the 
town,  the  country  was  so  wicked,  and  the  hatred  of  godliness  so 
great,  that  there  could  not  one  in  all  the  town  be  found,  who 
would  let  him  a  house  to  dwell  in.  He  was  therefore  constrained  to 
accommodate  himself  the  best  way  he  could  in  a  part  of  a  gentle- 
man's house  whose  name  was  John  Stuart,  merchant,  and  some- 
time provost  of  Ayr,  an  eminent  Christian,  and  great  assistant  of 
Welch. 

When  he  first  took  up  his  residence  in  that  town,  it  was  so  divided 
into  factions,  and  disturbed  with  bloody  conflicts,  that  a  man  could 
hardly  walk  the  streets  with  safety.  He  therefore  made  it  his  first 
undertaking,  to  remove  these  bloody  quarrellings,  but  he  found  it  a 
very  difficult  work :  such,  however,  was  his  earnestness  to  pursue  his 
design,  that  many  times  he  would  rush  betwixt  two  parties  of  men 
fighting,  even  in  the  midst  of  blood  and  wounds.  Upon  these  occa- 
sions he  used  to  cover  his  head  with  a  helmet  before  he  went  to 
separate  the  combatants,  but  would  never  use  a  sword,  that  they 
might  see  he  came  for  peace,  and  not  for  war;  and  thus,  by  little 
and  little,  he  made  the  town  a  peaceable  habitation. 

His  manner  was,  after  he  had  ended  a  skirmish  amongst  neigh- 
bours, and  reconciled  bitter  enemies,  to  cause  a  table  to  be  covered 
upon  the  street,  to  which  he  brought  the  enemies  together  ;  and,  begin- 
ning with  prayer,  he  persuaded  them  to  profess  themselves  friends, 
and  to  eat  and  drink  together ;  concluding  the  work  by  singing 
a  psalm.  After  these  rude  people  began  to  observe  his  example, 
and  to  listen  to  his  heavenly  doctrine,  he  rose  quickly  to  that 
respect  amongst  them,  that  he  became  not  not  only  a  necessary 
councillor,  without  whose  advice  they  would  do  nothing,  but  an  ex- 
ample of  imitation. 

He  gave  himself  wholly  to  ministerial  exercises,  preaching  once 
every  day,  and  praying  the  third  part  of  his  time.  He  was  mi- 
minister,  and  especially  the  almost  incredible  heartlessness  which  they  evinced  on  his  de- 
part me,  appeal  to  forbid  the  supposition,  may  we  not  be  permitted  to  cherish  the  belief 
that  hie  labours  might  not  have  been  altogether  in  vain  ;  and  that  the  same  Providence 
who  afterwards  raised  up  for  them  a  succession  of  eminent  spiritual  labourers,  the  Bostons, 
the  Davidsons,  and  the  Lawsons,  prepared  in  some  measure  by  the  previous  labours  of 
Welch,  the  moral  soil  for  the  reception  of  that  good  seed  which  these  distinguished  men 
were  afterwards  instrumental  in  sowing? 


J0I1X   WELCH.  097 

wearied  in  his  studies:  as  a  proof  of  this,  it  was  found  among  his 
papers,  that  lie  had  abridged  Suarez'a  Metaphysics,*  when  -well 
stricken  in  years.  By  all  which  it  appears,  that  he  was  not  only  a 
man  of  great  diligence,  but  also  of  a  strong  and  robust  natural  con- 
stitution ;  otherwise  he  had  never  endured  the  fatigue. 

Sometimes  before  he  went  to  sermon,  he  would  send  for  his  elders, 
and  tell  them  he  was  afraid  to  go  to  church,  because  he  found  him- 
self sore  deserted  ;  and  then  desiring  one  or  more  of  them  to  pray, 
he  would  venture  to  the  pulpit.  Butit  was  observed,  that  this  hum- 
bling exercise  used  ordinarily  to  be  followed  with  extraordinary 
assistance, — so  near  neighbours  often  are  contrary  dispositions  and 
frames.  He  would  frequently  retire  to  the  church  of  Ayr,  which 
was  at  some  distance  from  the  town,  and  there  spend  the  whole  night 
in  prayer ;  for  he  used  to  allow  his  affections  full  expression,  and 
prayed  not  only  with  an  audible,  but  sometimes  a  loud  voice. 

There  was  in  Ayr,  at  the  time  he  came  to  it,  an  aged  man,  a 
minister  of  the  town,  called  Porterfield,  who  was  judged  no  bad 
man  for  his  personal  inclinations,  but  so  easy  in  his  disposition,  that 
he  used  often  to  go  too  great  a  length  with  his  neighbours  in  many 
improper  practices  ;  amongst  the  rest  he  used  to  go  to  the  bow-butts 
and  archery  on  the  Sabbath  afternoon,  to  Welch's  great  dissatisfac- 
tion ;  and  the  method  he  took  to  reclaim  him  was,  not  by  bitter 
severity,  but  gentle  policy.  He,  together  with  John  Stuart,  and 
Hugh  Kenned}',  his  intimate  friends,  used  to  spend  the  Sabbath 
afternoon  in  religious  conference  and  prayer;  and  to  this  exercise 
they  invited  Porterfield,  which  he  could  not  refuse, — by  these  means 
he  was  not  only  diverted  from  his  former  sinful  practice,  but 
likewise  brought  to  a  more  watchful  and  edifying  behaviour  in  his 
course  of  life. 

During  his  residence  at  Ayr,  the  Lord's  day  was  greatly  profaned 
at  a  gentleman's  house  about  eight  miles  distant,  by  reason  of  a 
great  confluence  of  people  playing  at  football,  and  other  pastimes. 
After  writing  several  times  to  him  to  suppress  this  profanation  at  his 
house,  "Welch  came  one  day  to  his  gate,  and  called  him  out  to  tell 
him,  that  he  had  a  message  from  God  to  him  ;  that  because  he  had 
slighted  the  advice  given  him,  the  Lord  would  cast  him  out  of  his 
house,  and  none  of  his  posterity  should  afterwards  enjoy  it,  which 
accordingly  came  to  pass ;  for  although  he  was  in  good  external  cir- 
cumstances at  the  time,  yet  afterwards  all  things  went  against  him, 
until  he  was  obliged  to  sell  his  estate ;  and  when  giving  the  pur- 
chaser possession  thereof,  he  told  his  wife  and  children  that  he  had 
found  Welch  a  true  prophet.f 

*  Had  Dr.  M'Crie  not  vindicated  the  Presbyterian  ministers  of  this  and  the  immediately 
succeeding  age,  from  the  charge  of  being  illiterate  preferred  against  them  by  some  dlBUQ' 
guished  accusers,  the  instance  before  us  might  almost  have  disposed  us  to  take  up  the  sub- 
ject ourselves.  Yet.  as  it  is,  we  cannot  help  observing  that  Welch  studying  metaphysics, 
and  that  toc;  at  an  advanced  period  of  his  life,  gives  an  additional  interest  to  bis 
while  at  the  same  time  we  find  him  only  acting  in  consistency  with  the  char.i 

to  hitn  and  his  persecuted  brethren,  by  the  biographer  of  Knox. 

*  Vide  Welch's  dispute  with  Gilbert  Brown  the  Papist,  in  preface. 


29S 


SCOTS  WORTHIES. 


lie  married  Elizabeth  Knox,  daughter  of  the  famous  John  Knox, 
the  reformer,  by  whom  he  had  three  sons.* 

As  the  duty  wherein  Welch  abounded  and  excelled  most  was  in 
prayer,  so  his  greatest  attainments  were  in  that  duty.  _  He  used  to 
Bay,  he  wondered  how  a  Christian  could  lie  in  bed  all  night,  and  not 
rise  to  pray ;  and  many  times  he  rose,  and  watched  unto  prayer. 
One  night  having  risen  from  his  wife,  and  gone  into  the  next  room, 
where  ne  staid  so  long  at  secret  prayer,  that  she  fearing  he  might 
catch  cold,  was  constrained  to  rise  and  follow  him  :  and  as  she 
listened,  she  heard  him  say  as  by  interrupted  sentences,  "  Lord,  wilt 
thou  not  grant  me  Scotland?1'  and,  after  a  pause,  "Enough,  Lord, 
enough!''  and  so  she  returned  to  her  bed;  and  he  following,  she 
asked  him,  what  he  meant  by  saying,  " Enough,  Lord,  enough!" 
He  showed  himself  dissatisfied  with  her  curiosity ;  but  told  her  he 
had  been  wrestling  with  the  Lord  for  Scotland,  and  found  there  was 
a  sad  time  at  hand  but  that  the  Lord  wrould  be  gracious  to  a 
remnant.  This  was  about  the  time  when  the  bishops  first  overspread 
the  land  and  corrupted  the  Church.  The  following,  however,  is 
more  wonderful  still :  An  honest  minister,  who  was  Welch's  pa- 
rishioner many  a  day,  said,  "  that  one  night  as  he  watched  in  his 
garden  very  late,  and  some  friends  waiting  upon  him  in  his  house, 
and  wearying  because  of  his  long  stay,  one  of  them  chanced  to 
open  a  window  towards  the  place  where  he  walked,  and  saw  clearly 
a  strange  light  surround  him,  and  heard  him  speak  strange  words 
about  his  spiritual  joy."  But  though  Welch  had,  upon  the  account 
of  his  holiness,  abilities,  and  success,  acquired  a  very  great  respect ; 
yet  was  he  never  in  such  admiration  as  after  the  great  plague  which 
raged  in  Scotland  in  his  time. 

*  The  first  was  called  Dr.  Welch,  a  doctor  of  medicine,  who  was  unhappily  killed,  upon 
an  innocent  mistake  in  the  Low  Countries. 

Another  son  he  had  most  lamentably  lost  at  sea;  for.  when  the  ship  in  which  he  was, 
had  sunk,  he  swam  to  a  rock  in  the  sea,  but  starved  there  for  want  of  necessary  food  and 
refreshment ;  and  when  some  time  afterwards  his  body  was  found  upon  the  rock,  they 
found  him  dead,  in  a  praying  posture,  upon  his  bended  knees,  with  his  hands  stretched  out ; 
and  this  was  all  the  satisfaction  his  friends  and  the  world  had  upon  his  lamentable  death. 

Anoiher  he  had,  who  was  heir  to  his  father's  graces  and  blessings;  and  this  was  Josias 
Welch,  minister  at  Temple-patrick,  in  the  north  of  Ireland,  commonly  called  the  Cock  of 
Conscience  by  the  people  of  that  country,  because  of  his  extraordinary  awakening  and 
rousing  gilt.  He  was  one  of  that  blessed  society  of  ministers,  who  wrought  that  un- 
paralleled work  in  the  north  of  Ireland,  about  the  year  163G,  but  was  himself  a  man  most 
sadly  exercised  with  doubts  about  his  own  salvation  all  his  time;  and  would  ordinarily 
say,  that  minister  was  much  to  be  pitied,  who  was  called  to  comfort  weak  saints,  and  had 
no  comfort  himself.  He  died  in  his  youth  and  left  for  his  successor,  John  Welch,  minister 
of  Irongrav  in  Galloway,  the  place  of  his  grandfather's  nativity.  What  business  this 
made  in  Scotland,  in  the  time  of  the  late  episcopal  persecution,  for  the  space  of  twenty 
years,  is  known  to  all  Scotland.  He  maintained  his  dangerous  post  of  preaching  the  gos- 
pel upon  the  mountains  of  Scotland,  notwithstanding  of  the  threatenings  of  the  state,  the 
hatred  of  the  bishops,  .he  price  set  upon  his  head,  and  the  fierce  industry  of  his  cruel  ene- 
mies. It  is  well  known,  that  bloody  Claverhouse,  upon  secret  information  from  his  spies, 
that  John  Welch  was  to  be  found  in  some  lurking  place  at  forty  miles'  distance,  would 
make  all  that  long  journey  in  one  winter's  night,  that  he  might  catch  him;  but  when  he 
came  he  always  missed  his  prey.  We  never  heard  of  a  man  that  endured  more  toil,  ven- 
tured upon  more,  or  escaped  so  much  hazard,  not  in  the  world.  He  used  to  tell  his  friends 
who  counselled  him  to  be  more  cautious,  and  not  to  hazard  himself  so  much,  that  he  firm- 
ly believed  dangerous  undertakings  would  be  his  security  ;  and  that  whenever  he  should 
give  over  that  course,  and  retire,  his  ministry  would  come  to  an  end,  which  accordingly 
came  to  pass  ;  lor  when,  after  the  battle  of  Bothwell  bridge,  he  retired  to  London,  the  Lord 
called  him  by  death,  and  there  he  was  honourably  interred,  not  far  from  the  king's  palace. 


JOHN  WEJTH.  299 

And  one  cause  was  this:  the  magistrates  of  Ayr,  forasmuch  as 

the  town  alone  was  free,  and  the  country  about  infected,  thought  tit 
to  guard  the  ports  with  sentinels  and  watchmen  ;  when  one  daw  two 
travelling  merchants,  each  with  a  pack  of  cloth  upon  horseback, 
came  to  the  town,  desiring  entrance,  that  they  might  sell  their 
goods,  producing  a  pass  from  the  magistrates  of  the  town  from 
whence  they  came,  which  was  at  that  time  sound  and  free.  Not- 
withstanding all  this,  the  sentinels  stopt  them  till  the  magistrates 
were  called  ;  who  when  they  came,  would  do  nothing  without  their 
minister's  advice  ;  and  so  Welch  was  called,  and  his  opinion  asked. 
He  demurred,  and,  putting  off  his  hat,  with  his  eyes  raised  towards 
heaven  for  a  short  space,  though  he  uttered  no  audible  words, 
continued  in  a  praying  posture.  Having  broken  silence,  he  then 
told  the  magistrates  they  would  do  well  to  discharge  these  travellers, 
affirming  with  great  asseveration,  that  the  plague  was  in  their  packs. 
The  magistrates  commanded  them  to  be  gone,  and  they  went  to 
Cumnock,  a  town  about  sixteen  miles  distant,  where  they  sold  their 
goods;  which  spread  such  an  infection  in  the  place  that  the  living 
were  hardly  able  to 'bury  the  dead.  This  made  the  people  begin 
to  look  upon  Welch  as  an  oracle ;  yet,  as  lie  walked  with  God,  and 
kept  close  with  him,  so  he  forgot  not  man ;  for  he  used  frequently 
to  dine  abroad  with  such  of  his  friends,  as  he  thought  were  persons 
with  whom  he  might  maintain  the  communion  of  saints :  and  once 
in  the  year,  he  used  always  to  invite  all  his  familiar  acquaintances 
in  the  town  to  a  treat  in  his  house,  where  there  was  a  banquet  of 
holiness  and  sobriety. 

He  continued  the  course  of  his  ministry  in  Ayr,  till  king  James' 
purpose  of  destroying  the  church  of  Scotland,  by  establishing 
bishops,  was  ripe,  and  then  he  felt  it  to  be  his  duty  to  edify  the 
church  by  his  sufferings,  as  he  had  formerly  done  by  his  doctrine. 

The  reason  why  king  James  was  so  eager  for  the  appointment 
of  bishops,  was  neither  their  divine  institution,  which  he  denied 
they  had  ;  nor  yet  the  profit  the  church  should  reap  by  them,  for 
he  knew  well  both  the  men  and  their  manner  ;  but  merely  because 
he  believed  they  were  useful  instruments  for  turning  a  limited  monar- 
chy into  absolute  dominion,  and  subjects  into  slaves ;  which  of  all 
things  in  the  world  he  minded  most. 

In"  pursuit  of  this  design,  he  resolved  in  the  first  place  to  destroy 
General  Assemblies,  knowing  well  that  so  long  as  these  might  be 
convened  in  freedom,  bishops  could  never  gain  the  ascendancy  in 
Scotland  :  and  the  dissolution  of  Assemblies  he  brought  about  in  the 
following  manner. 

The  General  Assembly  at  Holyroodhouse,  in  1602,  with  the  king's 
consent,  appointed  their  meeting  to  be  held  at  Aberdeen,  the  last 
Tuesday  of  July,  160-1;  but  before  that  day  arrived,  the  king, 
by  his  commissioner,  the  laird  of  Laurieston,  and  Patrick  Galloway, 
moderator  of  the  last  General  Assembly,  in  a  letter  directed  to  the 
several  presbyteries,  prorogued  the  meeting  till  the  first  Tuesday 
of  July,  1605;  and  again,  in  June  following,  the  expected  meeting 
was,  by  a  new  letter  from  the  king's  commissioner,  and  the  com- 
missioners of  the  General  Assembly,  absolutely  discharged  and  pro- 


300  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

hibited,  but  without  naming  any  day  or  place,  for  any  other  assem- 
bly ;  and  thus  the  series  of  Assemblies  expired,  never  to  be  revived 
again  in  due  form,  till  the  covenant  was  renewed  in  1638.  How- 
ever,  many  of  the  gddly  ministers  of  Scotland — knowing  well,  that 
if  once  the  hedge  of  the  government  were  broken,  corruption  of 
doctrine  would  soon  follow— resolved  not  to  give  up  their  assemblies 
BO  quietly  ;  and  therefore  a  number  of  them  met  at  Aberdeen,  upon 
the  first  Tuesday  of  July  1605,  being  the  last  day  distinctly  ap- 
pointed by  authority;  and  when  they  had  met,  did  no  more  than 
constitute'  and  dissolve.  Amongst  those  was  Welch,  who,  though 
not  present  upon  the  precise  day,  yet  because  he  came  afterwards, 
and  approved  what  Ins  brethren  had  done,  was  accused  as  guilty  of 
the  treasonable  fact  committed  by  them. 

Within  a  month  after  this  meeting,  many  of  the  godly  men  were 
incarcerated,  some  in  one  prison,  some  in  another.  Welch  was  sent 
first  to  Edinburgh  tolbooth,  and  then  to  Blackness  ;  and  so  from 
prison  to  prison,  till  he  was  banished  to  France,  never  to  see  Scotland 
again. 

And  now  the  scene  of  his  life  begins  to  change  ;  but,  before  his 
sufferings,  he  had  the  following  warning. 

After  the  meeting  at  Aberdeen  was  over,  he  retired  immediately 
to  Ayr  ;  and  one  night  having  risen  from  his  wife,  and  gone  into  his 
garden,  as  his  custom  was,  he  staid  longer  than  ordinary.  This 
alarmed  and  troubled  his  wife  not  a  little,  who,  when  he  returned, 
expostulated  very  hard  with  him  for  staying  so  long  to  injure  his 
health  ;  but  he  bade  her  be  quiet,  for  it  should  yet  be  well  with 
them,  although  he  knew  he  should  never  preach  more  at  Ayr  ;  and 
accordingly,  before  next  Sabbath,  he  was  carried  prisoner  to  Black- 
ness castle.  After  this,  he,  with  many  others  who  had  met  at 
Aberdeen,  were  brought  before  the  council  of  Scotland  at  Edinburgh, 
to  answer  for  their  rebellion  and  contempt,  in  holding  a  General 
Assembly  not  authorized  by  the  king ;  and  because  they  declined 
the  secret  council  as  judges  competent  in  causes  purely  spiritual, 
such  as  the  nature  and  constitution  of  a  General  Assembly,  they 
were  remitted  to  prison  at  Blackness,  and  other  places.  Thereafter, 
six  of  the  most  considerable*  of  them  were  brought  by  night  from 
Blackness  to  Linlithgow,  before  the  criminal  judges,  to  answer  to  an 
accusation  of  high  treason,  at  the  instance  of  Sir  Thomas  Hamilton, 
the  king's  advocate,  for  declining,  as  he  alledged,  the  king's  lawful 
authority,  in  refusing  to  admit  the  council  as  judges  competent  in 
the  cause.     After  their  accusation  and  answer  were  read,  they  were 


"  Their  trial,"  says  Dr.  M'Crie,  "was  conducted  in  the  most  illegal  and  unjust  manner, 
i  king's  advocate  told  the  jury,  that  the  only  thing  which  came  under  their  cognizance, 


* 
The 

was  the  fact  of  the  declinature,  the  judges  having  already  found  that  it  was  treasonable; 
and  threatened  them  with  an  assize  of  error  if  they  did  not  proceed  as  he  directed  them. 
After  the  jury  were  empannelled,  the  justice  clerk  went  in  and  threatened  them  with  his 
majesty's  displeasure,  if  they  acquitted  the  prisoners.  The  greater  part  of  the  jurors 
being  still  reluctant,  the  chancellor  went  out  and  consulted  with  the  other  judges,  who 
promised,  that  no  punishment  should  be  inflicted  on  the  prisoners,  provided  the  jury 
brought  in  a  verdict  agreeable  to  the  court.  By  such  disgracefid  methods,  they  were 
induced  at  midnight  to  find  by  a  majority  of  three,  that  the  prisoners  were  guilty  ■  upon 
which  they  were  condemned  to  sutler  the  death  of  traitors  "  ' 


JOHN   WELCH  301 

condemned  as  guilty  of  high  treason,  by  the  verdict  of  a  jury  ;  but 
the  punishment  was  deferred  till  the  king's  pleasure  should  be 
known,  which  some  time  after  was  declared  to  be  banishment. 

While  he  was  in  Blackness,  he  wrote  his  famous  letter  to  Lihaa 
Graham,  countess  of  Wigton  ;  in  which  he  expresses,  in  the  Btrongest 
terms,  his  consolation  in  suffering  ;  his  desire  to  be  dissolved,  that 
he  might  be  with  the  Lord  ;  the  judgments  he  foresaw  coming  upon 
Scotland  ;  the  cause  of  their  sufferings,  and  the  true  state  of  the 
testimony,  which  he  and  his  fellow  sufferers  exhibited. 

"  Who  am  I,  that  he  should  first  have  called  me,  and  then 
constituted  me  a  minister  of  the  glad  tidings  of  the  gospel  of 
salvation  these  years  past,  and  now,  last  of  all,  to  be  a  sufferer  for 
his  cause  and  kingdom.  Now,  let  it  be  so  that  I  have  fought  my 
fight,  and  run  my  race,  henceforth  there  is  laid  up  for  me  that  crown 
of  righteousness,  which  the  Lord,  the  righteous  Judge,  will  give ; 
not  to  me  only,  but  to  all  that  love  his  appearing,  and  choose  to 
witness  that  Jesus  Christ  is  the  King  of  saints,  and  that  his  Church 
is  a  free  kingdom  ;  yea  as  free  as  any  kingdom  under  heaven,  not 
only  to  convocate,  hold,  and  keep  her  meetings,  and  conventions,  and 
Assemblies  ;  but  also  to  judge  all  her  affairs,  in  all  her  meetings  and 
conventions,  amongst  her  members  and  subjects.  These  two  points  ; 
1.  That  Christ  is  the  head  of  the  church  ;  2.  That  she  is  free  in  her 
government  from  all  other  jurisdiction  except  Christ's  : — These  two 
points,  I  say,  are  the  special  cause  of  our  imprisonment ;  being  now 
convicted  as  traitors  for  maintaining  the  same.  We  have  been  ever 
waiting  with  joyfulness  to  give  the  last  testimony  of  our  blood  in 
confirmation  thereof,  if  it  should  please  our  God  to  be  so  favourable, 
as  to  honour  us  with  that  dignity  ;  yea,  I  do  affirm,  that  these  two 
points  above  written,  and  all  other  things  which  belong  to  Christ's 
crown,  sceptre,  and  kingdom,  are  not  subject,  nor  can  be,  to  any 
other  authority,  but  to  His  only,— so  that  I  would  be  most  glad  to  be 
offered  up  as  a  sacrifice  for  so  glorious  a  truth.  It  would  be  to  me 
the  most  glorious  day,  and  the  gladdest  hour  I  ever  saw  in  this  life ; 
but  I  am  in  his  hand,  to  do  with  me  whatsoever  he  shall  please. 

"I  am  also  bound  and  sworn,  by  a  special  covenant,  to  maintain 
the  doctrine  and  discipline  thereof,  according  to  my  vocation  and 
power,  all  the  days  of  my  life,  under  all  the  pains  contained  in  the 
book  of  God,  and  danger  of  body  and  soul,  in  the  day  of  God's 
fearful  judgment;  and  therefore,  though  I  should  perish  in  the 
cause,  yet  will  I  speak  for  it,  and  to  my  power  defend  it,  according 
to  my  vocation." 

He  wrote  about  the  same  time  to  Sir  William  Livingstone  of 
Kilsyth.  There  are  some  prophetical  expressions  in  that  letter 
worthy  of  notice. 

"  As  for  that  instrument,  Spottiswood,  we  are  sure  the  Lord  will 
never  bless  that  man,  but  a  malediction  lies  upon  him,  and  shall 
accompany  all  his  doings  ;  and  it  may  be,  Sir,  your  eyes  shall  s< 


edly  shall  fall,  except  it  be  prevented.     Sir,  Dagon  shall  not  stand 


302  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

before  the  ark  of  the  Lord  ;  and  these  names  of  blasphemy  that  he 
•wears,  of  arch  and  lord  bishop,  will  have  a  fearful  end.  Not  one 
beck  is  to  be  given  to  Hainan,  suppose  he  were  as  great  a  courtier 
as  ever  he  was  ;  suppose  the  decree  were  given  out,  and  sealed  with 
the  king's  ring,  deliverance  will  come  to  us  elsewhere  and  not  by 
him,  who  has-been  so  sore  an  instrument,  not  against  our  persons, 
(that  were  nothing,  for  I  protest  to  you,  Sir,  in  the  sight  of  God,  I 
forgive  him  all  the  evil  he  has  done,  or  can  do,  to  me),  but  unto 
Christ's  poor  kirk,  in  stamping  under  foot  so  glorious  a  kingdom  and 
beauty,  as  was  once  in  this  land.  He  has  helped  to  cut  Samson's 
hair,  and  to  expose  him  to  mocking ;  but  the  Lord  will  not  be 
mocked.  He  shall  be  cast  away  as  a  stone  out  of  a  sling;  his  name 
shall  rot;  and  a  malediction  shall  fall  upon  his  posterity  after  he  is 
o-one.  Let  this,  Sir,  be  a  monument  of  it,  that  it  was  told  bef3re, 
that  when  it  shall  come  to  pass,  it  may  be  seen  there  was  warning 
given  him.  And  therefore,  Sir,  seeing  I  have  not  the  access  myself, 
if  it  would  please  God  to  move  you,  I  wish  you  would  deliver  this 
hand-message  to  him,  not  as  from  me,  but  from  the  Lord." 

Spottiswood,  of  whom  he  thus  complains,  was  at  the  time  arch- 
bishop of  Glasgow ;  and  these  predictions  were  punctually  accom- 
plished, though  after  a  period  of  forty  years  :  for,  first,  the  bishop 
himself  died  in  a  strange  land,  and,  as  many  say,  in  misery  ;  next, 
his  son,  Robert  Spottiswood,  sometime  president  of  the  court  of  Ses- 
sion, was  beheaded  by  the  parliament  of  Scotland,  at  the  market- 
cross  of  St.  Andrew's,  in  the  winter  after  the  battle  of  Philiphaugh, 
which  many  thousands  witnessed  ;  and,  when  coming  upon  the 
scaffold,  Blair,  the  minister  of  the  town  told  him,  that  now  Welch's 
prophecy  was  fulfilled  ;  to  which  he  replied  in  anger,  that  both 
Welch  and  he  were  false  prophets. 

But  before  leaving  Scotland,  there  are  other  remarkable  passages 
in  his  life  worthy  of  being  remembered.  And,  first,  when  the  dis- 
pute about  church  government  began  to  grow  warm,  as  he  was  walk- 
ing upon  the  streets  of  Edinburgh,  betwixt  two  honest  citizens,  he 
told  them,  "  they  had  in  their  town  two  great  ministers,  who  were 
no  great  friends  to  Christ's  cause  at  present  in  controversy,  but  it 
should  be  seen,  the  world  should  never  hear  of  their  repentance." 
The  two  men  were  Patrick  Galloway  and  John  Hall ;  who  both  died 
suddenly  and  unobserved,  without  one  to  witness  or  soothe  their 
dying  moments, 

lie  was  some  time  prisoner  in  Edinburgh  castle  before  he  went 
into  exile  ;  where,  one  night  sitting  at  supper  with  lord  Ochiltree, 
who  was  his  wife's  uncle,  Welch,  as  his  manner  was,  entertained  the 
company  with  godly  and  edifying  discourse,  which  was  well  received 
by  all  tire  company  except  a  debauched  popish  young  gentleman, 
who  sometimes  laughed,  and  sometimes  mocked,  and  made  wry 
faces.  Grieved  at  such  conduct,  Welch  broke  out  into  an  abrupt 
charge  upon  all  the  company  to  be  silent,  and  observe  the  work  of 
the  Lord  upon  that  profane  mocker ;  upon  which  the  wretched  man 
sunk  down,  and  died  beneath  the  table,  to  the  great  astonishment  of 
all  present. 

Another  wonderful  story  is  told  of  him  at  the  same  time :    Lord 


JOHN   WELCH.  303 

Ochiltree,  having  been  for  a  long  time,  through  the  multitude  of 
affairs,  kept  from  visiting  him  in  his  chamber,  he,  as  he  was  one  day 
walking  in  the  court,  having  observed  Welch  at  his  window,  asked 
him  kindly,  hcj7  lie  did,  and  if  in  anything  he  could  serve  him  ? 
"Welch  answered,  he  would  earnestly  entreat  his  lordship,  being  at 
that  time  to  go  to  court,  to  petition  king  James  in  his  name,  that  he 
might  have  liberty  to  preach  the  gospel ;  which  my  lord  promised 
to  do.  Welch  then  added,  "  My  lord,  both  because  you  are  my 
kinsman,  and  for  other  reasons,  I  would  earnestly  entreat  and  obtest 
you  not  to  promise,  except  you  faithfully  perform."  His  lordship 
answered,  he  would  faithfully  perform  his  promise ;  and  so  went  for 
London.  But  though,  at  his  first  arrival,  he  really  purposed  to  pre- 
sent the  petition,  he  found  the  king  in  such  a  rage  against  the  con- 
demned ministers,  that  he  durst  not  at  that  time  present  it;  and 
therefore  thinking  fit  to  delay,  he  entirely  forgot  it. 

The  first  time  that  Welch  saw  him  after  his  return  from  court,  he 
asked  him  what  he  had  done  with  his  petition.  His  lordship 
answered,  he  had  presented  it  to  the  king  ;  but  that  his  majesty  was 
in  so  great  a  rage  against  the  ministers  at  that  time,  he  believed  it 
had  been  forgotten,  for  he  had  got  no  answer.  Nay,  said  "Welch  to 
him,  "  My  lord,  you  should  not  lie  to  God,  and  to  me,  for  I  know 
you  never  delivered  it,  though  I  warned  you  to  take  heed  not  to  un- 
dertake it  except  you  would  perform  it ;  but  because  you  have  dealt 
so  unfaithfully,  remember  God  will  take  from  you  both  estate  and 
honours,  and  give  them  to  your  neighbour  in  your  own  time" — 
which  accordingly  came  to  pass ;  for,  both  his  estate  and  honours 
were  in  his  own  time  transferred  to  James  Stuart,  a  cadet,  but  not 
the  lineal  heir  of  the  family. 

While  he  was  detained  prisoner  in  Edinburgh  castle,  his  wife  used 
for  the  most  part  to  be  with  him  ;  but  upon  a  time  she  fell  into  a 
longing  to  see  her  family  in  Ayr,  to  which  with  some  difficulty  he 
yielded.  When  she  was  about  to  take  her  journey,  he  strictly 
charged  her  not  to  take  the  ordinary  way  to  her  own  house,  when  she 
came  to  the  town  ;  but  to  pass  the  river  above  the  bridge,  and  so  get 
home  without  going  into  the  town  ;  "  for,"  said  he,  "  before  you 
come  thither,  you  shall  find  the  plague  broken  out  in  Ayr,"  which 
accordingly  came  to  pass. 

The  plague  was  at  that  time  very  terrible,  and  his  being  necessarily 
separate  from  his  people,  it  was  to  him  the  more  grievous.  "When 
his  parishioners  came  to  him  to  bemoan  themselves,  his  answer  was, 
that  "  Hugh  Kennedy,  a  godly  gentleman  in  their  town,  should  pray 
for  them,  and  God  would  hear  him."  Tin's  counsel  they  accepted, 
and  the  gentleman,  convening  a  number  of  the  honest  citizens, 
prayed  earnestly  for  the  town,  and  the  plague  decreased. 

The  time  being  come  when  he  must  leave  Scotland,  never  to  see  it 
again,  he,  upon  the  7th  of  November,  1606,  in  the  morning,  with  his 
brethren  took  ship  at  Leith  ;  and  though  it  was  but  two  o'clock,  many 
were  waiting  with  their  afflicted   families,  to  bid  them   farewell." 

*  With  Welch,  other  five  godly  ministers  were  banished  for  the  same  cause,  viz.,  John 
Forbes,  who  went  to  Middleburgh,  to  the  English  chapel  there,  Robert  Dury.  who  went 
tf  Holland,  and  was  minister  to  the  Scots  congregation  in  Leyden  ;  John  Sharp,  who  be- 


304 


SCOTS   WORTHIES. 


After  prayer,  they  sang  the  23d  Psalm,  and  to  the  great  grief  of  the 
spectators,  Bet  sail  for  the  south  of  France,  and  landed  in  the  river 
of  Bourdeaux.  Such  was  the  Lord's  blessing  upon  his  diligence,  that 
within  fourteen  weeks  after  his  arrival  he  was  able  to  preach  in 
French,  and  accordingly  was  not  long  in  being  called  to  the  ministry  ; 
first  in  a  village  called  Xerac,  and  thereafter  in  St.  Jean  d'Angely, 
a  considerable  walled  town  ;  where  he  continued  the  rest  of  the 
time  he  sojourned  in  France,  which  was  about  sixteen  years.  When 
he  began  to  preach,  it  was  observed  by  some  of  his  hearers,  that 
while  he  continued  in  the  doctrinal  part  of  his  sermon,  he  spoke  very 
correct  French;  but  when  he  came  to  the  application,  when  his  affec- 
tions kindled,  his  fervour  made  him  sometimes  neglect  the  accuracy 
of  the  French  construction.  There  were  some  godly  young  men  who 
admonished  him  of  this,  which  he  took  in  very  good  part;  and  to 
prevent  mistakes  afterwards,  he  desired  them,  when  they  perceived 
him  beginning  to  trespass,  to  give  him  a  signal,  viz.,  by  standing  up; 
thereafter  he  became  more  accurate  in  his  expression  through  the 
whole  sermon  ;  so  desirous  was  he,  not  only  to  deliver  good  matter, 
but  to  recommend  it  by  correct  language. 

In  his  auditory,  there  were  frequently  persons  of  great  rank, 
before  whom  he  was  as  bold  as  ever  he  had  been  in  a  Scottish 
village  ;  which  led  Boyd  of  Trochrig  once  to  ask  him — after  he  had 
preached  before  the  university  of  Saumur,  with  as  much  boldness 
and  authority,  as  if  he  had  been  before  the  meanest  congregation — 
how  he  could  be  so  confident  among  strangers,  and  persons  of  such 
dignity  ?  To  which  he  answered,  that  he  was  so  filled  with  the 
dread  of  God,  he  had  no  apprehensions  from  man  at  all.  This  reply, 
said  Boyd,  "  did  not  remove  my  admiration,  but  rather  increased  it." 

There  was  in  his  house,  amongst  many  others  who  boarded  with 
him  for  good  education,  a  young  gentleman  of  great  quality,  and 
suitable  expectations,  the  heir  of  Lord  Ochiltree,  captain  of  the 
castle  of  Edinburgh.  This  young  nobleman,  after  he  had  gained 
ver}'  much  upon  Welch's  affections,  fell  ill  of  a  grievous  sickness, 
and  after  he  had  been  long  wasted  with  it,  he  to  the  apprehension 
of  all  spectators,  closed  his  eyes,  and  expired.  He  was  therefore 
taken  out  of  his  bed,  and  laid  on  a  pallet  on  the  floor,  that  his  body 
might  be  more  conveniently  dressed.  This  was  to  Welch  a  great 
grief,  and  therefore  he  stayed  with  the  dead  body  full  three  hours, 
lamenting  over  him  with  great  tenderness.  After  twelve  hours,  the 
friends  brought  in  a  coffin,  and  desired  the  corpse  might  be  put  into 
it,  as  the  custom  was  ;  but  Welch  requested  that,  for  his  satisfaction, 
they  would  forbear  it  for  a  time.  This  they  granted,  and  did  not 
return  till  twenty-four  hours  after  his  death.  They  then  desired,  with 
great  importunity,  that  the  corpse  might  be  coffined  and  speedily 
buried,  the  weather  being  extremely  hot.  The  good  man  still 
persisted,  however,  in  his  request,  and  earnestly  begged  them  to 
excuse  him  once  more  ;  so  they  left  the  corpse  upon  the  pallet  for 
full  thirty-six  hours  :  but  even  after  that,  as  he  urged  not  only  with 

came  minister  and  professor  of  Divinity  at  Die  in  the  Dauphinate  ,  and  Andrew  Duncan 
and  Alexander  Strachan,  who,  in  about  a  year  after  got  liberty  to  return  to  their  former 
places. — CaldcrwoocCs  Hist. 


JOHN  WELCH.  305 

great  earnestness,  but  with  some  displeasure,  they  were  constrained 
to  forbear  for  twelve  hours  more.  After  forty-eight  hours  were  past, 
he  still  held  out  against  them  ;  and  then  his  friends,  perceiving  that 
he  believed  the  young  man  was  not  really  dead,  but  under  some  fit, 
proposed  to  him,  for  satisfaction,  that  trial  should  be  made  upon  his 
body  if  possibly  any  spark  of  life  might  be  found  in  him  ;  to  which 
he  agreed.  The  doctors  accordingly  were  set  to  work;  they  pinched 
him  in  the  fleshy  parts  of  his  body,  and  twisted  a  bow-string  about 
his  head  with  great  force  ;  but  no  sign  of  life  appearing,  they 
pronounced  him  dead,  and  then  there  was  no  more  delay  to  be 
made.  Yet  Welch  begged  of  them  once  more  that  they  would  but 
step  into  the  next  room  for  an  hour  or  two,  and  leave  him  with  the 
dead  youth  ;  and  this  they  granted.  He  then  fell  down  before  the 
pallet,  and  cried  to  the  Lord,  with  all  his  might,  and  sometimes 
looking  upon  the  dead  body,  he  continued  to  wrestle  with  the  Lord, 
till  at  length  the  youth  opened  his  eyes,  and  cried  out  to  Welch^ 
whom  he  distinctly  knew,  "  O  Sir,  I  am  all  whole,  but  my  head  and 
legs !"  These  were  the  places  hurt  with  the  pinching.  When 
Welch  perceived  this,  he  called  his  friends,  and  showed  them  the 
dead  man  restored  to  life  again,  to  their  great  astonishment. 

This  young  nobleman,  though  he  lost  the  estate  of  Ochiltree,  lived 
to  inherit  one  not  inferior  in  Ireland,  became  lord  Castlestuart,  and 
was  a  man  of  such  excellent  parts,  that  he  was  courted  by  the  earl 
of  Stafford  to  be  a  counsellor  in  Ireland.  This,  however,  he  refused, 
till  the  godly  silenced  Scottish  ministers,  who  suffered  under  the 
bishops  in  the  north  of  Ireland,  were  restored  to  the  exercise  of  their 
ministry.  He  then  engaged,  and  continued  during  his  whole  life ; 
not  only  in  honour  and  power,  but  in  the  profession  and  practice  of 
godliness,  to  the  great  comfort  of  the  country  where  he  lived.  This 
story  the  nobleman  himself  communicated  to  his  friends  in  Ireland. 

While  Welch  was  minister  in  one  of  the  before  mentioned  places, 
a  certain  popish  friar  upon  an  evening  travelling  through  the 
country,  because  he  could  not  find  a  lodging  in  the  whole  village, 
addressed  himself  to  his  house  for  a  night.  The  servants  acquainted 
their  master,  and  he  was  willing  to  receive  him.  The  family  had 
supped  before  he  came,  and  so  the  servants  showed  the  friar  to  his 
chamber,  and  after  they  had  made  his  supper,  left  him  to  rest. 
There  was  but  a  wooden  partition  betwixt  his  room  and  that  of 
Welch  ;  and,  after  the  friar  awoke  from  his  first  sleep,  he  was 
surprised  at  hearing  a  constant  whispering  noise. 

Next  morning  as  he  walked  in  the  fields,  he  chanced  to  meet 
with  a  countryman,  who,  saluting  him  because  of  his  habit,  asked 
him,  where  he  had  lodged  that  night?  The  friar  answered,  he  had 
lodged  with  the  Hugonot  minister.  The  countryman  then  asked 
him,  what  entertainment  he  had  had  ;  to  which  the  friar  answered, 
very  bad  :-  for,  said  he,  I  always  held,  that  devils  haunted  these 
ministers'  houses,  and  I  am  persuaded  there  was  one  with  me  last 
night ;  for  I  heard  a  continual  whisper,  and  I  believe  it  was  nothing 
else  than  the  minister  and  the  devil  conversing  together.  The 
countryman  told  him  he  was  much  mistaken,  and  that  it  was  nothing 
else  than  the  minister  at  his  nightly  prayers.  "  0,"  said  the  friar, 
20 


306  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

"  does  the  minister  pray  ?"  "  Tes,  more  than  any  man  in  France," 
answered  the  countryman  ;  "  and  if  you  please  to  stay  another  night 
with  him,  you  may  be  satisfied."  The  friar  accordingly  went  "back 
to  Welch's' and,  pretending  indisposition,  entreated  another  night's 
lodging,  which  was  granted  him. 

ore  dinner,  Welch  came  from  his  chamber,  and  made  his 
family  exercise,  according  to  custom.  He  first  sang  a  psalm,  then 
read  a  portion  of  Scripture,  and  discoursed  upon  it;  and  thereafter 
prayed  with  great  fervour;  to  all  which  the  friar  was  an  astonished 
witiiess.  After  exercise  they  went  to  dinner,  where  the  friar  wag 
very  civilly  entertained,  Welch  forbearing  all  question  and  dispute 
with  him  'for  the  time.  WThen  the  evening  came,  Welch  made 
exercise  as  he  had  done  in  the  morning,  which  occasioned  more 
wonder  to  the  friar.  After  supper  they  went  to  bed,  and  the  friar 
longing  much  to  know  what  the  night  whisper  was,  was  soon 
satisfied  ;  for  after  Welch's  first  sleep,  the  sound  began.  Eesolving 
to  be  certain  what  it  was,  he  crept  silently  to  Wrelch's  chamber  door, 
where  he  heard  not  only  the  sound,  but  the  words,  distinctly,  and 
had  an  example  of  communion  betwixt  God  and  man,  such  as 
he  thought  had  not  been  in  this  world.  The  next  morning,  as  soon 
as  Welch  was  ready,  the  friar  went  to  him,  and  said,  that  he  had 
lived  in  ignorance  the  whole  of  his  life,  but  now  he  was  resolved  to 
venture  his  soul  with  him,  and  thereupon  declared  himself  a 
protestant.  W7elch  welcomed  and  encouraged  him  ;  and  he  continued 
a  protestant  to  his  death. 

W^hen  Louis  XIII.  king  of  France,  made  war  upon  the  protestants 
because  of  their  religion,  the  city  of  St.  Jean  d'Angely  was  be- 
sieged by  him  with  his  whole  army,  and  brought  into  extreme  dan- 
ger. Welch  was  minister  of  the  town  at  the  time,  and  mightily 
encouraged  the  citizens  to  hold  out,  assuring  them  that  God  would 
deliver  them.  In  the  time  of  the  siege,  a  cannon  ball  pierced  the 
bed  where  he  was  lying  ;  upon  which  he  got  up,  but  would  not  leave 
the  room,  till  he  had  by  solemn  prayer  acknowledged  his  deliverance. 
The  townsmen  made  a  stout  defence,  till  one  of  the  king's  cannon- 
iers  planted  a  gun  so  conveniently  upon  a  rising  ground,  that  he 
could  command  the  whole  wall,  upon  which  the  inhabitants  for  the 
most  part  were  stationed.  By  this  they  were  constrained  to  abandon 
their  post,  though  they  had  several  guns  there  ;  for  no  man  durst  to 
undertake  to  manage  them,  until  Welch  prevailed  upon  the  princi- 
pal gunner  to  remount  the  wall,  promising  to  assist  him  in  person. 
The  cannonier  told  him,  that  they  behoved  to  dismount  the  gun  upon 
the  rising  ground,  else  they  were  surely  lost.  Welch  desired  him  to 
aim  well, that  he  would  serve,  and  God  would  help  him.  The  gunner 
fell  to  work,  and  Welch  ran  to  fetch  powder  for  a  charge;  but  as  he 
was  returning,  the  king's  gunner  fired  his  piece,  which  carried  the 
ladle  with  the  powder  out  of  his  hands.  This  did  not 'discourage 
him  ;  for  having  lost  the  ladle,  he  filled  his  hat  with  powder,  where- 
with the  cannonier  dismounted  the  king's  gun  at  the  first  shot,  and 
the  citizens  returned  to  their  post  of  defence. 

This  disappointed  the  king  so  much,  that  he  sent  to  the  citizens  to 
offer  them  conditions,  viz. ; — that  they  should  enjoy  the  liberty  of 


JOHN   WELCH.  307 

their  religion,  and  their  civil  privileges;  that  their  walls  should  not 
be  demolished;  and  that  the  king  only  desired  to  enter  the  city  in  a 
friendly  manner  with  his  servants.     This  the  city  thought  lit  to  grant, 
and  the  king,  with  a  few  more,  entered  the  city  for"  a  short  "time. 
While  the  king  was  in   the  city,  Welch  preached  as  usual.     This 
offended  the  French  court ;  and  while  he  was  at  sermon,  the  king 
sent  the  duke  de  Esperon  to  fetch  him  out  of  the  pulpit  into  his  pre- 
sence.    The  duke  went  with  his  guard,  but  when  he  entered  the 
church,  Welch  commanded  to  make  way,  and   to  place   a  seat,  that 
the  duke  might  hear  the  word  of  the  Lord.     The  duke,  instead  of 
interrupting  him,  sat  down,  and  gravely  heard  the  sermon  to  an  end  ; 
and  then  told  Welch,  he  behoved  to  go  with  him  to  the  king  ;  which 
he  willingly  did.     When   the  duke   returned,  the  king  asked   him, 
why  he  had  not  brought  the  minister  with  him,  and  why  he  did  not 
interrupt  him?     The  duke  answered,  that  never  man  spake  like  this 
man  :  but  that  he  had   brought  him  along  with   him.     Upon  this 
Welch  was    called.      When   he  had    entered  the  king's   room,   he 
kneeled,  and  silently  prayed  for  wisdom   and   assistance.     The  king 
then  challenged  him,  how  he  durst  preach  in  that  place,  since  it  was 
against  the  laws  of  France  that  any  man  should  preach  within  the 
verge  of  his  court?     Welch  answered,  "  Sire,  if  you  did  right,  you 
would  come  and  hear  me  preach,  and  make  all  France  hear  me  like- 
wise.    For,"  said  he,  "  I  preach,  that  you  must  be  saved  by  the  death 
and  merits  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  not  your  own  ;  and  I  preach,  that  as 
you  are  king  of  France,  you  are  under  the  authority  of  no  man  on 
earth.     Those  men  whom  you  hear  subject  you  to  the  pope  of  Rome, 
which  I  will  never  do."    The  king  replied,  "  Well,  well,  you  shall 
be  my  minister!"  and  having  dismissed  the  good  man  he  left  the 
city  without  molestation. 

A  short  time  after,  in  1621,  the  war  having  been  renewed.  Welch 
told  the  inhabitants  of  the  city,  that  their  cup  was  full,  and  they 
should  no  more  escape.  This  accordingly  came  to  pass  ;  for  the  king 
took  the  town,  but  commanded  de  Vitry,  the  captain  of  his  guard, 
to  enter  and  preserve  his  minister  from  all  danger.  Horses  and 
wagons  were  provided  by  his  order,  to  transport  Welch  and  his 
family  to  Rochelle,  where  he  sojourned  for  a  time. 

His  flock  in  France  being  thus  scattered,  he  obtained  liberty  to 
return  to  England  in  the  year  following.  His  friends  entreated  that 
he  might  be  permitted  to  repair  to  Scotland,  the  physicians  having 
declared  that  there  was  no  other  hope  of  preserving  his  life,  but  the 
enjoyment  of  his  native  air.  To  this,  however,  king  James  would 
not  accede,  protesting  he  would  be  unable  to  establish  episcopacy  in 
Scotland,  if  Welch   were   permitted   to  return   thither*     He   con- 

*  "  His  own  sovereign  was  incapable  of  treating  him  (Welch)  with  that  generosity 
which  he  had  experienced  from  the  French  monarch ;  and  dreading  the  influence  ot  a  man 
who  was  far  gone  with  a  consumption,  he  absolutely  refused  to  give  him  permission  to  re- 
turn to  Scotland.  Mrs.  Welch,  by  means  of  some  of  her  mother's  relations  at  court,  ob- 
tained access  to  James,  and  petitioned  him  to  grant  this  liberty  to  her  husband.  The  fol- 
lowing singular  conversation  took  place  on  that  occasion.  His  majesty  nek.-d  li^r  who  was 
her  father.  She  replied,  "Mr- Knox.'  '  Knox  and  Welch,'  exclaimed  he. l  the  devil  never 
made  such  a  match  as  that.'  'It's  right  likely  ,  Sir,'  said  she,  '  for  we  never  speir  A  his 
advice.'  He  asked  her  how  many  children  her  father  had  left,  and  if  they  were  lids  or 
lasses.     She  said  three,  and  they  were  all  lasses.     'God  be  thanked.'  cried  the  king,  lift- 


308  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

tinned  therefore  to  languish  in  London  a  considerable  time :  his 
diseLe  was  regarded  by  some  as  a  sort  of  leprosy,  and  the  physi- 
cians declared^  had  received  poison.  A  distressing  languor  per- 
vaded his  frame,  together  with  a  great  weakness  m  his  knees,  caused 
by  his  kneeling  at  prayer,  in  consequence  of  which  though  he  was 
able  to  move  them  and  to  walk,  the  flesh  became  hard  and  insensi- 
ble almost  like  a  horn.  But  when,  in  the  time  of  his  weakness  he 
was  desired  to  remit  in  some  degree  his  excessive  painiuiness  his 
answer  was,  he  had  his  life  from  God,  and  therefore  it  should  be 
spent  in  his  service. 

His  friends  importuned  the  king  exceedingly,  that  if  he  might  not 
return  to  Scotland,  he  might  at  least  have  liberty  to  preach  *n  Lon- 
don ;  but  even  this  he  would  not  grant  till  he  heard  all  hopes  ot  hie 
were  past,  not  then  fearing  his  activity. 

As  soon,  however,  as  he  heard  he  might  preach,  he  eagerly  em- 
braced the  liberty ;  and  having  access  to  a  lecturer's  pulpit,  he  went 
and  preached  both  long  and  fervently.  This  proved  to  be  his  last 
service ;  for,  after  he  had  ended  his  sermon,  he  returned  to  his  cham- 
ber, and  within  two  hours,  quietly  and  without  pain,  resigned  his 
spirit  into  his  Maker's  hands,  in  the  53d  year  of  his  age. 

During  his  last  sickness,  he  was  so  filled  and  overcome  with  the 
sensible  °enjoyment  of  God,  that  he  was  overheard  to  utter  these 
words  ;  "  0  Lord,  hold  thy  hand ;  it  is  enough,  thy  servant  is  a  clay 
vessel,  and  can  hold  no  more !"' 

Great  as  his  diligence  undoubtedly  was,  it  may  be  doubted 
whether  his  labours  or  his  success  were  most  abundant ;  for  whether 
his  spiritual  experience  in  seeking  the  Lord,  or  his  fruitfulness  in 
converting  souls,  be  considered,  they  will  be  found  unparalleled  in 
Scotland.  Many  years  after  his  death,  David  Dickson,  at  that  time 
a  highly  esteemed  minister  at  Irvine,  was  frequently  heard  to  say, 
when  people  talked  to  him  of  his  own  success  iu  the  ministry,  "  that 
the  grape-gleaning  at  Ayr  in  "Welch's  time,  was  far  above  the  vin- 
tage at  Irvine  in  his  own."  Welch,  in  his  preaching,  was  spiritual 
and  searching ;  his  utterance  was  tender  and  moving ;  he  did  not 
much  insist  upon  scholastic  topics,  and  made  no  show  of  his  learn- 
ing. One  of  his  hearers,  who  was  afterwards  minister  at  Muirkirk 
in  Kyle,  used  to  say, "  that  no  man  could  hear  him,  and  forbear 
weeping,"  his  speech  was  so  affecting. 

There  is  a  large  volume  of  his  sermons  yet  extant,  though  only  a 
few  of  them  have  been  printed.  He  never  himself  published  any- 
thing, except  his  dispute  with  Abbot  Brown,  in  which  he  shows  that 
his  learning  was  not  behind  his  other  virtues ;  and  his  Armaged- 
don,* or  Meditations  upon  the  enemies  of  the  church,  and  their 
destruction  ;  a  piece  which  is  rarely  to  be  found. 

iiig  up  both  his  hands,  'for,  an  they  had  been  threo  lads,  I  had  never  bruiked  my  three 
kingdoms  in  peace.  She  again  urged  her  request,  that  he  would  give  her  husband  his 
native  air.     'Give  him  his  native  air,' replied  the  king, '  give  him  the  devil ;'— a  morsel 

which  James  had  often  in  his  mouth.     'Give  that  to  your  hungry  courtiers!' said  she 

offended  at  his  profaneness.  He  told  her  at  last,  that  if  she  would  persuade  her  husband  to 
submit  to  the  bishops,  he  would  allow  him  to  return  to  Scotland.  Mrs.  Welch  lifting  up 
h^r  apron  and  holding  it  toward  the  king,  replied  in  the  true  spirit  of  her  father  'Please 
your  majesty,  I'd  rather  kep  his  head  there  !'  "—Dr.  M-Crie.  ' 

•  Mountain  of  Megiddo, — or  hill  of  robbers. 


ROBERT    BOYD.  309 


ROBERT    BOYD. 


Robert  Boyd  of  Trochrig,  was  born  in  1578,  in  the  city  of  Glasgow. 
"When  three  years  old,  his  father,  who  was  archbishop  there,  died  ; 
and  the  superintendence  of  his  early  education  devolved  on  his 
mother.  Having  retired  to  the  family  estate  of  Trochrig,  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Ayr,  she  sent  her  son  to  the  grammar  school,  to 
be  taught  the  rudiments  of  the  Latin  tongue ;  and  after  some  time 
removed  with  him  to  Edinburgh.  He  studied  philosophy  at  the 
university  of  that  city,  and  had  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  con- 
ferred on  him,  about  the  year  1594.  Robert  Rollock  was  then  prin- 
cipal of  the  university ;  and  had  appointed  Mr.  Charles  Ferine  to 
be  teacher  of  philosophy ;  and  from  him  Boyd  early  imbibed  that 
branch  of  learning  which  he  afterwards  taught  with  so  much  success 
in  France.  He  also  studied  divinity  under  Rollock,  from  whom  he 
not  only  received  his  first  instructions  in  theology,  but  much  spiri- 
tual benefit  to  his  soul,  which  circumstances  he  considered  as  the 
main  instruments,  under  God,  of  his  conversion. 

It  was  common,  at  this  time,  for  the  youth  of  Scotland  to  travel 
to  other  countries,  particularly  to  France,  in  order  to  improve  them- 
selves in  learning  and  in  elegant  accomplishments  ;  and  the  unset- 
tled state  of  affairs  in  Scotland  induced  Boyd  to  leave  his  native 
country.  Keenly  bent  on  the  pursuit  of  his  studies,  more  especially 
theology,  it  was  natural  that  he  should  retire  to  a  country  where 
these  could  be  pursued  with  safety,  and  where  liberty  of  conscience 
might  be  enjoyed.  He  left  Scotland  on  the  first  of  May,  1597,  and 
arrived  at  Dieppe  in  France  six  days  after.  Thence  he  proceeded  to 
Paris  by  way  of  Rouen — and  afterwards  to  Poictiers.  Not  finding 
that  convenience  for  frequenting  religious  worship  and  assemblies 
that  ho  desire^,  he  left  Poictiers,  and  came  to  Thouars.  At  this 
place  he  remained  a  year;  when  finding  his  health  giving  way,he 
went  to  Rochelle  intending  to  return  to  Scotland;  but  travelling 
having  recruited  his  health,  he  visited  Bourdeaux  and  Montauban. 
He  became  acquainted  at  the  latter  place  with  M.  de  Dismes,  then 
professor  of  philosophy  ;  and  the  providence  of  God  disposed  of 
him  in  such  a  way  that  his  talents  began  to  shine  forth  with  emi- 
nence. 

While  at  Thouars,  in  1598,  he  became  acquainted  with  the 
learned  and  pious  M.  Rivet,  who  entertained  him  with  the  greatest 
welcome.  Here  he  applied  himself  to  the  study  of  the  Latin  and 
Greek  classics,  besides  devoting  considerable  attention  to  the  culti- 


10  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

ration  of  Hebrew.  Darin-  his  stav  he  received  charge  of  a  school 
which  had  been  formed  by  Dr.  Rivet,  under  the  patronage  of  the 
duke  de  Fremouille. 

Lbout  the  end  of  the  year  1599,  Boyd  was  requested  to  accept 
the  professorship  of  philosophy,  in  the  university  of  Montauban— 
to  which  he  was  admitted  in  November  ot  that  year.  Ihis  ap- 
pointment took  place  before  lie  had  reached  21  years  of  age— 
which  must  be  attributed  to  his  extraordinary  lame  for  piety  and 
learning.  But,  as  will  be  seen,  still  more  onerous  and  arduous 
duties  awaited  him  ;  while  his  mental  powers,  being  thus  stimulated, 
kept  pace  with  his  promotion,  and  shone  forthwith  greater  lustre, 
Boyd  continued  at  Montauban  during  the  space  of  five  years ;  but 
in  September  1604,  having  received  a  call  from  the  congregation 
of  the  church  of  Vertuil  to  supply  the  place  of  their  late  pastor, 
he  resigned  his  professorship,  and  was  inducted  into  the  holy  office 
of  the  "ministry,  in  November  following.  The  cause  assigned  for 
this  change  was,  that  certain  of  his  students  at  Montauban,  on 
returning  to  Angouleme,  had  spoken  highly  of  his  eloquence,  his 
modesty,  and  exemplary  conversation  and  conduct — and  they  stated 
that  he  had  declared  he  would  embrace  a  call  to  the  ministry  in  the 
church  of  France,  whenever  he  should  receive  one.  The  church 
of  Vertuil  in  Angouleme  being  vacant,  they  sent  delegates  to  him, 
desiring  his  consent  to  become  their  pastor  ;  to  which  he  agreed, 
upon  condition,  that,  if  he  should  have  a  call  to  any  university 
where  he  might  exercise  the  office  both  of  a  pastor  and  a  professor, 
they  would  not  object  to  him  resigning  his  charge.  This  being 
admitted,  he  was,  after  due  examination  and  trial,  ordained  by  the 
synod,  and  settled  in  the  church. 

In  November,  1605,  he  received  a  pressing  letter  from  his  cousin, 
David  Boyd,  desiring  him  to  return  to  Scotland,  and  look  after  his 
estate;  and  urging,  that  as  there  was  only  one  youth  to  represent 
the  families  of  Trocbrig  and  Penkill — and  he  absent  from  his 
Mends,  it  was  a  duty  he  had  to  perform — and  one  from  which  he 
could  not  excuse  himself.  But  Providence  ordered  otherwise;  and 
it  was  well  for  those  young  persons  of  Sauraur  who  afterwards  pro- 
iited  by  his  instructions,  that  Boyd  resolved  to  remain  in  France. 
By  the  appointment  of  Craig  to  the  divinity  chair  of  Saumur,  the 
professorship  of  philosophy  was  left  vacant;  and,  through  the 
activity  of  M.  Monmaitin,  minister  at  liochelle,  and  of  his  early 
friend  Dr.  Rivet,  who  was  in  constant  correspondence  with  lord 
Duplessis  Mornay,  founder  of  the  college  of  Saumur,  and  to  whom 
Dr.  Rivet  had  been  eloquent  in  setting  forth  the  qualities  of  Boyd 
for  the  vacant  office,  he  was  appointed  to  be  minister  and  professor 
of  Divinity  there,  on  the  L9th  April,  1606.  Here  he  continued  for 
six  years,  discharging  his  duties  with  credit  to  himself,  and  profit 
to  bis  .-indents; — but  the  assiduity  with  which  he  applied  himself 
to  study  laid  the  foundation  of  that  disease  which  ultimately  occa- 
sioned his  death. 

In  161  I,  be  was  bo  satisfied  and  happy  in  his  situation  at  Saumur, 
that  he  gave  up  all  hope  of  ever  returning  to  Scotland  for  per- 
manent settlement — on   the  contrary  indeed,  he  felt  a  strong  desire 


ROBERT    BOYD,  o-q 

to  settle  in  France.  With  this  view  lie  proposed  marriage  to  a 
daughter  of  the  family  of  Malivern  ;  and,  having  satisfied  the  rela- 
tions of  the  lady  as  to  his  nubility  of  birth,  they  gave  their  consent, 
and  the  marriage  took  place  in  May  of  the  above  year. 

Notwithstanding  his  arrangements  to  remain  in  France,  and  the 
success  which  had  attended  his  duties  as  a  professor,  it  was  so  order- 
ed that  he  should  return  to  Scotland. 

King  James  VI.,  who  was  anxious  to  increase  the  fame  of  the 
universities  in  his  dominions,  having  heard  of  the  learning  of  Boyd, 
wrote  to  Lord  Duplessis  Mornay  to  permit  him  to  return,  and  also 
addressed  a  letter  to  himself  desiring  him  to  come,  and  fill  the 
situation  of  principal  of  the  college  of  Glasgow,  then  vacant.  This 
offer,  coming  direct  from  the  king,  could  not  be  resisted ;  and, 
notwithstanding  his  previous  determination  to  remain  in  France,  he 
with  great  difficulty  procured  the  consent  of  his  wife  and  her  parents 
to  leave  that  country.  On  leaving  the  university  of  Saumur,  which 
was  much  regretted  by  all  who  enjoyed  his  acquaintance,  the  elders 
of  the  reformed  church,  as  a  token  of  affection,  assembled  at  his 
house,  the  day  previous  to  his  departure  (October  1st,  1614),  and 
presented  him  with  a  testimonial  of  their  esteem,  love,  and  good-will 
towards  him,  and  one  hundred  pounds,  to  reimburse  him  for  the 
expense  he  had  incurred  in  repairing  and  ornamenting  his  residence, 
besides  twenty-five  crowns,  being  his  quarter's  salary.  They  pre- 
sented him  also  with  ample  testimonials  from  the  synod  of  the 
province;  and  the  church % and  academy  gave  him  a  large  silver 
basin,  on  which  were  engraved  his  name  and  crest. 

Next  day,  October  2nd,  Boyd  and  his  family  left  Saumur,  and 
were  accompanied  out  of  the  town,  and  some  part  on  their  way,  by 
the  ministers  and  elders,  the  masters  of  the  college,  and  a  considerable 
number  of  their  friends,  and  all  Scotchmen  in  that  neighbourhood. 
Having  arrived  at  Dieppe,  they  embarked  for  England ;  and,  after 
remaining  a  short  time  in  London,  he  departed  for  Glasgow,  which 
he  reached  about  the  end  of  December. 

On  Friday  the  30th  January,  1615,  Boyd  was  installed  into  the 
office  of  principal  of  the  college  of  Glasgow,  by  the  chancellor  and 
senate,  to  whom  he  produced  his  majesty's  presentation;  and  being 
unanimously  admitted,  he  agreed  to  accept  the  office  under  certain 
conditions;  that  he  would  try  it  for  a  year;  but  that,  from  the  infirm 
state  of  his  health,  he  expected  to"  be  relieved  from  personally 
correcting  the  scholars — eating  at  the  college  table,  &c. — all  of 
which  they  conceded  to  him,  and  prayed  that  the  Lord  might 
accompany  his  labours  and  management  with  his  grace  and  blessing. 
Immediately  thereafter  he  commenced  the  duties  of  his  office,  and 
nothing  appears  to  have  disturbed  his  tranquillity  tor  some  time. 

In  October  following  a  daughter  was  born  to  him  ;  and,  three  days 
before  that  event,  his  house  in  the  college — which  on  his  arrival  was 
undergoing  repair,  and  towards  which  the  town  of  Glasgow  gave  five 
hundred  merks — had  been  prepared  for  his  reception. 

In  answer  to  a  letter  from  Boyd,  in  1616,  his  friend,  Scot  of  Elie, 
remarks,  that  "men  of  all  ranks  who  have  heard  of  your  teaching  and 
learning,  are  very  joyous,  well  pleased,  and  content,  and  thank  God 


312  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

for  you.  I  hope  your  hard  entry  and  beginning  shall  have  a  kind, 
soft  and  sweet  progress,  and  a  right  joyful  end,  and  success  both  to 
yourself  and  the  hail  country."  We  may  presume  from  this,  that 
those  who  had  been  instrumental  in  promoting  him  to  the  situation 
of  principal,  had  entertained  expectations  that  he  would  conform  to 
those  points  of  worship  and  discipline,  so  strongly  pressed  by  the 
king  and  the  bishops ;  but,  however  much  disposed  to  gratify  his 
majesty  on  indifferent  affairs,  when  it  turned  on  matters  of  conscience, 
he  felt  he  could  not  honestly  comply :  and  the  disappointment  and 
irritation,  which  thence  arose,  were  the  causes  which  induced  him  to 
resign  his  charge. 

During  the  year  1617,  nothing  particular  occurred  to  disturb  him 
in  the  performance  of  his  duties ;  and  we  find  he  was  particularly 
careful  in  looking  after  the  income  of  the  university,  which  had  been 
much  neglected  "by  his  predecessors.  The  king,  when  on  a  visit  to 
Glaso-ow,  in  July  this  year,  honoured  the  college  with  his  presence, 
and  dined  with  the  professors, — Boyd,  as  principal,  taking  the 
superintendence. 

The  Assembly  which  was  held  at  Perth,  in  the  following  year,  by 
order  of  the  king,  was  induced  by  the  court  bishops  to  promise,  that, 
either  by  art  or  force,  the  Scottish  church  should  be  made  to  assimi- 
late to  that  of  England,  in  government  and  ceremonies.  By  means 
of  this  modi  Assembly,  it  was  therefore  resolved  that  five  of  the 
chief  English  ceremonies  should  be  practised  in  the  Scottish  church, 
commonly  styled  the  Perth  Articles*  nonconformity  to  which 
brought  about  such  a  train  of  persecution  and  suffering  upon  the 
people  of  Scotland  and  the  ministers,  that  at  last  it  ended  in  open 
resistance  to  the  armed  forces  brought  to  compel  obedience  to  the 
objectionable  articles.  But  after  much  bloodshed, — the  opposition 
of  the  people  of  Scotland  was  successful,  and  they  were  in  the  end 
allowed  to  worship  God  "  according  to  their  own  conscience." 

Boyd  kept  himself  aloof  from  all  Assemblies,  and  did  not  interfere 
publicly  with  the  controversies  which  took  place  after  the  passing  of 
these  articles ; — he  even  extended  his  hospitality  to  the  bishops, 
being  disposed  to  think  well  of  them.  As  soon  however  as  they  per- 
ceived that  he  favoured  their  opponents,  they,  by  means  of  their  emis- 
saries, construed  all  his  words  and  actions  into  the  worst  of  motives. 
About  this  time  Robert  Bruce,  one  of  the  greatest  opponents  of  the 
bishops,  having  visited  the  neighbourhood  of  Glasgow,  Boyd  had 
several  interviews  with  him, — they  having  been  formerly  on  terms  of 
friendship.  In  consecmence  of  these  meetings  it  was  reported  that 
he  had  adopted  the  principles  of  the  puritanical  party.  This  having 
been  reported  to  the  king,  Boyd,  in  order  that  he  might  avoid  his 
displeasure,  and  escape  the  enmity  of  the  bishops,  resolved  to  demit 

*  These  articles  were  ratified  in  the  parliament  held  in  June,  1621.  At  its  close  in 
August,  there  occurred  a  great  fall  of  rain,  accompanied  with  thunder  and  lightning,  which 
compelled  the  nobleman  to  ahandon  their  horses,  and  take  refuge  in  their  coaches. 
Regarding  this,  bishop  Spottiswood,  noticing  the  opinions  of  the  time,  quaintly  observes: 
'  I  be  ractious  sort  did  interpret  this  to  be  'a  visible  sign  of  God's  anger  for  ratifying  the 
oi  Perth  :  others,  in  derision  of  their  folly,  said  'that  it  was  to  be  taken  for  an  appro- 
n  from i  Heaven,  likening  the  same  to  the  thunderings  and  lightnings  at  the  giving  of 
the  law  ot  .Mosus.  " 


ROBERT   BOYD.  313 

his  office,  and  retire  to  Lis  estate  in  Carrick.  He  was  strongly 
advised  against  this  step  by  his  friends;  but,  notwithstanding  their 
earnest  intreaties,  he  carried  his  purpose  into  effect.  Of  this 
proceeding  lie  afterwards  sorely  repented :  and  indeed  to  this  cause 
may  be  attributed  many  of  the  disappointments  and  vexations  which 
he  afterwards  encountered ;  and  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  these 
contributed  to  hasten  his  death. 

In  July,  this  year,  he  received  an  invitation  to  return  to  Saumur, 
to  be  colleague  of  the  learned  John  Cameron  in  the  professorship 
of  divinity.  This,  however,  he  refused,  which  was  ultimately 
fortunate ;  as,  shortly  after,  the  troubles  in  France  came  to  such  a 
height  that  all  the  protestant  academies  were  dispersed,  and  their 
professors  obliged  to  flee  for  their  lives. 

In  March,  1621,  he  gave  in  to  Law,  bishop  of  Glasgow,  the 
following  reasons  for  his  resignation  of  the  office  of  principal  in  the 
college  of  Glasgow : — 1st.  That  he  could  not,  from  the  weak  state  of 
his  health,  undertake  to  perform  worthily  the  duties  of  his  double 
charge,  as  principal  and  minister  of  Govan.  2nd.  The  correction  of 
students  by  corporal  punishments  was  altogether  contrary  to  his 
humour  and  disposition.  3rd.  He  had  been  for  some  time  engaged 
in  the  composition  of  several  works,  which  he  was  anxious  to  have 
leisure  to  perfect.  4th.  That  he  was  determined  neither  to  acquiesce 
in  nor  agree  with  the  articles  of  Perth  Assembly.  5th.  That  he  had 
not  made  any  provision  for  his  family ;  and  that  his  estate,  being 
neglected  by  the  present  occupiers,  required  his  personal  superin- 
tendence, in  order  that  it  might  not  be  altogether  lost ;  and  besides, 
that  he  had  originally  undertaken  the  office  of  principal  on  trial 
only.  But  what  more  immediately  brought  about  his  determination 
to  follow  up  this  resolution,  was  the  following : — at  the  dispensing 
of  the  Sacrament,  in  April  this  year,  archbishop  Law  urged  all  the 
people  to  kneel ;  some  did  so,  but  some  of  the  students  sat  still.  On 
this  he  commanded  them  to  kneel  or  depart ;  but  they  remonstrated 
before  retiring,  observing  that  there  was  no  warrant  for  kneeling, 
and  therefore,  that  they  ought  not  to  be  debarred  from  the  table  of 
the  Lord.  In  consequence  of  this,  the  principal,  accompanied  by  the 
masters  of  the  college,  went  to  the  archbishop  and  reproved  him 
freely  for  driving  from  the  Lord's  table  such  godly  young  men, 
telling  him  that  the  table  was  not  his  but  Christ's,  "and  that  he 
dealt  in  the  matter,  as  if  he  had  been  removing  his  house-boy  from 
the  bye-board."  The  archbishop  was  so  enraged  at  this  free  admo- 
nition that  he  could  not  find  utterance  for  some  time,  and  when  he 
did,  he  gave  vent  to  his  indignation  in  such  high  words,  that  Boyd 
saw  it  was  in  vain  to  argue  further  with  him  ;  and  told  him,  on 
retiring,  that  he  would  not  sit  in  Rome  and  strive  with^  the  pope. 
This  dispute  with  the  archbishop  determined  Boyd  to  give  up  his 
office,  which  he  did  in  July  following.  Having  sent  his  family  to  his 
estate  at  Trochrig,  he  remained  at  Glasgow  for  a  few  months ;  and 
while  there,  some  dependents  of  the  bishop,  (it  is  supposed,)  broke 
into  his  house  and  took  away  several  papers  relating  to  the  affairs  of 
the  college,  regarding  the  loss  of  which  lie  was  unkindly  used  by  the 
regents,  as  they  threatened  to  compel  him  to  make  restitution ;  and 


314  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

it  was  suspected  that  the  whole  affair  had  been  planned  for  the 
purpose  of  giving  him  trouble  and  annoyance.  However  he  got  rid 
of  all  bis  difficulties,  and  arrived  at  Trochrig  in  November. 

On  October  17th,  1622,  he  received  a  letter  from  archbishop 
Spottiswood,  offering  him  the  divinity  chair  of  the  university  of 
Edinburgh,  which  was  backed  by  the  magistrates,  and  also  by  the 
masters  of  the  college,  notwithstanding  his  known  sentiments  against 
conformity.  Having  accepted  the  offer,  as  soon  as  he  began  his 
public  duties,  the  people  nocked  to  hear  him,  which  excited  against 
him  the  enmity  of  the  other  ministers, — they  having  all  con- 
firmed ;  and  they  represented  to  the  king  the  impropriety  of  ap- 
pointing to  such  an  office,  a  person  who  had  been  so  lately  turned 
out  of  a  similar  one,  on  account  of  nonconformity.  Andrew  Ram- 
say was  the  strongest  in  his  opposition  to  him — as  from  his  teaching 
in  the  same  school,  and  preaching  in  the  same  church,  he  perceived 
that  almost  all  who  came  to  town  nocked  to  hear  Boyd  in  preference 
to  him. 

Upon  November  23d,  there  came  a  letter  from  the  king,  to  the 
provost  and  bailies  of  Edinburgh,  expressing  surprise  that  they 
should  have  placed  a  man  to  be  principal,  who  had  been  deposed 
from  his  ministry  for  not  obeying  the  king's  command  in  the  matter 
of  kneeling  at  the  sacrament ;  and  therefore  commanded  them  either 
to  get  him  to  conform,  or  expel  him. 

After  some  correspondence  betwixt  the  provost  and  bailies  of 
Edinburgh,  and  the  archbishop  of  St.  Andrew's  and  his  majesty,  a 
peremptory  order  arrrived,  on  the  last  day  of  January,  1623,  order- 
ing them  again  to  call  Boyd  before  them,  and  to  urge  him  to  con- 
form ;  but  if  he  refused,  himself,  his  wife,  and  family,  were  to  be 
banished  from  the  town — and  the  provost  and  bailies  were  threat- 
ened on  their  peril  to  see  this  put  in  execution.  Bo}7d,  having  com- 
peared before  them,  and  having  been  shown  the  king's  letter,  at 
once  resigned. 

The  king's  letter  to  the  provost  and  bailies  showed  a  spirit  of 
arbitrariness  and  persecution,  which,  instead  of  furthering,  deeply 
v  ounded  the  interests  of  prelacy  in  Scotland.  When  noncomformity 
WB8  made  a  bar  to  the  usefulness  of  the  most  pious  and  learned  men 
of  the  age,  even  those  who  were  disinterested  could  not  but  be  dis- 
satisfied;  and  the  treatment  of  Boyd,  and  other  learned  and  pious 
men,  prepared  the  way  for  the  ultimate  overthrow  of  prelacy  in 
Scotland. 

After  this  Boyd  returned  again  to  his  estate  of  Trochrig,  where  he 
remained  in  peace  and  tranquillity  for  about  three  years.  His  ene- 
mies were  determined,  however,  that  he  should  not  remain  long 
Without  feeling  their  enmity  ;  for  on  the  24th  June,  1624,  there  came 
an  older  from  the  council,  that  he  should  be  confined  to  the  bounds 
of  Oarrick,  on  account  of  his  noncomformity  to  the  Perth  articles, 
and  keeping  private  meetings  for  prayer. 

At  this  time  his  son  being  old  enough  to  go  to  school,  Boyd  wrote 
to  his  friend  Bruce,  one  of  the  regents  of  Glasgow  college,  with 
whom  he  wished  to  board  him — and  also  to  the  bishop,  for  permis- 
sion to  come  to  Glasgow  in  the  beginning  of  October.     Bruce    in 


ROBERT   BOYD.  oj 5 

answering  him,  states  that  the  bishop  would  do  anything  with  safety 

to  satisfy  him  ;  hut  he  could  not  grant  him  a  license  to  pass  the 
bounds,  as  he  was  not  present  when  the  order  for  his  confinement 
took  place  ;  yet  if  he  had  anything  to  do  in  Glasgow,  he  might 
come  and  do  it,  and  he  would  take  no  notice  of  his  coming,  provided 
he  came  secretly,  and  transacted  his  affairs  in  as  quiet  a  manner  as 
possible. 

When  Boyd  came  to  Glasgow  with  his  son,  old  affection  and  re- 
spect for  him  rekindled;  and  as  his  situation  had  been  vacant  for 
nearly  two  years,  since  Mr.  Cameron's  removal — the  masters,  the 
town  council  and  the  bishop,  were  most  anxious  that  he  should 
occupy  it  again. 

We  come  now  to  that  transaction  in  his  life  of  which  he  after- 
wards most  sorely  repented.  By  the  advice  of  some  of  his  friends, 
he  was  induced  to  give  in  a  paper  to  LawT,  archbishop  of  Glasgow,  in 
which  he  in  part  acknowledged  the  supremacy  of  bishops;  but  no 
sooner  had  he  taken  this  step,  than  he  felt  so  troubled,  that  he  went  to 
the  archbishop,  and  with  tears  requested  it  back.  Law,  however, 
pretended  that  it  was  already  sent  up  to  the  king,  and  that  it  was 
not  in  his  power  to  restore  it.  This  paper  follows  in  his  own  words : 
"  I,  Bobert  Boyd  of  Trochrig,  undersubscribing,  having  learned  and 
considered  the  reasons  and  motives  laid  before  me  by  ane  reverend 
father  in  God,  James,  archbishop  of  Glasgow,  and  some  other  my 
loving  and  Christian  friends,  and  weighed  more  deeply  than  of  be- 
fore the  necessity  of  employing  the  Lord's  talent  in  the  exercise  of 
my  calling  to  his  glory  and  the  good  of  the  kirk,  whairunto  my  ab- 
stinence from  conformity  to  the  five  articles  of  the  late  Perth  Assem- 
bly has  been  hitherto  the  chiefest  lett  and  hinderance,  do  here  in  end 
faithfully  promise  to  give  obedience  thereunto  in  due  time  and  place, 
craving  humbly  his  majesty  to  remitt  all  offence  conceived  against 
me  for  my  former  delay  and  off-putting,  and  of  his  royal  clemency 
to  vouchsafe  me  his  wonted  favour  and  acceptation,  as  to  one  resolved 
to  live  and  die,  by  the  grace  of  Almighty  God,  his  majesty's  most 
loyal,  humble  and  obedient  servant.  Written  and  subscribed  with 
my  hand  at  Glasgow,  this  25th  of  October,  1624. 

"  Bobekt  Boyd  of  Trochrig." 

Notwithstanding  this  apparent  submission  to  the  Perth  articles,  we 
find  an  almost  immediate  regret  at  the  writing  of  this  letter.  He 
adds  :  "  Thus  far  have  I  yielded  in  my  simplicity  and  weakness,  and 
yet  with  an  honest  and  upright  mind,  according  to  my  mean  judg- 
ment." The  following  conditions  were  to  be  insisted  on  by  him, 
should  he  agree  to  return  to  his  former  office — and  were  to  be  made 
good  by  the  town,  kirk,  and  college  of  Glasgow  : — "  1st,  To  read  but 
once  a  week  on  the  common  heads  of  divinity.  2d,  To  preach  in  the 
college  kirk  at  7  o'clock  on  the  sabbath-day  morning,  except  from 
laureation  to  Lukesmas,*  that  the  college  be  convened  again.  3d, 
Not  to  be  burdened  with  the  chastisement  of  the  scholars  either  pri- 
vately or  publicly,  but  every  regent  should  chastise  his  own,  or  else 
the  superior,  all  in  public.  4th,  Not  to  meddle  with  the  exercise  or 
*  From  2d  April  till  18th  October. 


310 


SCOTS  WORTHIES. 


common  head  in  presbytery.  5th,  To  repair  both  my  dwelling- 
place  and  the  yard  according  to  my  direction.  6th,  To  agree  with 
the  minister  of  Govan  for  the  teind  hay  that  I  may  keep  a  naig 
therewith.  7th,  That  my  stipend  be  as  it  was  before,  only  defalking 
lebe  and  small  teinds  :  and  of  the  town  I  require  these  two 
thincrs,  for  testification  of  their  willingness  and  inclination  to  my  re- 
calling and  replacing  :  1.  That  they  will  modify  to  me  a  certain  sum 
for  the  charges  of  my  transport  back  to  them  again,  and  losses  that  I 
will  incur  thereby,  according  to  their  own  discretion.  2.  That  they 
gratify  me  thus  "far,  as  that  they  will  make  my  servant  burges  and 
tree  man  of  his  craft." 

These  conditions  were  only  as  memoranda  to  refresh  his  memory, 
in  case  he  should  return  to  Glasgow;  and  it  shows  his  cautiousness, 
arising  probably  from  his  former  experience,  that  previous  to  his 
acceptance,  everything  should  be  explicitly  laid  down  and  thoroughly 
understood.  However,  with  all  his  forethought  he  was  destined 
never  to  resume  his  office  ;  for,  what  between  the  bishop,  who  was 
anxious  that  his  cousin  Dr.  Strang  should  get  the  situation,  and  the 
share  in  the  business  which  was  attributed  to  the  king,  who  was  now 
approaching  his  latter  end — difficulties  were  throwm  in  the  way 
which  operated  as  barriers  to  his  reappointment.  His  enemies, 
besides,  having  come  to  the  knowledge  of  the  letter  referred  to 
above,  made  the  most  of  it  to  serve  their  own  purposes,  and  to  induce 
others  to  follow  his  example ;  and  many  were  indeed  staggered 
thereby.  But,  as  the  proposal  was  not  sanctioned  by  the  king,  and 
as  his  election  consequently  never  took  place,  it  was  conscientiously 
believed  by  his  friends,  that  the  whole  affair  was  an  invention  of  the 
prelatical  party,  to  bring  Boyd  into  discredit  with  those  who  stood 
out  against  the  articles  of  the  Perth  Assembly. 

Notwithstanding  what  had  taken  place,  his  friends  still  expected 
he  would  return  to  Glasgow,  and  resume  his  office.  His  friend  and 
cousin,  Mr.  Zacharias  Boyd,  who  warmly  espoused  his  cause,  wrote 
to  him  from  Glasgow,  April,  1625,  as  follows  : — "  This  day  I  spoke 
to  the  bishop  with  Mr.  Bell  concerning  you.  We  found  him  in  a 
v  jry  gi  >od  temper  towards  you.  He  is  come  to  this  point,  that  if  you 
will  write  to  him  that  you  will  conform  yourself  against  pasch  next 
coming,  save  one,  he  will  receive  you  presently  into  the  colledge  and 
giye  you  up  all  your  writings.  I  have  given  you  the  whole  that  he 
said  in  a  lew  words.  Therfor,  Sir,  I  pray  you,  hast  to  us  and  be 
here  before  the  23d  of  this  moneth,  for  that  day  the  bishop  goes  to 
Saint  Andrew's  to  a  meeting  ther,  wher  he  is  to  confer  with  Doctor 
Strang,  who  is  to  be  at  that  meeting.  I  hope  you  will  not  deliberat 
much.  I  pray  you  come  and  offer  yourself  to  the  bishop's  will,  who 
loves  yon.  1  am  in  hast  and  can  write  no  more,  being  just  running 
out  to  find  a  bearer  to  send  this  straight  to  you.  I  pray  God  give 
hiseonnsell.    Glasgow,  April  15th,  1625." 

lii  December  following,  he  received  an  invitation  from  the  heritors 
oi  Paisley  to  accept  of  the  charge  in  that  place;  and  as  the  letter 
requesting  his  acceptance  forms  what  has  since  been  termed  a  call 
from  a  congregation  to  a  minister,  even  where  a  presentation  had 
been  given  by  the  patron,  it  follows  entire  :— 


ROBERT   BOYD.  317 

"  Eeverend  Sir, 

"  Having  been  long  destitute  of  a  minister,  to  every 
one  of  our  particular  greives,  and  to  the  general  regrate  of  every  true 
professor,  according  to  God's  providence  and  the  desire  of  our  own 
hearts,  ye  were  called  to  us  by  every  kind  of  consent  requisite,  and 
finding  from  private  impediments  as  ye  wrote  to  us,  we  meaned  our- 
selves to  the  lord  Ross,  a  present  cheif  of  our  parish,  and  having  the 
cheifest  desire  of  our  design,  whereupon  his  lordship  being  sensibly 
touched  went  into  Glasgow  on  Wensday  last,  accompanied  with 
some  gentlemen  of  the  parish,  who  for  his  lordship's  own  special  in- 
terest, and  for  the  whole  parishioners  in  general,  took  occasion  to 
deal  earnestly  with  the  bishop  of  Glasgow.  That  by  his  lordship's 
worthy,  zealous,  and  carefull  endeavours,  we  are  not  only  in  hopes, 
but  confident,  that  immediately  after  your  return  to  us  the  bishop 
will  remove  all  whatsoever  impediments  as  may  hinder  you  from 
using  that  talent,  which  in  the  self  is  so  pretiouse  and  so  necessary  to 
be  applyed  to  us  presently  destitute  of  the  sweet  comfort  of  the 
gospell,  so  that  though  your  sudden  departure  seemed  very  unplea- 
sant to  us,  and  is  the  only  reason  of  our  present  delay,  we  all  with 
one  voice  most  earnestly  desire  you  to  repair  to  us  with  all  possible 
diligence,  for  you  knew  our  harvest  is  great  and  the  labourers  are 
few.  And  to  delay  the  distribution  of  so  great  gifts  unto  us  who 
stand  in  so  great  present  need  wer  a  great  sin  in  you,  and  a  great 
hinder  to  our  edification,  seeing  the  calling  is  of  God,  and  God  has 
given  us  the  hearts  so  earnestly  to  desire  you,  while  by  his  provi- 
dence all  impediments  are  taken  away,  so  every  hour  wishing  your 
presence,  and  assuredly  expecting  you  with  all  possible  diligence 
that  ye  and  we  may  perfect  that  marriage  made  in  heaven  for  the 
advancement  of  God's  glory  and  the  confirmation  of  our  salvation, 
whiles  by  his  grace  ye  are  so  lauchfully  appointed  our  pastor  and 
we  your  flock.  And  to  that  effect  in  the  name  of  God,  and  for  the 
precious  blood  of  Christ,  hasten  your  coming,  and  by  his  grace  we 
shall  ever  remain, 

"  Tours  in  all  obedience  to  serve  you, 
"  Paisley,  18  of  Decern.  1625. 
"  Ross 
"  B.  Sempill,  Will.  Sempill,   William  Wallace  of  Alderslie,  Will. 
Wodfit,   Tho.  Sempill,   John  Wallace  of  Ferguslie,  Will.  Sempill, 
And.  Semple,  Hugh  Cochran  of  Newton,  John  Homes,  James  Wal- 
lace,   James   Whiteford,    Bailay    of   Paisley,   Andrew  Stuart  of 
Wodside." 

Upon  this  invitation  Mr.  Boyd  came  to  Glasgow,  toward  the  end 
of  December,  in  order  to  get  matters  arranged  with  the  bishop  for 
his  admission,  which  took  place  on  the  first  day  of  January,  1626. 
But  as  the  bishop  declined  to  collate  him  until  he  was  actually 
placed,  and  as  Mr.  Boyd  felt  a  delicacy  in  allowing  himself  to  be 
placed  until  he  was  secured  by  the  collation  in  the  freedom  of  his 
ministry,  and  provided  with  maintenance  therein — he,  until  these 
differences  were  adjusted,  considered  it  prudent  to  retire  to  Carrick, 
where  he  remained  till  March  following.     During  this  month  he  re- 


31S  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

turned  to  Paisley,  to  enter  upon  his  charge ;  but  he  found  things  so 
unpromising,  judging  by  the  reception  he  received  from  lady  Aber- 
corn,  that  lie  began  to  lose  heart;  and  in  a  letter  to  his  wife,  dated 
March  1-,  lie  says, — "  Pray  to  the  Lord  to  vouchsafe  me  strength 
for  accomplishing  this  charge  and  sustaining  me  under  the  burden 
of  it. 

AVhile  in  Paisley,  his  residence  was  appointed  to  be  in  the  front 
house  of  the  abbey,  into  which  he  put  some  furniture  and  his 
bunks;  but  on  Sunday,  2d  April,  while  he  was  preaching  in  the 
church,  the  Master  of  Paisley,  with  a  number  of  followers,  entered 
into  his  house,  destroyed  his  furniture,  cast  all  his  books  about  the 
place,  and  locked  the  door,  so  that  Boyd  could  not  have  admittance. 
In  consequence  of  this  he  complained  to  the  lords  of  the  secret 
council,  at  Edinburgh,  by  whom  the  Master  of  Paisley  and  the 
bailies  of  the  town  were  summoned  to  answer  to  the  charge  laid 
against  them.  After  an  examination  of  the  affair,  it  was  the  inten- 
tion of  the  council  to  have  imprisoned  the  Master  of  Paisley ;  but 
Boyd,  being  unwilling  that  he  should  receive  any  punishment,  re- 
quested that  he  might  be  pardoned  on  condition  that  he  expressed 
sorrow  for  his  conduct.  This  being  assented  to,  the  council  gave 
orders  that  Boyd  should  be  repossessed  of  his  house ;  but  on  pro- 
ceeding to  the  abbey  for  this  purpose,  it  was  found  that  the  keyhole 
ot  the  door  had  been  filled  with  stones,  so  that  no  entrance  could  be 
had;  and  the  authorities  refused  to  force  the  door.  Seeino-  how 
matters  stood,  Boyd  was  about  to  depart ;  but  a  rabble  of  women 
having  collected  about  the  place,  (the  men  having  purposely  kept 
out  of  the  way,)  they  began  to  upbraid  him  with  opprobrious 
speeches,  and,  in  the  words  of  a  contemporary  writer,  "  shouted  and 
hoyed  him,  and  cast  dirt  and  stones  at  him,  so  that  he  was  forced  to 
eave  the  town,  and  go  to  Glasgow."  Thence  he  proceeded  to  his 
house  in  Carnck,  sadly  dispirited  through  this  unprovoked  insult  • 
but  he  seems  to  have  determined  to  bear  all  without  complaint. 

ihe  archbishop  of  Glasgow,  receiving  information  of  this  attack 
upon  Boyd,  felt  himself  called  on  to  interfere;  and  the  lady  Aber- 
corn,  with  her  son,  the  Master  of  Paisley,  were  summoned  to  appear 
at  Edinburgh  before  the  council,  to  answer  for  this  second  contempt 
towards  the  minister.  On  the  day  appointed,  they  came,  accom- 
panied by  the  earl  of  Abercorn  and  a  strong  party  bf  their  friends, 
evidently  for  the  purpose  of  overawing  the  judgment  of  the  court 
and  after  the  matter  had  been  heard,  nothing  was  clone  beyond 
again  ordering  Boyd  to  be  repossessed,— the  attack  made  upon  him 
by  the  common  people  being  passed  over  without  notice 

After  tins  last  insult  Boyd  seems  to  have  become  quite  dejected, 
and  to  have  resolred  to  prosecute  the  business  no  further,  conceiving 
a  happy  result  altogether  hopeless  ;  and,  although  Mr.  Cunningham* 
minister  of  Kilmalcolm,  wrote  to  him  by  order  of  the  presbytery 
requesting  him  to  return  and  continue  in  the  charo-e  •  yet  m  his 
answer  to  him,  he  intimates  his  firm  determination  to' retire  and 
desires  that  some  other  person  be  appointed  to  the  church 

These  successive  annoyances,  and  the  trouble  which' each  new 
appointment  brought  with  it,  could  not  but  weigh  heavily  on  a  spirit 


ROBERT  BOYD.  31 9 

such  as  Boyd's — and  tend  to  injure  a  constitution  already  labouring 
under  a  complication  of  diseases.  These  now  increased  so  much 
that  he  was  obliged  to  relinquish  all  idea  of  ever  accepting  any 
charge;  and  he  was  compelled,  December  9th,  to  proceed  to  Edin- 
burgh to  consult  physicians.  Shortly  after  his  arrival  there,  his 
sickness  increased,  and  confined  him  to  bed.  He  lingered  on  in 
great  pain  till  the  5th  of  January,  1627,  when  he  departed  this  life 
in  the  hope  of  a  blessed  immortality.  "  His  sickness,"  says  a 
biographer,  "was  but  short,  but  his  pain  very  great — his  patience 
and  submission  much  greater.  lie  had  been  but  tender  and  weakly 
through  life,  and  much  inured  to  the  cross.  lie  had  learned  to  bear 
it  with  joy,  and  great  was  his  enlargement  during  his  three  weeks' 
trouble  at  Edinburgh.  He  was  under  the  foretaste  of  the  glory 
to  be  revealed,  and  under  much  heavenly  ravishment  and  holy 
rapture.  His  life  had  been  a  life  of  love,  faith,  and  usefulness. 
Great  was  his  peace,  and  glorious  were  his  victories,  over  all  the 
shakings  and  temptations  which  at  some  times  he  was  haunted 
with.  They  all  tended  to  his  own  comfort  and  establishment,  and 
the  confirmation  of  his  friends  about  him." 

His  death  was  lamented  by  all.  The  bishops  and  those  who  had 
opposed  him  acknowledged  his  vast  learning,  great  wisdom,  and 
remarkable  piety.  Those  who  opposed  the  innovations  and  corrup- 
tions of  the  times  were  almost  inconsolable,  at  the  loss  of  one 
who,  by  his  singular  ability  and  wisdom,  as  well  as  his  powerful 
wrestlings  and  intercessions,  was  truly  one  of  the  greatest  pillars 
of  the  land  ;  and,  had  he  been  spared,  would  have  been  singularly 
useful  in  this  dark  and  difficult  time.  As  a  teacher,  his  exemplary 
holiness,  singular  learning,  admirable  eloquence  ;  his  gravity,  hu- 
mility, unaffected  modesty,  and  extraordinary  diligence,  as  well  in 
his  ecclesiastical  as  in  his  scholastic  employments,  above  the  rate  of 
ordinary  pastors  and  professors,  drew  all  to  a  reverence,  love  and 
esteem  for,  and  many  even  to,  an  admiration  of  him.  In  his 
studies  he  was  indefatigable,  often  sitting  from  morning  till  mid- 
night, and  sometimes  longer,  save  only  during  such  time  as  was 
occupied  in  taking  that  sustenance  which  nature  required.  In  his 
diet  he  was  very  strict  and  severe.  In  his  private  conversation, 
when  he  unbended  himself,  he  was  most  courteous ;  and  among 
those  with  whom  he  was  familiar,  he  was  sometimes  pleasant 
and  cheerful.  In  all  his  public  lectures,  piety  and  learning  and 
eloquence  strove  which  should  get  the  mastery.  In  the  exercise  of 
discipline,  whether  in  private  or  public,  such  was  the  severity  of  his 
reproofs,  the  earnestness  of  his  persuasion,  the  authority  of  his 
injunctions,  the  charity  and  prudence  of  his  counsels,  and,  so  all- 
impressive  his  manner,  that  his  looks  and  words  were  more  effec- 
tive to  reform  what  was  amiss,  than  the  sharpest  corrections  of 
others. 

Further :  as  to  his  character  we  give  the  following  from  his  con- 
temporaries: — John  Bow  terms  him  "a  very  learned  and  holy 
man,  eminent  both  in  the  school  and  the  pulpit,"  and  adds,  "  that 
considering  his  great  learning  and  extraordinary  gifts,  he  was  one 
of  the  most  humble,  modest,  and  meek  men  in  the  ministry,  in  all 


ooo  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

this  kin -("lorn."  John  Livingstone,  who  knew  him  perfectly,  ex- 
presses himself  thus:-"  he  was  a  man  of  an  austere  carnage, 
but  of  a  most  tender  heart,  Notwithstanding  of  his  rare  abilities, 
he  had  no  account  of  himself,  but  a  hieh  account  of  every  other 
man's  parts." 


ROBERT  BRUCE. 


Eobert  Bruce  was  born  about  the  year  1554.  He  was  second  son 
to  the  laird  of  Airth,  from  whom  he  inherited  the  estate  of  Kin- 
naird  ;  and  who  being  at  that  time  a  baron  of  the  best  quality  in  the 
kingdom,  educated  his  son  with  the  view  of  his  becoming  a  lord  of 
session ;  and  for  his  better  accomplishment,  sent  him  to  France  to 
study  the  civil  law.  After  his  return,  his  father  enjoined  him  to 
attend  to  some  business  of  his  that  was  then  before  the  court,  as  he 
had  got  the  royal  patent  for  his  being  one  of  these  lords.  But  He, 
whose  thoughts  are  not  as  men's  thoughts,  having  other  designs  with 
him,  began  to  work  mightily  upon  his  conscience,  so  that  he  could 
get  no  rest,  till  he  was  allowed  to  attend  the  divinity  lectures  of 
Andrew  Melville  at  St.  Andrew's.  To  this  step  his  mother  was 
greatly  averse,  nor  would  she  agree  to  it  till  he  gave  up  some  lands 
and  casualties  wherein  he  was  infeft.  This  he  most  willingly  did  ; 
and,  shaking  off  all  impediments,  fully  resolved  upon  an  employment 
more  fitted  to  the  turn  of  his  mind. 

He  went  to  St.  Andrew's  sometime  before  Melville  left  the  coun- 
try, and  continued  at  that  university  till  his  return.  Whilst  there, 
lie  wanted  not  some  sharp  conflicts  in  his  mind,  on  the  subject  of  his 
future  destination  ;  insomuch  that  upon  a  certain  time,  walking  in 
the  field-  with  that  holy  and  excellent  man,  James  Melville,  he  said 
to  him,  t;  Before  I  throw  myself  again  into  such  torment  of  con- 
science, as  I  have  had  in  resisting  the  call  to  the  ministry,  I  would 
rather  choose  to  walk  through  a""  fire  of  brimstone,  even  though  it 
were  half  a  mile  in  length."  After  he  had  qualified  himself  for  the 
ministry,  Andrew  Melville,  perceiving  how  the  Lord  wrought  with 
him,  brought  him  over  to  the  General  Assembly  in  1587,  and  moved 
the  church  of  Edinburgh  to  call  him  to  a  charge  in  that  city. 

Although  he  was  urged  by  some  of  the  brethren  to  enter  upon  the 
ministry  in  place  of  James  Lawson,  yet  he  could  not  be  prevailed 
upon  to  accept  the  charge,  although  willing  for  the  time  to  labour 


ROBERT  BRUCE.  321 

in  it ;  till  persuaded  by  the  joint  advice  of  the  ministers  of  the  city, 
who  in  a  manner  entrapped  him  into  it.  For,  on  a  time  when  the 
sacrament  was  to  be  dispensed  at  Edinburgh,  one  of  the  ministers 
desired  him  to  sit  by  him,  as  he  was  to  preach  in  the  afternoon  ;  and 
after  having  served  two  or  three  tables,  went  out  of  the  church,  as  if 
he  had  been  to  return  in  a  little.  Instead  of  this,  however,  he  sent 
notice  to  Bruce,  who  still, sat  over  against  the  elements,  that  unless 
he  served  the  rest  of  the  tables  the  work  behoved  to  stop.  Bruce — 
not  knowing  but  the  minister  had  been  seized  of  a  sudden  with  sick- 
ness, and  the  eyes  of  all  being  fixed  on  him,  many  entreating  him 
to  supply  the  minister's  place — proceeded  through  the  remaining 
services,  and  that  with  such  assistance  to  himself,  and  such  effect 
upon  the  people,  as  had  never  before  been  seen  in  that  place. 

When  afterwards  urged  by  his  brethren  to  receive,  in  the  ordinarv 
way,  the  imposition  of  hands,  he  refused ;  because  he  had  already 
received  the  material  part  of  ordination,  viz.,  the  call  of  the  people, 
and  the  approbation  of  his  brethren ;  and  besides,  he  had  already 
administered  the  sacrament  of  the  Supper,  which,  by  a  new  ordina- 
tion, would  seem  to  be  made  void.  Having  thus  made  trial  of 
the  work,  and  experienced  the  blessing  of  God  upon  his  labours,  he 
accepted  the  charge. 

While  a  minister  of  Edinburgh,  he  shone  as  a  great  light  through 
all  the  neighbouring  parts  of  the  country.  The  king  had  such  a 
high  opinion  of  him,  that  in  1590,  when  he  went  to  bring  home  his 
queen,  he,  at  his  departure,  nominated  Bruce  an  extraordinary 
councillor,  and  expressly  desired  him  to  acquaint  himself  with  the 
affairs  of  the  country,  and  the  proceedings  of  the  council ;  profess- 
ing that  he  reposed  more  trust  in  him  than  in  the  rest  of  his  bre- 
thren, or  even  in  all  his  nobles, — and  in  this  his  hopes  were  not 
disappointed.  The  country,  during  the  king's  absence,  was  more 
quiet  than  either  before  or  afterward  ;  in  consequence  of  which  he 
wrote  Bruce  a  congratulatory  letter,  dated  February  19th,  1590,  say- 
ing, "He  would  be  obligated  to  him  all  his  life,  for  the  pains  he  had 
taken  in  his  absence  to  keep  his  subjects  in  good  order."  Yea,  such 
is  said  to  have  been  his  esteem  for  Bruce,  that  upon  a  certain  occa- 
sion, before  many  witnesses,  he  declared  that  he  judged  him  worthy 
of  the  half  of  his  kingdom :  but  in  this  as  in  other  promises,  he 
proved  no  slave  to  his  word  ;  for,  shortly  after,  he  obliged  this  good 
man,  for  his  faithfulness,  to  leave  the  kingdom. 

But  still  it  cannot  be  doubted,  that  the  respect  and  esteem  which 
he  thus  expressed  towards  him  were  at  the  time  perfectly  sincere. 
Accordingly  on  his  return,  he  made  choice  of  Bruce  to  officiate  at 
the  queen's  coronation, — which  was  performed  in  the  Chapel  of 
Holyrood-house,  on  Sabbath  the  17th  of  May,  1590,  in  presence  of 
the  foreign  ambassadors,  and  a  great  concourse  of  Scottish  nobility. 
Bruce  annointed  the  queen,  and,  assisted  by  the  chancellor  and 
David  Lindsay,  placed  the  crown  on  her  head. 

Nor  was  it,  indeed,  till  about  three  years  after  this  event,  that  his 

majesty's  opinion  of  Bruce  seems  to  have  been  changed.     In  1593, 

the  injudicious  and  unwarrantable  lenity  shown  by  the  court  to  the 

popish  earls, — men  who  had  been  detected  in  the  most  treacherous 

21 


SCOTS  WORTHIES. 

O'l'-t 

a    •    „rtrmfrtf  excited  universal  distrust,  suspicion, 
and  alarm.     I  naer  m    m  .  essing  lts  de- 

testation  rf^^Si  sentence  to  be  communicated  to 
al\d  thGir^TJ whom Twas  approved,  and  directed  to  be  pub- 
I"  '"I  SyOn  to  o^casTon  lis  majesty  sent  tor  Bruce  and  import* 
lished.     Un  tli  s  occasio »  "  4    himself;  and,  as  far  as  possible, 

^renfit"publlhedtyhishSUn.     With  every  disposi 
to  pi  event  its iuei  b  F  harmony  and  to  retain  the  good-will  of 

STkhTSSJ?  c  d  not  diSemble  bis  sentiments.  He  resolutely 
the  king,  J      cl .  am  ^  ^  conversatlon   ter. 

stated  by  an  "aU  on  the  part  of  James,  against  the  disci- 
pane  and  polity  under  which  such  measures  were  tolerated  or  sanc- 

ti0Soine  time  after  this,  being  charged  by  the  king-in  a  conference 
which  he  held  with  the  magistrates  and  ministers  of  Edinburgh- 
wh  having  favoured  certain  alleged  treasonable  designs  of  the  earl 
of  Bo\hwelI,   who   then   attempted   to   gain   the  _  good-will   ot   the 
church   he  evinced  a  similar  firmness  and  intrepidity ;  and,  whilst 
his  brethren  in  the  ministry,  against  whom  the  accusation  was  vague 
and  general,  contented  themselves  with  simply  appealing  to  then 
hearers    n   proof    of    their   innocence,   Bruce-agamst   whom     he 
charge  was   more   specific   and   serious-insisted   on  knowing  the 
individuals  who  had  thus  slandered  him  to  his  majesty  and  declared 
that  he  would  not  again  enter  the  pulpit  until  he  was  legally  cleared 
of  the  crime  imputed  to  him.     James,  after  some  shuffling,  named 
the  master  of  Gray,  and  one  Tyrie  a  papist,  as  his  informers  ;  but  on 
the  day  fixed  for  examining  the  affair,  no  person  appeared  to  make 
good  the  charge  ;  and  Gray,  after  having  left  the  court,  denied  that 
he  had  given  the  alleged  information  against  Bruce,  and  offered  to 
fight  any  person,  his  majesty  excepted,  who  should  afhrm  that  he 
had  defamed  that  minister.  # 

Bern*  a  man  of  public  spirit  and  heroic  mind,  Bruce  was  always 
pitched0  upon  to  deal  in  .natters  of  high  moment;  and,  amongst 
other  think  upon  the  9th  of  November,  159b,  he  together  with 
•Vndrew  Melville  and  John  Davidson,  was  directed  by  a  council  ot 
the  brethren,  to  deal  with  the  queen  concerning  her  religion  ;  and 
for  want  of  religious  exercises  and  virtuous  occupation  amongst  her 
maids  to  move  her  to  hear  now  and  then  the  instructions  ot  godly 
and  discreet  men.  They  went  accordingly;  but  were  refused 
admittance  until  another  time.  .  ,    ,  ,  .       ,*  i       i 

5Lboutthe  same  period,  Bruce  distinguished  himselt  by  the  part 
he  took  in  defence  of  David  Black,  and  by  the  zeal  he  displayed 
against  the  suspected  inroads  of  popery.  The  commissioners  who 
Cad  been  appointed  to  assist  in  conducting  the  case  of  that  worthy 
minister,  being,  by  an  order  of  the  court,  removed  from  Edinburgh; 
the  public  mind,  in  some  dv^iv^  agitated  by  this  unusual  stretch  of 
prerogative,  soon  utter  experienced  a  new  cause  of  alarm.  On  the 
morning  of  the  L7th  December,  a  day  memorable  in  the  history  of 
the  church  of  Scotland,  statements  were  circulated  that  Huntly,  one 


ROBERT   BRUCE.  303 

of  the  popish  earls,  had  been  privately  at  court,  and  had  prevailed 
on  the  king  to  issue  an  order  which  had  just  been  intimated  ; — that 
twenty-four  of  the  citizens,  best  affected  towards  the  ministers,  and 
most  distinguished  for  their  zeal,  should  leave  the  town  ;   and,  as 
some  added,  that  his  friends  and  retainers  were  at  hand,  waiting  for 
orders   to   enter   the   capital.     This   information,   which   was   to   a 
certain   degree   correct,  was,  as   might   be   expected,  a  source  of 
considerable  alarm  to  Bruce  and  his  brethren  in  the  ministry.     It 
being  the  day  of  the  weekly  sermon,  they  agreed  that  Balcanquhal, 
whose  turn  it  was  to  preach,  should  desire  the  barons  and  burgesses 
present,  to  meet  in  the  Little  Church,  to  advise  along  with  them 
what  ought  to  be  done.     The  meeting  took  place  after  sermon  ;  and 
two  persons  from  each  of  the  estates  were  appointed  to  wait  on  the 
king,  who  happened  at  that  time  to  be  in  the  Tolbooth  with  the  lords 
of  session.     Having  obtained  an  audience,  Bruce  told  his  majesty 
that  they  were  sent  by  the  noblemen,  barons  and  citizens,  convened 
in  the  Little  Church,  to  lay  before  him  the  clangers  which  threatened 
religion.     "  What  dangers  see  you  ?"   said  the  king.     Bruce  men- 
tioned their  apprehensions  as  to  Huntly.     "  What  have  you  to  do 
with   that  ?"    said   his   majesty.     "  And   how   durst    you   convene 
against  my  proclamation  ?" — "  We  dare  more  than  that,"  said  lord 
Lindsay,  "  and  will  not  suffer   religion  to  be  overthrown."     Upon 
this,  the  king  retired  to  another  apartment  and  shut  the  door.     The 
deputies  therefore  returned,  and  reported  that  they  had  not  been  able 
to  obtain  a  favourable  answer  to  their  petitions ;  and  Bruce  proposed, 
that,  deterring  the  consideration  of  their  grievances  for  the  present, 
they   should    merely   pledge  themselves   to    be   constant    in   their 
profession   and   defence   of    religion.     This    proposal   having  been 
received  with  acclamation,  he  besought  them,  as  they  regarded  the 
credit   of  the   cause,  to   be  silent   and   quiet.     As  they  were  thus 
proceeding,  however,  an  unknown  person  entered,  exclaiming,  "  Fly, 
save  yourselves  !  the  papists  are  coming  to  massacre  you  !"  to  which 
another  rejoined,  "  The  sword  of  the  Lord  and  of  Gideon  !"    "  These 
are  not  our  weapons,"  said  Bruce,  attempting  to  calm  the  Assembly ; 
but  the  cry  of  "To  arms  !  to  arms  !"  being  raised  on  the  street,  they 
immediately  rushed   out,   and   being  joined   by   a   crowd   already 
collected  without,  the  panic  spread  ;  and  for  about  an  hour,  confusion 
and  riot  prevailed  throughout  the  city.     The  tumult  was  at  length 
quelled  by  the  joint  exertions  of  the  magistrates  and  ministers  ;  but 
the   king,   the    day   after,   hastily   left    the   city   and    removed   to 
Linlithgow ;  from  whence   he  issued  a   severe   proclamation,  com- 
manding all  judges  and  officers  to  repair  to  him,  and  forbidding  all 
noblemen  and  barons  from  assembling  without  his  permission. 

Upon  the  Sabbath  following,  Bruce,  in  preaching  from  the  51st 
psalm,  declared,  "  The  removal  of  your  ministers  is  at  hand,  our 
lives  will  be  bitterly  sought  after ;  but  ye  shall  sec  with  your  eyes, 
that  God  shall  guard  us,  and  be  our  buckler  and  defence,"— a  saying 
which  was  soon  in  part  accomplished  ;  for  on  the  day  following,  the 
king  sent  a  charge  from  Linlithgow  against  him  and  the  other  minis- 
ters of  Edinburgh,  to  enter  themselves  in  ward  at  the  castle  there, 
within  six  hours,  under  pain  of  horning.     Though  conscious  of  their 


304  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

innocence,  yet  seeing  that  the  king's  anger  was  kindled  _  against 
them,  they  thought  proper  at  the  advice  of  their  friends  to  withdraw, 
and  for  a  time  conceal  themselves  from  the  effects  of  his  displeasure. 
Bruce  and  Balcanquhal  accordingly  went  into  England ;  Watson  and 
Balfour  concealed  themselves  in  Fife.  They  wrote  apologies  for 
their  conduct,  in  which  they  vindicated  themselves  from  the  asper- 
sions thrown  upon  them,  and  assigned  reasons  for  their  flight. 

As  soon  as  it  was  known  that  they  had  fled,  they  were  publicly 
denounced  rebels.  Great  keenness  was  shownto  find  some  evidence 
of  their  accession  to  the  tumult ;  and  when  this  failed,  recourse  was 
had  to  fabrication.  A  letter,  which  on  the  day  after,  Bruce,  at  the 
request  of  the  convened  barons,  wrote  to  lord  Hamilton  requesting 
his  countenance  and  assistance  in  support  of  the  church's  interests, 
was  altered  and  vitiated  in  such  a  manner,  as  to  make  it  express  an 
approbation  of  the  riot.  Conscious,  however,  of  the  fraud,  the  court 
did  not  dare  to  make  any  public  use  of  this  vitiated  document ;  but 
it  was  circulated  in  private,  with  the  view  of  blasting  the  reputation 
of  Bruce  and  his  friends. 

AYhen  in  favour  with  the  court  in  the  year  1589,  he  had  obtained 
a  gift  for  life,  out  of  the  lands  of  the  abbey  of  Arbroath,  which  he 
enjoyed  for  a  number  of  years.  In  1598,  the  king  privately 
disposed  of  this  to  lord  Hamilton.  He  at  first  stirred  up  the  tenants 
of  the  abbey  to  resist  payment,  and  when  this  expedient  failed,  he 
avowed  the  deed.  Bruce  signified  his  willingness  to  yield  up  the 
gift,  provided  the  king  retained  it  in  his  own  hands,  or  applied  it  to 
the  use  of  the  church ;  but  learning  that  it  was  to  be  bestowed  on 
lord  Hamilton,  he  resolved  to  defend  his  right,  although  his  majesty, 
by  threats  and  persuasions,  endeavored  to  induce  the  lords  of  session 
to  give  a  decision  in  Hamilton's  favour.  They,  however,  found  that 
Brace's  title  was  valid  and  complete.  Upon  this,  the  king,  not 
content  with  storming  at  the  judges  and  his  opponent's  counsel,  and 
determined  to  obtain  his  object,  "  wakened  the  process"  by  means  of 
two  ministers  in  Angus,  to  whom  he  transferred  part  of  the  annuity. 
And  notwithstanding  a  private  settlement  of  the  dispute,  which  was 
sanctioned  by  the  lords  of  session,  he  afterwards  so  set  aside,  and 
altered  the  minute  of  court,  that  by  it  Bruce  was  deprived  of  the 
greater  part  of  his  annuity,  and  made  to  hold  the  remainder  at  the 
royal  pleasure :  upon  which  he  threw  up  the  gift  in  disdain. 

But  all  this  was  nothing  more  than  the  drops  before  the  shower,  or 
as  the  gathering  of  waters  before  an  inundation.  This,  though 
allowed  to  return  from  his  concealment,  Bruce  afterwards  experienced 
to  be  the  case  ;  for  the  king  having  for  some  time  laboured  to  get 
prelacy   established   in   Scotland,   not  only   discharged    him   from 

E reaching  in  Edinburgh,  but  even  forced  him  to  go  into  exile, 
ecause  he  would  not  comply  with  his  measures  ;  and  in  particular, 
because  he  refused  to  give  praise  to  God  in  public  for  his  majesty's 
deliverance  from  the  pretended  treason,  in  1600,  until  he  was  made 
certain  of  the  crime.  He  embarked  at  Queensferry,  on  the  3rd  of 
November  the  same  year,  and  arrived  at  Dieppe  on  the  8th  of  that 
month. 

Although,  by  the  king's  permission,  he  returned  home  the  year 


ROBERT   BRUCE.  305 

following,  jet  because  lie  would  not  acknowledge  Gowrie's  conspi- 
racy to  be  treason,  exculpate  bis  majesty  in  such  places  as  he  should 
appoint,  and  crave  pardon  for  his  long  distrust  and  disobedience, 
&c,  he  could  not  be  admitted  to  his  place  and  office  again,  but  was 
commanded  by  the  king  to  keep  ward  in  his  own  house  at  Kinnaird. 
After  the  king's  departure  to  England,  however,  he  had  some 
respite  for  about  a  year  or  more ;  but  on  the  20th  of  February,  1G05, 
he  was  summoned  to  compear  before  the  commission  of  the  General 
Assembly,  to  hear  and  see  himself  removed  from  his  charge  at 
Edinburgh.  In  his  absence,  they  had  declared  the  place  vacant; 
now,  they  intimated  the  sentence,  and  Livingstone  was  commissioned 
by  the  king  to  see  it  put  in  execution.  Bruce  appealed  ;  they 
attempted  to  prohibit  him  from  preaching ;  but  he  disregarded 
them.  In  July  thereafter,  chancellor  Seaton  informed  him  of  the 
king's  express  order  discharging  him  from  preaching  any  more  ;  but 
said,  he  would  not  use  his  authority  in  this,  and  would  only  request 
him  to  desist  for  nine  or  ten  days  ;  to  which  he  consented,  thinking 
it  but  of  small  moment  for  so  short  a  time.  But  he  soon  felt  how  deep 
the  smallest  deviation  from  his  Master's  cause  and  interest  might  go 
into  the  devoted  heart ;  for  that  very  night,  as  he  himself  afterwards 
declared  his  body  became  so  feverish,  and  he  felt  such  terror  of 
conscience,  as  made  him  resolve  to  obey  such  commands  no  more. 

Upon  the  8th  of  August  following,  he  was  charged  to  enter 
himself  in  ward  at  Inverness,  within  the  space  of  ten  days,  under 
pain  of  horning ;  which  order  he  obeyed  upon  the  17th  following. 
In  this  place  he  remained  for  the  space  of  four  years,  teaching  every 
"Wednesday  and  Sabbath  forenoon,  and  reading  public  prayers  every 
other  night;  and  his  labours  were  greatly  blessed.  By  means  of 
his  ministry,  a  dark  country  was  wonderfully  illuminated  ;  many 
were  brought  to  Christ,  and  a  seed  was  sown  which  remained  and 
was  manifest  for  many  years  afterward. 

When  he  returned  from  Inverness  to  his  own  house,  even  though 
his  son  had  procured  a  license  for  him,  he  could  find  nothing 
but  trouble  and  vexation  from  the  ministers  of  the  presbyteries  of 
Stirling  and  Linlithgow ;  and  for  no  other  reason  but  declaiming 
against  the  vices  in  which  many  of  them  indulged.  At  last  he 
obtained  liberty  from  the  council  to  remove  his  family  to  another 
house  he  had  "at  Monkland  ;  but,  because  of  the  archbishop  of 
Glasgow,  he  wao  again  forced  to  retire  to  Kinnaird. 

Thus  this  good  man  was  tossed  about,  and  obliged  to  go  from  place 
to  place  ;  and  in  this  state  he  continued,  until  by  the  king's  order  he 
was  summoned  before  the  council,  on  September  19th,  1021,  to 
answer  for  transgressing  the  law  of  his  confinement,  &c.  "When  he 
appeared,  he  pleaded  the  favour  expressed  towards  him  by  his 
majesty  when  in  Denmark,  and  withal  purged  himself  of  the 
accusation  laid  against  him  :  "  and  yet,  notwithstanding  all  these, 
(said  he,)  the  king  hath  exhausted  both  my  estate  and  person, 
and  has  left  me  nothing  but  my  life,  and  that,  too,  apparently  lie  is 
seeking !  I  am  prepared  to  suffer  any  punishment  ;  only  I  am 
careful  not  to  suffer  as  a  malefactor  or  evil-doer."  A  charge  was 
then  given  him  to  enter  himself  in  ward  in  the  castle  of  Edinburgh, 


320  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

where  lie  continued  till  the  first  of  January.  Though  the  bishops, 
his  delators,  chose  to  absent  themselves  on  that  day,  he  was  brought 
before  the  council,  and  the  king's  pleasure  intimated  to  him,  ws., 
that  he  should  return  to  his  own  house,  until  the  21st  of  April,  and 
thence  remove  again  to  Inverness,  of  which  he  was  to  confine 
himself,  during  the  king's  pleasure. 

Here  he  accordingly  remained  until  September,  1621,  when  he  ob- 
tained liberty  to  return  from  his  confinement  to  settle  some  domestic 
affaire  ;  but  the  conditions  of  his  license  were  so  severe,  that  he  re- 
solved to  return  to  Inverness.  In  the  mean  time,  however,  the  king 
died,  and  therefore  he  was  not  urged  to  resume  his  confinement ;  for, 
although  king  Charles  I.  renewed  the  charge  against  him  some  years 
after,  yet  he  continued  fur  the  most  part  in  his  own  house,  preaching 
and  teaching  wherever  he  had  occasion. 

About  this  time  the  parish  of  Larbert  was  vacant;  where  it  was 
without  stipend,  he  repaired  the  church  at  his  own  expense,  and  dis- 
charged all  the  duties  of  a  Christian  minister,  with  great  success. 
Many,  besides  the  inhabitants  of  the  parish,  attended  upon  his 
preaching  with  much  benefit;  and  it  would  appear,  that  about  this 
time  Henderson,  then  minister  of  Leuchars,  was  converted  by  his 
ministry. 

At  this  place  it  was  his  custom,  after  the  first  sermon,  to  retire  by 
himself  some  time  for  private  prayer;  and  on  one  occasion,  some 
noblemen  who  had  to  ride  to  a  distance  sent  the  beadle  to  learn  if 
there  were  any  appearance  of  his  coming  in.  The  man  returned, 
saying,  "  I  think  he  will  not  come  to  day ;  for  I  overheard  him  say 
to  another,  '  I  protest  I  will  not  go  unless  thou  goest  with  me.' " 
However,  in  a  little  time  he  came,  accompanied  by  no  man,  but  full 
of  the  blessing  of  Christ :  for  his  speech  was  with  much  evidence 
and  demonstration  of  the  Spirit.  It  was  easy  for  his  hearers  to  per- 
ceive that  he  had  been  on  the  mount  with  God,  and  that  he  had 
indeed  brought  that  God  whom  he  had  met  in  private,  into  his 
mothers  house,  and  into  the  chambers  of  her  that  conceived  him  ! 

Some  time  before  his  death,  beinir  at  Edinburgh,  where  through 

1  a*  1  i    • 

weakness  lie  otten  kept  his  chamber,  several  godly  ministers,  who 
had  met  about  some  business  connected  with  the  church,  hearing  he 
was  in  town,  came  and  gave  him  an  account  of  the  prelate's  actings. 
After  this  he  prayed,  adverting  to  the  facts  they  had  stated,  and 
deploring  the  state  of  the  church,  in  such  a  manner,  that  during  the 
whole  time  there  was  such  a  powerful  emotion  felt  by  all  present, 
and  Buch  a  sensible  down-pouring  of  the  spirit,  that  they  could 
hardly  contain  themselves.  Wemyss  of  Lathokar,  who  was  present, 
said,  at  departing,  •'()  how  strange  a  man  this  is,  for  he  knocketh 
down  tin-  Spirit  of  (rod  upon  us  all;"  referring  to  his  having  differ- 
ent times  knocked  with  his  lingers  upon  the  table  in  the  time  of 
prayer. 

A  in, ut  the  same  period,  he  related  a  strange  dream  that  had 
occurred  to  him.  He  thought  he  saw  a  long  broad  book,  with  black 
boards,  flying  in  the  air,  with  many  black  fowls  like  crows  living 
about  it  ;  and  as  it  touched  any  of  them,  they  fell  down  dead  ;"and 
that  he  heard  a  voice  speak  to  him,  saying,  I  hue  est  ir  a  Dei  contra 


ROBERT    BRUCE. 


32T 


jxistores  ccclesice  SooticancB  /*  upon  which  he  fell  a  weeping,  praying 
that  he  might  be  kept  faithful,  and  not  he  one  of  those  "who  were 
thus  struck  down  by  the  torch  of  God's  wrath,  for  deserting  the 
truth.  He  said,  when  he  awakened  he  found  his  pillow  drenched 
with  tears. 

"  Upon  one  occasion,"  says  Livingstone  in  his  memoirs,  "  I  went 
to  Edinburgh  to  see  him,  in  company  with  the  tutor  of  Bonnington. 
When  we  called  for  him  at  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning,  he  told  us 
he  was  not  inclined  for  company;  and,  on  being  urged  to  tell  us  the 
cause,  he  answered,  that  when  he  went  to  bed  he  had  a  good  mea- 
sure of  the  Lord's  presence,  but  that  he  had  wrestled  about  an  hour 
or  two  before  we  came  in,  and  had  not  yet  got  access  ;  and  so  we 
left  him.  At  another  time,  I  went  to  his  house,  but  saw  him  not  till 
very  late.  When  he  came  out  of  his  closet,  his  face  was  foul  with 
weeping  ;  and  he  told  me,  that  that  day  he  had  been  thinking  on 
what  torture  and  hardships  Dr.  Leighton,  our  countryman,  had  been 
put  to  at  London  f  and  added,  if  I  had  been  faithful,  I  might  have 
had  the  pillory  and  some  of  my  blood  shed  for  Christ,  as  well  as  he, 
but  he  hath  got  the  crown  from  us  all.'  "  "  I  heard  him  once  say," 
the  same  writer  declares,  "  '  I  would  desire  no  more  at  my  first  ap- 
peal from  king  James,  but  one  hour's  converse  with  him  :  I  know  he 
has  a  conscience,  I  made  him  once  weep  bitterly  at  IIolyroodhou3e., 
And  upon  another  occasion,  in  reference  to  his  death,  he  said,  '  I 
wonder  how  I  am  kept  so  long  here :  I  have  lived  two  years  already 
in  violence  ;  meaning,  that  he  was  that  much  beyond  seventy  years 
of  age.'  "$ 

In  such  manner  did  this  bright  star  set  in  our  horizon.  There 
were  none,  in  his  time,  who  preached  with  such  manifestations  of  the 
power  of  the  Spirit ;  and  no  man  had  more  seals  of  his  ministry ; 
yea  many  of  his  hearers  thought,  that  no  man  since  the  days  of  the 
apostles,  ever  spoke  with  such  power ;  and  although  he  was  no 
Boanerges,,  being  of  a  slow  but  grave  delivery,  yet  he  spoke  with 
such  authority  and  weight,  as  became  the  oracles  of  the  living  God. 
Some  of  the  most  stout-hearted  of  his  hearers  were  ordinarily  made 
to  tremble ;  and  by  thus  having  the  door,  which  had  formerly  been 
shut  against  Jesus  Christ,  as  by  an  .irresistible  power  thrown  open, 
and  the  secrets  of  their  hearts  made  manifest,  they  oftentimes  went 
away  under  deep  convictions.  In  prayer  he  was  short,  especially  in 
public  ;  but  "  every  word  or  sentence  he  spoke  was  as  a  bolt  shot  to 

*  This  is  the  anger  of  God  against  the  pastors  of  the  Scottish  Church  ! 

t  This  was  the  famous  Leighton,  doctor  of  divinity  in  the  two  universities  cf  St. 
Andrew's  and  Leyden,  who.  for  writing  of  Zion's  plea  against  prelacy,  was  apprehended  at 
London  by  two  ruffians,  brought  before  archbishop  Laud,  and  sentenced,  besides  a  fine  of 
£10,000,  to  be  tied  to  a  stake,  and  receive  thirty-six  stripes  with  a  triple  cord,  and  then  to 
stand  two  hours  in  the  pillory,  (which  he  did  on  a  cold  winter  night  I  and  then  to  have  his 
ear  cut,  his  face  fired,  and  his  nose  slit ;  and  the  same  to  be  repeated  that  day  se'nnight,  and 
his  other  ear  cut  off,  with  the  slitting  of  the  other  side  of  his  nose,  and  burning  his  other 
cheek.  All  this  was  executed  with  the  utmost  rigour,  and  then  he  was  sent  prisoner  to 
the  fleet,  where  he  continued,  till  upon  a  petition  to  the  parliament  in  1640,  he  was 
leased,  and  got  for  his  reparation  a  vote  of  £6000,  which  it  is  said  was  never  paid,  and 
made  a  warden  of  that  prison  wherein  he  had  been  so  long  confined  ;  but  through  infirmity 
and  bad  treatment  he  did  not  long  survive,  being  then  seventy-two  years  of  age-  See  this 
related  more  at  length  in  Stevenson's  history.  Vol.  III.  p.  948. 

J  Livingstone's  Memorable   Characters,  p.  74. 


328 


SCOTS   WORTHIES. 


heaven.'"  lie  spent  much  of  his  time  in  private  prayer.  He  had  a 
very  notable  faculty  in  searching  the  scriptures,  and  explaining  the 
most  obscure  mysteries  therein.  He  had  also  much  inward  exercise 
of  conscience  regarding  his  own  case,  and  was  sometimes  tempted, 
even  concerning  "that  grand  fundamental  truth — the  being  of  a  God  ; 
insomuch  that  it  was  almost  customary  to  him  to  say,  as  he  did  when 
lie  first  spoke  in  the  pulpit,  "  I  think  it  a  great  matter  to  believe 
there  is  a  God.  By  such  experience  he  was  the  better  fitted  to  deal 
with  others  under  the  like  tempations.  Having  a  very  majestic 
countenance,  his  appearance  in  the  pulpit  was  good.  His  delivery 
was  solemn,  impressive,  and  commanding;  and  to  apply  to  his  ser- 
mons the  reverse  of  the  figure  by  which  one  of  his  hearers  described 
his  prayers,  "  exery  word  or  sentence  he  spoke  was  like  a  bolt  shot 
from  heaven." 

As  a  writer,  Bruce  may  be  regarded  as  having  been,  for  his  time, 
both  substantial  and  eloquent.  The  forementioned  apology  ;  his  let- 
ters to  M.  Espignol,  the  duke  of  Parma,  Col.  Semple  and  others  ; 
and  above  all,  his  five  sermons  on  the  Lord's  Supper,  together  with 
his  miscellaneous  sermons,  entitled  him  to  this  character.  But  it  is 
more  especially  for  his  services  and  sufferings  in  the  cause  of  civil 
and  religious  liberty,  that  he  is  entitled  to  the  respect  and  gratitude 
of  posterity  ;  even  as  it  was  by  these,  especially,  that  he  earned  the 
esteem  and  admiration  of  his  contemporaries.  For  some  time  pre- 
vious to  his  death,  which  happened  in  August  1631,  he  was  through 
age  and  infirmity.,  mostly  confined  to  his  chamber.  Being  fre- 
quently visited  by  friends  and  acquaintances,  he  was  on  one  occasion 
asked  by  one  of  them,  how  matters  stood  betwixt  God  and  his  soul? 
He  made  this  reply,  "  When  I  was  young,  I  was  diligent,  and  lived 
by  faith  on  the  Son  of  God  ;  but  now  I  am  old  and  not  able  to  do  so 
much,  and  yet  he  condescends  to  feed  me  with  lumps  of  sense  and  ex- 
perience.'' On  the  morning  of  the  day  on  which  he  died — his  sick- 
8  consisting  chiefly  in  the  weakness  of  age — he  came  to  breakfast ; 
and  having,  as  usual,  eaten  an  egg,  he  said  to  his  daughters,  "I  think 
1  am  yet  hungry,  ye  may  bring  me  another  egg."  But  instantly 
thereafter,  falling  into  deep  meditation,  and  after  having  mused  a 
little,  he  said,  '•  Hold,  daughter,  my  Master  calls  me  !"  Upon  these 
words,  his  sight  failed  him;  and  calling  for  his  family  Bible,  but 
finding  he  could  not  see,  he  said,  "  Cast  up  to  me  the  eighth  chapter 
ot  the  epistle  to  the  Romans,  and  set  my  finger  on  these  words,  lam 
j  uadi  d  that  neither  death  nor  life,  c&c,  shall  be  able  to  separate  me 
n  tin  love  of  God  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus  my  Lord.  Now," 
said  he,  j*  is  my  linger  upon  them?"  and  being  told  it  was,  he  said, 
••  Now  God  be  with  you  my  children  ;  I  have  breakfasted  with  you, 
and  shall  sup  with  my  Lord  Jesus  Christ  this  night."  And  thus, 
like  Abraham  of  old,  this  eminent  saint  and  servant  of  God  gave 
up  the  ghost  in  a  good  old  age,  and  was  gathered  to  his  people. 


JOSIAS   WELCH.  329 


JOSIAS  WELCH. 


This  eminent  minister  of  the  gospel  was  a  younger  son  of  the  famous 
John  "Welch  of  Ayr,  and  Elizabeth  Knox,  daughter  of  the  great 
Reformer.  As  might  be  expected  from  such  parents,  he  received  a 
most  liberal  and  religious  education.  But  what  proved  more  espe- 
cially the  source  of  his  reputation  was,  that  he  was  heir  to  his  father's 
graces  and  virtues.  Although  he  had  received  all  the  branches  of 
useful  learning,  required  for  the  ministry ;  yet  prelacy  being  then 
prevalent  in  Scotland,  he  kept  back  for  some  time  from  the  office, 
not  being  clear  in  his  own  mind  about  entering  into  it  by  the  door 
of  episcopacy. 

But  some  time  after,  it  so  fell  out,  that  meeting  with  worthy  Mr. 
Blair,  (who  was  then  a  minister  at  Bangor  in  Ireland,)  he  was  ex- 
horted and  solicited  to  go  over  with  him,  under  the  assurance  that 
there  he  would  find  work  enough,  and  he  hoped  success  likewise. 
This  accordingly  was  the  case  ;  for,  upon  his  going  thither,  he  was 
highly  honoured  of  the  Lord,  to  bring  the  covenant  of  grace  to  the 
people  at  the  Six-mile-water ;  and  having  also  preached  some  time  at 
Oldstone,  he  was  afterwards  settled  at  Tempi e-patrick,  where  with 
great  vigilance  and  diligence,  he  exercised  his  office,  and,  by 
the  blessing  of  God  upon  his  labours,  gained  many  seals  of  his 
ministry. 

But  Satan,  envying  the  success  of  the  gospel  in  that  quarter, 
stirred  up  the  prelatical  clergy  against  him  ;  and  in  May,  1632,  the 
bishop  of  Down  caused  to  cite  him,  together  with  Blair,  Livingstone, 
and  Dunbar ;  and  on  their  compearing,  urged  them  to  conform,  and 
give  their  subscription  to  that  effect.  But'they  answered  with  great 
boldness,  that  there  was  no  law  in  that  kingdom  requiring  this  ;  yet, 
notwithstanding,  they  were  all  four  deposed  by  him  from  the  office 
of  the  holy  ministry. 

After  this,  Welch  continued  some  time  preaching  in  his  own  house, 
where  he  had  a  large  audience ;  and  such  was  his  desire  to  gain  souls 
to  Christ,  that  he  commonly  stood  in  a  door  looking  towards  a  gar- 
den, that  he  might  be  heard  by  those  without  as  well  as  within  ;  in 
consequence  of  which,  being  of  a  weakly  constitution,  he  contracted 
a  cold  which  occasioned  his  death  in  a  short  time  after. 

He  continued  in  this  wav,  until  May,  1634,  when  by  the  interces- 
sion of  lord  Castlestuart  with  the  king  in  their  behalf,  he  and  his  bre- 
thren received  a  grant  of  six  months'  liberty  from  the  bishop.  11ns 
freedom  he  most  gladly  embraced  ;  but  he  had  preached  only  a  lew 


330 


SCOTS   WORTHIES. 


weeks  in  his  own  pulpit  before  his  illness  increased,  so  as  to  prevent  his 
continuing  hie  labours.  He  died  very  soon  after.  The  short  history 
of  his  life  may  bo  summed  up  in  the  words  of  one  who  knew  him 
well,  who  had  been  his  companion  in  labour  and  in  suffering,  and 
who  could  well  appreciate  the  virtues  by  which  he  was  adorned.  On 
the  Sabbath  afternoon  before  his  death,  which  was  on  Monday  fol- 
lowing, "  I  heard,"  says  Livingstone,  "of  his  sickness,  and  came  to 
him  aoout  eleven  o'clock  at  night,  and  Mr.  Blair  came  about  two 
hour  after.     He  had  many  gracious  discourses,  as  also  some 

wrestling  and  exercise  of  mind.  One  time  he  cried  out,  '  Oh  for 
hypocrisy  !'  on  which  Blair  said,  'See  how  Satan  is  nibbling  at  his 
heels  1"  tore  he  enter  into  glory  !'  A  very  little  before  he  died,  be- 
iiiLr  at  prayer  by  his  bedside,  and  the  word  '  Victory'  coming  out  of 


evermore. uc   iiieu    ueoiicu    mc  ll»    si,u    un,  tiiiu.  in    a    iii/ti 

pired.     His  death  happened  on  the  23rd  of  June,  1634." 

He  died  in  the  flower  of  his  youth,  leaving  only  one  son  behind 
him,  viz.,  John  "Welch,  afterwards  minister  of  Irongray  in  Gallow- 
way. 


JOHN  GORDON,  YISCOUNT  KENMURE. 


Tins  lmniuir  maybe  reckoned  more  an  account  of  the  latter  days 
than  of  the  whole  life  of  the  nobleman,  whose  title  it  bears ;  as  com- 
paratively little  is  known  of  him,  so  long  as  he  was  distinguished 
only  by  the  appellation  of  John  Gordon  of  Lochinvar.  It  is  certain 
however,  that  be  was  born  in  the  year  1599.  His  father,  Sir  Robert 
Gordon,  was  the  tenth  in  lineal  descent  of  that  ancient  family,  who 
had   been  proprietors  of  Lochinvar  for  more  than  three  centuries 

*  Tli i^  Jehu  Welch  was  ejected   from  his  parish  under  Bishop  Fairfoul's  act.     In  1651 
I  ac)   was  established  at  the  mere  will  of  the  King.     All  acts  in  favour  of  Presby- 

tery were  rescinded;  Pot  ronage  was  restored,  to  be  a  deadweight  upon  the  Church  •  and  all 
minister!  who  would  no1  ronform,and  who  would  not  receive  ordination  from  the  Bishops 
From  their  parishes.  By  this  act,  commonly  called  Bishop  Fairfoul's  act  he 
having  urged  it,  assuring  the  government  rot  ten  ministers  would  refuse  Nearly  400 
rlinr.-l.es  were  shut  up  in  one  day.  Among  those  "who  were  ejected  was  John  Wflch 
Minister  at  Irongray  When  he  was  apprehended,  his  whole  parish  assembled  around 
him,  clung  i"  lnm  on  all  Bides,  and  refused  to  part.  They  followed  him  to  the  water  of 
Cluden,  where  after  prayer,  Mr.  Welch  mounted  his  horse  and  rode  quickly  awav  the 
people  running  alter  him,  and  rending  the  air  with  their  cries. 


JOHN    GORDON,    VISCOUNT   KENMURE.  331 

prior  to  this  period.  And  we  learn  from  the  peerage  of  Scotland, 
that  Lis  mother  was  lady  Isabel  Ruthven,  daughter  of  "William 
Ruthven,  first  earl  of  Gowrie.  The  ancient  family  of  Gordon,  very- 
early  embraced  the  principles  of  the  reformation,  and  were  devotedly 
attached  to  the  presbyterian  form  of  worship.  "Wodrow  informs  ns 
that  a  branch  of  the  Lochinvar  family  had  become  converts  to  the 
principles  of  Wickliffe,  and  that  they  received  into  their  house  seve- 
ral of  his  adherents  who  had  itinerated  to  Scotland  to  propagate  the 
truth.  So  early  as  1574,  the  well-known  Robert  Campbell  of  Ivin- 
zeancleugh,  and  John  Davidson,  minister  of  Prestonpans,  who  was 
then  under  concealment,  paid  a  visit  to  Sir  John  Gordon,  grandfather 
to  the  subject  of  this  brief  memoir,  atRusco  castle;  a  visit  which,  in 
all  probability,  would  not  have  taken  place,  had  not  Sir  John  been  of 
a  kindred  spirit. 

It  is  uncertain  whether  lord  Ivenmure  enjoyed  the  advantages  of 
an  early  religious  education,  while  under  the  paternal  roof,  or  not ; 
but  we  are  safe  to  conclude,  that  his  religious  impressions,  if  not  at 
first  received  from  the  famous  John  "Welch,  were  matured  and  con- 
firmed by  that  celebrated  man,  while  in  exile  in  the  kingdom  of 
France.  Kenmure,  wdiile  resident  in  that  country,  according  to  the 
custom  of  the  times  among  young  men  in  prosecution  of  their  studies, 
was  an  inmate  of  "Welch's  family;  and,  it  cannot  be  doubted,  that, 
witnessing  the  distinguished  piety  which  marked  the  whole  of  that 
good  man's  ministerial  life,  and  sharing  in  the  conversations  and 
habits  of  a  family  so  singularly  holy,  he  could  not  but,  by  the  rich- 
ness and  freeness  of  divine  grace,  imbibe  a  similar  spirit.  And,  that 
he  there  became  a  subject  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom,  is  evident, 
not  only  from  his  exemplary  deportment,  upon  his  return  from  the 
continent;  but  also  from  the  anxiety  he  manifested  to  provide  and 
disseminate  the  blessings  of  a  gospel  ministry  to  those  around  him. 
Anwoth,  the  parish  in  which  Rusco,  the  family  residence  was  situ- 
ated, enjoyed  at  that  time  the  benefit  of  public  worship  only  every 
alternate  sabbath,  in  consecpience  of  its  being  united  to  other  two 
parishes.  To  a  pious  mind  like  Kenmure's,  this  was  a  lamentable 
grievance;  and  therefore  he  immediately  set  about  obtaining  a  dis- 
junction, in  which,  after  much  delay,  and  great  difficulty,  he  at 
length  succeeded.  The  first  person  invited  to  the  ministerial  office, 
in  that  parish,  was  the  celebrated  John  Livingstone,  author  of  "  Re- 
markable Observations  upon  the  Lives  of  the  most  eminent  Ministers 
and  Professors  in  the.  Church  of  Scotland  ;"  but  Providence  over- 
ruled the  call,  and  the  godly  Samuel  Rutherford  was  sent  in  his 
place.  Nor  was  Kenmure's  Christian  benevolence  confined  to  his 
own  parish.  He  endeavoured  to  procure  for  other  parishes,  also,  the 
blessings  of  a  gospel  ministry;  but  the  distracted  state  of  the  times 
rendered  all  his  exertions  ineffectual. 

Before  Rutherford's  settlement  in  Anwoth,  Ivenmure  had  been 
married  to  lady  Jane  Campbell,  sister  to  the  celebrated  Marquis  of 
Argyle,  who  was  beheaded  in  1661,  for  his  adherence  to  Presbytery, 
and  the  Solemn  League  and  Covenant ;— "  a  lady,"  fays  a  recent 
biographer,  "of  uncommon  piety  and  worth,  and  a  never-failing 
friend  of  all  to  whom  the  Saviour  was  dear."     Both  of  these  eminent 


332 


SCOTS    WORTHIES. 


Christians  vied  with  Kuthcrford  in  promoting,  among  the  people  of 
the  neighbourhood,  a  spirit  of  true  religion  ;  but  of  this  happiness  they 
were  soon  deprived,— for  in  less  that  two  years  they  removed  to 
Edinburgh,  leaving  Rutherford  to  struggle  alone— a  circumstance 
which  he  afterwards  designated  "  as  the  severest  trial  he  had  met 
with  since  he  entered  upon  his  ministry."  Their  absence  in  the 
metropolis,  however,  was  not  long;  but  on  their  return,  they  took  up 
their  residence  at  Kenmure  castle,  about  twenty  miles  distant  from 
Anwoth.  As  soon  as  Rutherford  heard  of  their  arrival,  he  addressed 
lady  Kenmure  in  the  following  strain  of  heavenly  salutation—"  I 
bless  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  hath  brought  you  home  again  to 
your  country,  from  that  place  where  ye  have  seen  with  your  eyes, 
that  which  our  Lord's  truth  taught  you  before  ;  to  wit,  that  worldly 
glory  is  nothing  but  a  vapour,  a  shadow,  the  foam  of  the  water,  or 
something  less  and  lighter, even  nothing;  and  that  our  Lord  had  not 
without  cause  said  in  his  word,  '  The  countenance  or  fashion  of  this 
world  passeth  away.' " 

It  is  probable  that  Rutherford's  reason  for  thus  expressing  himself 
was  in  consequence  of  an  overweening  ambition  and  worldly-mind- 
edness  which  had,  for  some  time  previous,  been  unhappily  con- 
spicuous in  Kenmure's  pursuits ;  for,  in  1633,  he  had  been  elevated 
to  the  peerage,  under  the  title  of  viscount  Kenmure,  and  was  indulg- 
ing the  hope  that  the  attainted  honours  of  the  house  of  Gowrie 
might  perhaps  be  revived  in  his  person,  in  right  of  his  mother — for 
he  had  sold  part  of  his  patrimony,  that  he  might  have  it  in  his  power 
to  bribe  the  duke  of  Buckingham,  in  order  to  promote  his  views  to 
the  earldom  ;  and  he  was  said  to  have  actually  presented  that  noble- 
man with  a  purse  of  gold,  the  very  night  before  his  assassination. 

The  state  of  affairs  at  that  time  were  far  from  being  favourable  for 
maintaining,  unsullied,  a  constant  feeling  of  "  pure  and  undeiiled 
religion,"  and,  although  Kenmure  did  not  altogether  throw  off  the 
restraint  of  his  earlier  "  theological  and  ecclesiastical  principles  ;"' 
yet,  having  received  such  marks  of  the  royal  favour  and  distinction, 
he  so  far  relinquished  his  concern  for  religion  and  the  church  of 
Christ,  from  motives  of  mere  temporary  expediency,  and  worldly 
policy,  as  to  lay  the  foundation  of  a  regret  which  did  not  cease  to 
afflict  him  to  the  day  of  his  death.  "We  do  not  mean  to  say  that  he 
took  part  with  the  court,  in  opposing  the  interests  of  the  church  of 
Scotland  ;  but  he  certainly  did  not  exhibit  that  zeal  for  her  advance- 
ment and  prosperity  that  might  have  been  expected ;  for,  leaving 
others  to  struggle  and  fight  on  in  the  heat  of  the  day,  he,  with  appa- 
rent callousness  and  unconcern,  withdrew  from  parliament,  without 
a  word  of  remonstrance,  to  his  seat  in  the  country, — a  step,  the  recol- 
lection of  which  imbittered  even  his  departing  moments.  "  I  de- 
serted the  parliament,"  said  he,  "  for  fear  of  incurring  the  displea- 
sure of  my  sovereign,  and  the  loss  of  further  honour,  which  I  cer- 
tainly expected  !"  But,  that  he  had  not  altogether  lost  sight  of  his 
Spiritual  interests,  is  happily  proved  by  the  fact  of  his  making  choice 
of  Mr.  George  Gillespie,  as  his  domestic  chaplain,  when  he  withdrew 
from  the  turmoils  of  apolitical  life, — a  man  whose  high  qualifications, 
both  as  a  scholar  and  servant  of  God,  eminently  fitted  him  for  being 


JOHN   GORDON,  VISCOUNT  KENMURE.  333 

useful  in  a  family  whose  hearts  were  set  upon  doing  good.  Kenmure, 
however,  does  not  appear  to  have  profited  by  this  good  man's  pious 
example,  as  he  might  have  done;  for,  upon  his  deathbed,  we  find 
him  thus  addressing  Gillespie — "  I  would  I  had  paid  better  heed  to 
many  of  your  words  ; — I  might  have  gotten  good  by  the  means  God 
gave  me  ;  but  I  made  no  use  of  them." 

During  the  following  year  he  continued  to  reside  in  the  country, 
with  the  exception  of  a  short  visit  to  Edinburgh,  probably  in 
reference  to  his  views  of  worldly  elevation ;  but  it  seemed  good  in 
the  mind  of  God,  that  he  should  not  rise  to  higher  honours  in  this 
world ;  for  in  little  more  than  a  year  after  the  sitting  of  the 
parliament  to  which  we  have  alluded,  he  was  seized  with  a  fever, 
when  he  had  not  reached  the  meridian  of  life.  This  happened  in  the 
end  of  August,  1634.  Before  this  time,  however,  it  had  pleased  God 
to  give  him  a  saving  view  of  his  conduct ;  and  it  stung  him  to  the 
heart  when  he  learned  the  exertions  that  had  been  made,  and  were 
still  making,  to  expose  the  enactments,  and  counteract  the  effects  of 
an  episcopalian  government.  "God  knoweth,"  said  he,  "that  I 
deserted  the  last  parliament  with  the  fearful  wrestlings  of  my 
conscience,  my  light  paying  me  home  within,  when  I  seemed  to  be 
glad  and  joyful  before  men."  Gladly  would,  he  now  have  parted 
with  all  worldly  honours,  could  he  have  undone  or  revoked  his 
former  abandonment  of  duty.  "I  have  found,"  said  he,  "the 
weight  of  God's  anger,  for  not  giving  testimony  for  the  Lord  my 
God,  when  I  had  opportunity  in  the  last  parliament;  for  which  foul 
fault,  how  fierce  have  I  found  the  wrath  of  the  Lord !  For  all  the 
earth,  should  I  not  do,  as  I  have  done.  "Wo,  wo,  to  honour  or 
anything  else  bought  with  the  loss  of  conscience  and  God's  favour !" 
But  he  was  not  abandoned  to  despair.  His  Kedeemer  had  thoughts 
of  peace  and  mercy  towards  him ;  and,  providentially,  just  when  his 
disease  was  beginning  to  assume  an  alarming  aspect,  Kutherford 
came  to  pay  a  visit  to  Kenmure  castle.  Seeing  but  little  prospect 
of  recovery,  the  good  man  was  induced  to  prolong  his  stay,  till  the 
time  of  Kenmure's  death,  which  took  place  about  a  fortnight  after, 
on  the  12th  of  September,  1634. 

Kutherford's  arrival  was  a  great  relief  to  the  mind  of  Kenmure. 
His  eye  glistened  with  joy  when  he  saw  a  clergyman  whom  he  had 
been  instrumental  in  bringing  to  that  part  of  the  country,  whom  he 
esteemed  very  highly,  and  in  whose  religious  conferences  and 
services  he  had  formerly  taken  so  much  delight.  But  it  would  be 
superfluous  to  pursue  the  subject  of  his  death  further  in  this  place, 
as  a  minute  and  interesting  detail  will  be  found  in  his  Testimony. 
It  would  be  improper,  however,  to  close  this  narrative,  without 
making  honourable  mention  of  his  amiable  and  truly  pious  lady, — 
and  we  cannot  do  so  more  appropriately,  than  in  Kenmure's  own 
words.  On  his  death-bed,  he  "  gave  her  different  times,  and  that 
openly,  an  honourable  and  ample  testimony  of  holiness  and  goodness, 
and  all  respectful  kindness,— and  craved  her  forgiveness,  earnestly, 
where  he  had  offended  her,  and  desired  her  to  make  the  Lord  her 
comfort."  The  Lord  had  taken  away  from  her  all  her  children 
except  one ;  and  five  years  after  Kenmure's  death,  she  was  deprived 


33± 


SCOTS    WORTHIES. 


of  her  only  surviving  son  and  child.  She  was  afterwards  married  to 
the  Hon.  Henry  Montgomery,  second  son  to  the  earl  of  Eglinton,  an 
active  and  faithful  friend  to  the  church  of  Christ.  But  their  union 
was  of  Bhort  duration;  for  she  was  soon  after  again  left  a  widow. 
Darin-  the  whole  of  her  life  she  was  a  pattern  of  holiness,  and  good 
works.°  She  was  in  an  especial  manner,  kind  to  those,  who,  in  those 
.lavs,  were  suffering  for  conscience'  sake,  and  who  had  been  reduced 
to  poverty  and  exile.  She  was  eminently  one  of  those,  whose 
nobility  is  not  written  "  in  old,  rotten,  or  mouldered  parchments,  but 
is  more  ancient  than  the  heavens,"— consisting  in  that  adoption  by 
which  they  are  made  the  children  of  God,  subjects  to  the  King  of 
kings,  and  brethren  of  the  eternal  Son  of  God.* 

Although  the  subject  of  this  memoir  did  not  actually  suffer 
persecution  for  the  cause  of  Christ  and  his  gospel,  yet  he  had  those 
inward  workings  of  the  Spirit,  which  very  alarmingly  reproved  him 
fur  a  want  of  zeal  in  the  good  work,  upon  an  opportunity  when 
worldly  ambition  induced  him  to  be  silent;  even  when  so  many  of 
his  own  rank  stood  manfully  forward,  and  declared  their  willingness 
to  sutler  the  loss  of  all  things,  that  they  might  do  honour  to  the  great 
King  and  Head  of  the  church.  That  he  bitterly  lamented  this 
misgiving,  and  sincerely  repented  of  it,  upon  his  death-bed,  however, 
will  be  made  clearly  apparent,  in  the  subsequent  account  of  the  last 
days  of  his  life. 

Upon  the  last  day  of  August  1634,  which  was  the  Sabbath  of  the 
Lord,  when  this  nobleman's  body  was  much  weakened,  he  was 
visited  by  a  religious  and  learned  pastor,f  who  then  lived  in 
Galloway,  not  far  distant  from  the  house  of  Kenmure.  He  rejoiced 
at  the  coming  of  this  pastor  to  his  house,  and  observed  and  spoke  of 
a  directing  and  all-ruling  Providence,  who  had  sent  to  him  such  a 
man.  After  supper,  Kenmure  drew  on  a  conference  with  the  pastor, 
saying,  "  I  am  heavily  weighed  and  affrighted  in  soul  with  two  great 
burdens:  the  one  is,  fear  of  death — the  other,  extreme  and  vehement 
bodily  pain;  but  the  former  is  heavier  than  the  latter;  for  I  never 
dreamed  that  death  had  such  an  austere,  gloomy,  terrible,  and  grim- 
like  countenance.  I  dare  not  die;  howbeit  I  know  I  must  die. 
What  shall  I  do?  for  I  dare  not  venture  in  grips  with  death  ;  because 
I  find  my  sins  so  grevious,  and  so  many,  that  I  fear  my  accounts  are 
ragged  and  out  of  order,  and  not  so  as  becometh  a  dying  man. 

The  pastor  answered,  "My  lord,  there  is  a  piece  of  nature  in  all 
men,  (the  believer  not  excepted,)  whereby  the  first  look  upon  death 
is  terrible  and  tearful.  ()!  my  lord,  believe  in  him  who  died  for 
you.  O  !  look  the  second  and  third  time  upon  death's  face  ;  and  if 
you  ho  in  Christ,  you  shall  see  Jesus  hath  put  a  white  mask  upon 
death  j  and  1  dare  say,  if  this  be  the  time  of  your  dissolution,  I  trust 
in  God  you  shall  both  change  your  mind  and  words:  for  if  you  have 
a  go,,d   Becond   in  the  combat,  (such  as  is  only  Jesus  Christ,)  your 

*  The  dignities  and  tides  of  this  eminent  family  were  forfeited,  in  the  rebellion  of  1715  • 
hut  were  revived,  in  1824,  in  the  person  of  the  venerable  representative,  John,  Lord 
\  i  remit  Kenmure. 

1  Thai  the  pastor  here  mentioned,  was  Samuel  Rutherford,  is  evident  for  many  reasons 
which  it  is  unnecessary  to  detail  in  this  place. 


JOHN   GORDON,   VISCOUNT  KENMURE.  335 

Lord  will  possibly  let  your  conscience  wrestle  with  the  fear  of  death: 
Yet  he  is  beholding  fair  play;  and  I  hope  Christ  Jesus  will  not  be  a 
naked  beholder,  and  say,  Deal  it  betwixt  yotl,  as  he  doth  in  the 
death  of  reprobates,  but  shall  lend  you  help";  fur  borrowed  strength 
is  all  yonr  strength  here.  But,  my 'lord,  1  fear  more  the  ground  of 
your  tear  of  death,  which  is  (as  you  say),  the  consciousness  of  your 
sins;  for  there  can  be  no  plea  betwixt 'you  and  your  Lord,  if  yonr 
sins  be  taken  away  in  Christ ;  for  then  d'eatli  loseth  its  action  of" law 
against  you,  you  being  in  Christ ;  and  therefore  make  that  sure  work, 
and  fear  not." 

Ivenmure  answered,  "  I  have  been  too  late  in  coming  to  God,  and 
have  deferred  the  time  of  making  my  account  so  long,  that  I  fear  I 
have  but  the  foolish  virgins'  part  of  it,  who  came"  and  knocked 
at  the  door  of  the  bridegroom  too  late,  and  never  got  in.'1  The 
pastor  said,  "  My  lord,  I  have  gathered  by  experience,  and  observed 
in  sundry,  and  especially  in  your  father,  that  when  they  were 
plunged  over  head  and  ears  in  the  world,  and  had  cast  clown  old 
barns,  and  built  up  new  again,  God  came  in  a  month's  space  and 
less,  and  plucked  them  from  their  deceiving  hopes,  before  ever  they 
got  half  a  mouthful ;  and  this,  my  lord,  looketh  like  your  case  ;  for 
you  know  how  deep  yourself  hath  been  in  the  world,  in  building, 
planting,  parking,  seeking  honours,  and  now  belike  your  summons 
are  to  a  short  day."  Kenmure  answered,  "  'Tis  true  I  have  been 
busy  that  way ;  but  my  intentions  were  honest,  and  only  to  free 
myself  of  burdens  and  business." 

Not  being  content  with  such  a  naked  answer,  the  pastor  drew  the 
conference  about  again  to  his  fear  of  death,  and  to  a  reckoning  with 
the  Lord,  and  said,  "My  lord,  you  know  that  it  is  one  of  the 
weightiest  businesses  that  ever  you  put  your  hand  to,  to  die ; 
especially  seeing  judgment  is  at  death's  back.  Faults  in  your  life 
are  mendable  by  repentance ;  but  one  wrong  footstep  in  death 
is  conjoined  with  eternal  loss  ;  for  there  is  neither  time  nor  place  to 
regret  of  evil  and  bad  dying.  Therefore,  I  entreat  you,  my  lord,  by 
the  mercies  of  God, — by  your  appearance  before  Christ,  your  judge, 
— and  by  the  salvation  of  your  soul,  that  you  would  here  look  ere  yon 
leap,  and  venture  not  into  eternity  without  a  certificate  under  Jesus 
Christ's  hand." 

To  this  Kenmure  replied,  "  When  I  begin  to  look  upon  my  life,  I 
think  all  is  wrong  in  it,  and  the  lateness  of  my  reckoning  affrighteth 
me :  therefore  stay  with  me,  and  show  me  the  marks  of  a  child  of 
God  ;  for  you  must  be  my  second  in  this  combat,  and  wait  upon  me." 
His  lady  answered,  "  You  must  have  Jesus  Christ  to  be  your 
second  ;"  to  which  he  heartily  said  Amen.  Then  said  he.  "  But 
how  shall  I  know  that  I  am  in  a  state  of  grace?  for  till  I  be 
resolved,  my  will  still  overburdens  me.  You  never  did  set  in  me 
any  tokens  of  true  grace;  and  that  is  my  only  fear."  The  jiastor 
said,  "  I  was  sorry  to  see  you  carried  away  so  fearfully  with 
temptation,  and  you  know,  whether  by  word  or  writ,  I  did  give  you 
faithful  warning  that  it  would  come  to  this.  I  wish  your  soul  were 
deeply  humbled  for  sin.  But  to  your  demand,  I  thought  you  ever 
had  a  love  for  the  saints,  even  the  poorest  and  most  silly,  who  carried 


336  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

Christ's  image,  howbeit  they  could  never  serve  nor  please  you  in  any 
way  Bv  this  we  hiow  we  are  translated  from  death  wito  life, 
?,/,;,;,„  we  lave  the  brethren"  With  this  remark  he  was  after  some 
objections,  convinced.  The  pastor  then  asked  him,  "My  lord,  dare 
yon  now  quit  your  part  of  Christ,  and  subscribe  an  absolute  resigna- 
tion of  him  8  My  lord  said,  "  O  !  Sir,  that  is  too  hard.  I  hope  He 
and  I  have  more  to  do  together:  I  will  be  advised  ere  1  do  that. 
Then  he  asked,  "  What  mark  is  it  to  have  judgment  to  discern  a 
minister  called  and  sent  of  God,  and  an  hireling?"  The  pastor 
allowed  it  as  a  good  mark  also,  and  cited  to  him,  My  sheep  know  my 

At  the  second  conference,  the  minister  urged  the  necessity  of  deep 
humiliation,  and  said,  "My  lord,  you  know  Christ  must,  have  such 
souls  to  work  upon,  and  not  the  whole."  He  answered,  "God 
knoweth  but  that  is  needful.  O!  if  I  could  get  him.  But  sin 
causeth  me  to  be  jealous  of  his  love  to  such  a  man  as  I  have  been." 
"Be  jealous  oi  yourself,  my  lord,"  said  the  pastor,  "but  not  of  Jesus 
Christ,  and  know  that  there  is  no  meeting  betwixt  Christ  and  you, 
except  vou  be  weary  and  laden  ;  for  the  commission  from  the  Father 
is  only  to  the  broken-hearted,  to  the  captives,  to  the  prisoners,  and  to 
the  mourners  in  Zion."  Whereupon  he  said  with  a  deep  sigh  and 
with  tears,  "God  send  me  that!"  and  thereafter  reckoned  out  a 
number  of  sins,  which,  said  he,  "are  as  serpents  and  crocodiles 
before  my  eyes."  Thereafter  he  continued,  "  but  this  hath  been  a 
sudden  warning  that  God  hath  given  me.  What  shall  I  do.  I  am 
afraid  to  die ;  and  I  can  neither  win  through  death,  nor  about  it." 
To  this  the  minister  replied,  "  My  lord,  death  and  you  are  strangers. 
Y<>u  have  not  made  your  acquaintance  with  death.  I  hope  you  will 
tell  another  tale  ere  all  the  play  be  ended  ;  and  you  shall  think  death 
a  sweet  messenger,  who  is  coming  to  fetch  you  up  to  your  Father's 
house."  Upon  this  he  said  with  tears,  "  God  make  it  so !"  and 
desired  the  pastor  to  pray. 

At  the  third  conference,  Kenmure  said,  "  Death  bindeth  me  strait. 
Oh !  how  sweet  a  thing  it  is  to  seek  God  in  health,  and  in  time  of 
prosperity  to  make  up  our  accounts ;  for  now,  through  bodily  pain, 
I  am  bo  distempered  that  I  cannot  get  my  heart  framed  to  think  on 
my  account,  and  on  the  life  to  come."  The  pastor  remarked,  "  It  is 
a  part  of  your  battle  to  light  against  sickness  and  pain,  no  less  than 
against  sin  and  death,  seeing  sickness  is  a  temptation."  My  lord 
answered,  "  I  have  taken  the  play  very  long  :  God  hath  given  me 
live  and  thirty  years  to  repent,  and,  alas !  I  have  mispent  it,  and 
now  I  see  an  ugly  sight." — Then  he  covered  his  face  with  a  linen 
cloth,  and  burst  into  tears,  and  wept  sore.  "My  lord,"  said  the 
pastor,  "they  are  far  behind  that  may  not  follow:  think  not  your 
time  too  late.  Christ's  door  is  yet  half-open:  you  have  time  to 
throng  in,  and  your  time  is  not  all  spent  as  yet;  it's  far  after  noon, 
and  the  hack  of  the  day  is  now  come,  yea,  the  edge  of  the  evening  : 
but  run  fast  that  ye  lie  not  in  the  fields,  and  miss  your  lodging." 
[Jpon  that,  his  lordship  said,  with  his  eyes  lifted  up  to  heaven, 
"Lord,  how  can  I  run?  Draw  me,  and  I  shall  run"  The  pastor 
hearing   that,  desired   him   to  pray,  but   he  answered   nothing; — 


JOHN   GORDON,   VISCOUNT   KENMURE.  337 

within  one  hour  after,  however,  in  the  hearing  of  his  lady  and  the 
minister,  he  prayed  divinely  and  graciously  with  tears.  The 
substance  of  his  prayer  was  a  bemoaning  to  Go*d  of  his  weak  estate, 
both  inward  and  outward;  for,  said  he,  "Lord,  I  am  oppressed  with 
pain  without;  sorrow  and  fear  within.  I  dare  not  knock  at  the  door, 
I  lie  at  it,  but  scraping  as  I  may,  till  thou  come  out  and  take  me  in. 
I  dare  not  speak.  I  look  up  to  thee,  and  wait  on  for  a  kiss  of  Christ's 
fair  face.     Oh!  when  wilt  thou  come?" 

At  the  fourth  conference,  he,  calling  for  the  pastor,  said,  "  I  charge 
you  go  to  a  secret  place  to  God,  and  pray  for  me,  and  take  help  of 
others  with  you,  and  do  it  not  for  the  fashion.  I  know  prayer  will 
bring  Christ  out  of  heaven."  "  My  lord,  what  shall  we  seek  from 
God  for  you?  give  us  a  commission  from  your  own  mouth."  Iven- 
mure  answered,  "  I  charge  you  to  tell  my  beloved  that  I  am  sick  of 
lomP  Then  said  the  pastor,  "  Shall  we  seek  life  and  recovery  for 
you  ?"  He  answered,  "  Yea,  if  it  be  God's  good  pleasure,  for  I  find 
my  fear  of  death  now  less,  and  I  think  God  is  loosing  the  roots  of  this 
deep-grown  tree  of  my  soul,  so  strongly  fastened  to  this  life."  The 
pastor  said,  "  My  lord,  you  must  swear  a  covenant  to  God,  that  if 
he  restore  you  to  this  life  again,  you  shall  renew  your  obedience  to 
God,  and  that  Jesus  Christ  shall  be  dearer  to  your  soul  than  your 
honours,  pleasures,  credit,  place,  baronies,  lands,  and  all  that  you 
have."  He  said,  ere  the  pastor  had  ended,  "  I  believe  so,  and  all  too 
little  for  him ;  and  by  God's  grace,  I  bind  myself  under  the  pain  of 
everlasting  wrath,  to  abide  by  that  covenant,  if  the  Lord  shall  restore 
me." 

After  this,  his  lordship  conceiving  hope  of  recovery,  became 
exceedingly  careless,  remiss,  and  dead,  and  seldom  called  for  the 
pastor.  For  the  space  of  two  days  he  continued  so,  hoping  to 
recover  ;  howbeit,  upon  no  terms  would  he  permit  him  to  go  home  to 
his  kirk  and  flock  till  the  Lord's  day  was  passed.  This  coldness 
gave  occasion  of  heaviness  to  my  lady  and  the  pastor  and  others,  his 
friends  and  lovers,  seeing  his  care  for  his  soul  so  exceedingly  slacked, 
and  made  the  pastor  go  to  the  physician,  and  ask  his  opinion ;  who 
answered  plainly,  that  there  was  nothing  for  him  but  death,  which 
would  be  certain  if  his  flux  returned,  which,  in  effect,  did  return. 
This  made  the  pastor  go  in  to  him,  and  say,  "  My  lord,  I  have  a 
necessary  business  to  impart  to  you;"  and  he  said,  "Say  on." 
"  You  are  not  aware,  my  lord,  of  a  deep  and  dangerous  temptation 
of  the  devil,  by  which  your  soul  is  insnared  :  You  have  conceived 
hopes  to  return  back  again  to  this  life;  but  I  tell  you, ere  it  be  long, 
you  shall  be  presented  before  the  Judge  of  the  quick  and  dead,  to 
receive  doom  and  sentence  according  to  your  works.  I  have  a  war- 
rant for  me  to  say  this;  therefore  1  beseech  you,  my  lord,  as  you 
tender  your  own  soul's  salvation,  be  not  deceived.  Ere  it  be  long, 
time  will  be  no  more  with  you ;  eternity  is  drawing  011 ;  your  glass  i- 
shorter  than  you  are  awrare  of;  Satan  would  be  glad  to  steal  you  out 
of  this  life  sleeping."  The  physician  likewise  seconded  these  words, 
and  faithfully  gave  him  warning  of  the  danger  of  his  disease.  After 
these  words  he  took  the  pastor  by  the  hand,  and  said,  "  That  he  ex- 
perienced faithful  and  plain  dealing ;  this  man  will  not  sunder  till 
22 


33S 


SCOTS   WORTHIES. 


death  sunder  us.  Now  I  will  set  aside  all  these  things  ;  I  know  one 
thing  la  needful.  It  was  but  the  folly  of  ray  deceiving  heart,  to  look 
back  over  my  Bhoulder  to  this  life,  when  I  was  fairly  on,  once  in  my 
journey  towards  heaven;"  and  therefore  he  caused  all  men  go  out 
of  the  chamber,  save  only  the  pastor,  that  he  might  converse  with 
him  concerning  the  state  of  his  soul."  After  prayer,  the  pastor  said, 
••  M\  lord,  1  perceive  I  have  been  deceived,  and  your  lordship  also  ; 
for  your  joy,  I  fear,  hath  not  been  well  rooted,  neither  your  humilia- 
tion  so  deep  as  need  were ;  we  must  dig  deeper  to  seek  a  lower  foun- 
dation ;  for,  when  I  think  of  your  coldness  in  devotion,  and  your 
untimely  relenting  in  the  necessary  works  of  making  your  reckoning 
with  your  Jiulge,  upon  vain  conceived  hope  of  recovery  of  health,  I 
Bee  certainly  the  work  is  not  sure, — one  pin  is  loose.  Your  lordship 
knows,  that  this  church  and  country  have  been  grievously  offended 
at  many  gross  and  open  sins  in  you,  both  against  the  first  and  second 
table  01  the  law."  Upon  this,  the  pastor  burdened  him  with  sundry 
particulars,  and  told  him  plainly,  and  said,  "My  lord,  my  mistake 
of  the  case  of  your  soul  has  been  from  hence,  that  you  have  never 
cleared  yourself  of  many  predominant  and  bosom  sins,  whereof  I 
both  spoke  and  wrote  to  you,  and  may  remember  how  malcontent 
sou  were  at  a  sharp  letter  of  many  particulars  that  I  wrote  to  your 
lordship;  and  how,  at  your  house  at  Rusco,  you  made  half  a  chal- 
lenge of  it  to  me ;  for  I  found  you  always  witty  to  shift  and  cover 
anything  whereof  you  were  rebuked.  Iiowbeit,  at  my  first  coming 
to  this  country,  when  you  sided  too  much  with  a  gentleman  of  your 
name,  who  killed  a  man  vilely,  you  promised  willingly  to  receive  and 
take  in  good  part,  what  I  freely  told  your  lordship  was  amiss." 
Whereupon  my  lord  reckoned  up  a  number  of  fearful  sins,  and 
amongst  others,  he  ingeniously  and  freely  confessed  his  sin  in  de- 
serting the  last  parliament,  and  said,  "  God  knoweth  I  did  it  with 
the  fearful  wrestlings  of  my  conscience,  my  light  paying  me  home 
within,  when  I  seemed  to  be  glad  and  joyful  before  men  ;  yet  I  did 
it  for  fear  of  incurring  the  indignation  of  my  prince,  and  the  loss  of 
further  honour,  which  I  certainly  expected;  but  wo  !  wo!  to  honour 
or  anything  else,  bought  with  the  loss  of  peace  of  conscience,  and 
favour." 
The  pastor  being  struck  with  fear  and  astonishment  at  the  reckon- 
ing of  those  fearful  sins  which  my  lord  had  kept  close, — notwith- 
standing Buch  fair  appearance  of  a  sound  grace  in  his  soul,  as  he  had 
conceived— stood  up,  and  read  to  him  the  first  eight  verses  of  the 
6th  chapter  of  the  Hebrews,  and  discoursed  to  him  of  the  far  on- 
going  of  reprobates  in  the  way  of  heaven,  and  of  their  taste  of  the 
good  word  of  (iod,  and  of  the  virtues  of  the  life  to  come,  and  yet 
are  true  reprobates;  and  cited  also  Rev.  xxi, — "But  the  fearful,  and 
the  nnbeliet  ing,  and  the  abominable,  and  murderers,  shall  have  their 
part  in  the  lake  that  burnetii  with  fire  and  brimstone;  which  is  the 
Becond  death ;" — and  told  him  what  everlasting  burning  was-  and 
with  that,  the  pastor  I urned  his  back  and  said,  "  Now,  my  lord  I 
have  not  one  word  of  mercy  from  the  Lord  to  say  to  you;  God  hath 
sealed  up  my  lips,  that  1  dare  speak  nothing  to  you  but  one  thing 
the  wrath  am  I  ire  of  God  Almighty."    My  lord  hearing  this  with  tears.' 


JOHN  GORDON,  VISCOUNT  KENMURE.  339 

cried  out  so  that  they  heard  him  in  the  withdrawing  room,  and  in  all 
the  houses  about ;  then  he  said,  "  God,  armed  in  wrath,  is  coming 
against  me  to  beat  out  my  brains.  I  would  die ;  I  would  not  die  ; 
I  dare  not  live  ;  O  !  what  a  burden  the  hand  of  an  angry  God !  0  ! 
what  shall  I  do  !  Is  there  no  hope  of  mercy  ?"  Then  in  a  fearful 
agony  he  lay  a  long  time  weeping ;  so  that  those  who  attended  ran 
in  and  said  the  pastor  had  no  skill  ;  he  would  kill  him  ;  and  others 
said,  I  pray  you  beware,  you  will  not  fail  to  thrust  him  into  despair. 
The  pastor,  not  content  with  those  words,  bore  with  them,  however, 
but  went  to  a  quiet  place,  and  sought  from  God  his  salvation,  and 
words  from  God  to  speak  to  his  lordship.  Some  said  that  the  pastor 
was  a  miserable  comforter.  After  this,  another  minister  came  to 
visit  him,  to  whom  Kenmure  said,  "  He  hath  slain  me  ;"  and  before 
the  pastor  could  answer  anything  for  himself,  said  further,  "  Not  he, 
but  the  Spirit  of  God  in  him."  "  No !"  said  the  pastor,  "  Not  I,  but 
the  law  hath  slain  you.  And,  my  lord,  I  say  yet  again,  the  God  of 
heaven  hath  a  terrible  process  against  your  father's  house,  and  a 
deep  and  bloody  controversy  with  the  stones  and  furniture  of  the 
house  of  Kenmure  ;  and,  my  lord,  your  name  is  in  the  process ;  see 
how  you  can  free  yourself.  God  is  not  mocked."  The  other  minis- 
ter read  to  him  the  history  of  Manasses,  his  most  wicked  life,  and 
how  the  Lord  was  entreated  of  him,  and  gave  him  mercy ;  but  the 
former  pastor  went  still  upon  wrath,  and  asked  him,  saying,  "  My 
lord,  you  are  extremely  pained,  I  know,  both  in  body  and  mind  ; 
what  think  you  of  the  lake  of  fire  and  brimstone,  of  everlasting 
burnings,  and  of  utter  darkness  with  the  devil  and  his  angels  ?"  To 
which  he  replied,  "  Wo  is  me  ;  what  can  I  think  of  it !  I  think  if  I 
should  suffer  my  thoughts  to  dwell  upon  it  any  space,  it  were 
enough  to  cause  me  to  go  out  of  my  wits  ;  but  I  pray  you  what  shall 
my  soul  do  2"  The  pastor  answered,  "  I  am  where  I  was  :  God 
knoweth  I  dissemble  not ;  I  have  not  one  word  of  mercy  to  say  to 
you;  only  I  know  Christ  hath  not  given  out  the  doom  against  you  ; 
the  sentence  is  yet  suspended  ;  therefore,  mourn  and  sorrow  for  the 
offending  of  your  God."  "  What,  my  lord,"  added  the  pastor,  "  if 
Christ  had  given  out  a  sentence  of  condemnation,  and  come  to  your 
bedside,  and  told  you  of  it,  would  you  not  still  love  him,  and  trust  in 
him,  and  hang  upon  him  ?"  Kenmure  said,  "  God  knoweth,  I  durst 
not  challenge  him  ;  yea,  howbeit  he  should  not  love  me,  yet  I  will  still 
love  him ;  yea,  though  the  Lord  should  slay  me,  yet  will  I  trust  in 
him  :  I  will  lie  down  at  God's  feet ;  let  him  trample  upon  me  ;  I  will 
die,  if  I  die  at  Christ's  feet."  Finding  my  lord  claiming  kindred  to 
Christ,  and  hearing  him  cry  often,  "  Oh !  Son  of  God,  where  art 
thou?  When  wilt  thou  come  to  me?  Oh,  for  a  love  look!"  the 
pastor  said,  "  Is  it  possible,  my  lord,  that  you  can  love  and  long  for 
Christ,  and  he  not  love  and  long  for  you  ?  Or  can  love  and  kind- 
ness stand  only  on  your  side  ?  Is  your  poor,  weak,  unworthy  love 
greater  than  infinite  love,  seeing  he  hath  said,  '  Can  a  woman  forget 
her  sucking  child,  that  she  should  not  have  compassion  on  the  son  ot 
her  womb"?  yea,  she  may  forget,  yet  will  I  not  forget  thee.'  'Be- 
hold I  have  graven  thee  on  the  'palms  of  my  hands.'  And  there- 
fore your  loving  and  longing  for  Christ  is  a  fire  of  God's  kindling. 


i: 


SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

My  lord,  persuade  yourself  you  are  graven  on  the  palms  of  God's 
hands." 

Upon  this,  his  lordship,  with  a  hearty  smile,  looked  about  to  a 
gentleman,  a  good  Christian,  whom  he  had  commanded  to  attend  his 
body  till  his  dying  hour,  and  said,  "I  am  written  upon  the  palms  of 
Christ's  hands ;  he  will  not  forget  me.  Is  this  not  brave  talking?" 
The  pastor  finding  him  weaker,  said,  "My  lord,  the  marriage  feast  is 
drawing  near ;  make  ready  the  marriage  robes ;  set  aside  all  care 
of  your  estate  and  the  world ;  and  give  yourself  to  meditation, 
rayer,  and  spiritual  conference."  He  was  observed,  after  that,  to 
e  always  in  that  exercise;  and  when  none  was  near  him,  he  was 
overheard  praying  ;  and  many  times,  when  we  thought  he  was  sound 
Bleeping,  he  was  at  prayer.  After  a  sleep  he  called  for  the  pastor, 
and  .-aid,  "  I  have  been  troubled  in  my  sleep  with  this,  that  being  at 
peace  with  Gud,  I  am  not  also  at  peace  with  men ;  and,  therefore, 
send  for  such  a  kinsman  (with  whom  I  am  reconciled),  as  also  for  a 
minister  that  had  before  offended  me,  that  I  may  shake  hands  with 
them  ;"  which  was  done  quickly.  "When  the  preacher  came,  he  said, 
"  I  have  ground  of  offence  against  you,  as  a  natural  man,  and  now  I 
do  to  you  what  all  men  breathing  could  not  have  moved  me  to  do; 
but  now  because  the  Holy  Spirit  commands  me,  I  must  obey,  and 
therefore  I  freely  forgive  you,  as  I  would  wish  you  to  forgive  me. 
You  are  in  an  eminent  place ;  walk  before  God,  and  be  faithful  in 
your  calling,  and  take  heed  to  your  steps  ;  walk  in  the  right  road  ; 
hold  your  eye  right ;  for  all  the  world,  decline  not  from  holiness,  and 
take  example  by  me."  He  wished  the  pastor  to  sleep  in  a  bed  made 
upon  the  ground  beside  him,  within  the  chamber,  and  urged  him 
against  his  will  to  lie  down  and  sleep,  and  said,  "  You  and  I  have  a 
fur  journey  to  go;  make  you  for  it."  Some  four  nights  before  his 
death,  he  would  drink  a  cup  of  wine  to  the  pastor,  who  answered, 
I  receive  it,  my  lord,  in  hope  you  shall  drink  of  the  pure  river  of  the 
water  of  life,  proceeding  from  the  throne  of  God,  and  of  the  Lamb  ;" 
and  when  the  cup  was  in  his  hand,  with  a  smiling  countenance  he 
said,  "  I  think  I  have  good  cause  to  drink  with  a  good  will  to  you." 

After  some  heaviness,  the  pastor  said,  "  My  lord,  I  come  with 
news  to  you."  He  incpuied,  "  What  are  they  ?"  The  pastor  replied, 
"  Be  not  afraid  of  death  and  judgment,  because  the  process  that 
yi  >ur  judge  had  against  you  is  cancelled  and  rent  in  pieces,  and  Jesus 
Christ  hath  trampled  it  under  his  feet :  your  dittay  is  burnt."  My 
lord  Baid,  very  pithily,  with  a  smile,  "  O!  that  is  a  lucky  tale:  I  will 
then  believe  and  rejoice  ;  for  sure  I  am  that  Jesus  Christ  and  I  once 
met,  and  will  he  nut  come  again?"  The  pastor  said,  "My  lord,  you 
have  gotten  the  first  fruits  of  the  Spirit — the  earnest;  and  Christ 
will  not  lose  his  earnest:  therefore  the  bargain  betwixt  Christ  and 
you  holdeth."  He  then  asked  him,  "  What  is  Christ  like,  that  I 
may  know  him  5"  "  He  is  like  love  and  altogether  .lovely,"  said  the 
pastor;  "love  cannot  but  be  known  wheresoever  it  is.  My  lord,  if 
you  had  the  man  Christ  in  your  arms  now,  would  you  not  thrust  him 
to  your  heart,  howbeit  your  heart  and  side  be  pained  with  a  stitch  ?" 
He  answered,  "God  knoweth,  I  would  forget  my  pain,  and  thrust 
him  iuto  my  heart ;  yea,  if  I  had  my  heart  in  the  palm  of  my  hand, 


JQHN   GORDON,   VISCOUNT   KENMURE.  341 

I  would  give  it  to  him,  and  think  it  too  unworthy  a  gift  for  him." 
He  complained  of  Jesus  Christ  going  and  coming.  "  I  find,"  said 
he,  "  my  soul  drowneth  with  heaviness  :  when  the  Lord  cometh,  he 
stayeth  not  long."  The  pastor  said,  "  Wooers  dwell  not  together ; 
but  married  folks  take  up  house  together  and  sunder  not.  Jesus 
Christ  is  now  wooing,  and  therefore  he  feedeth  his  own  with  hunger, 
which  is  as  growing  meat,  as  the  sense  of  his  presence." 

After  a  sound  sleep,  in  the  dawning,  the  pastor  said,  "  My  lord, 
where  lay  Christ  all  night  ?  Did  not  your  well-beloved  lie  as  a  bun- 
dle of  myrrh  betwixt  your  breasts  ?"  He  answered,  "  Nay,  not 
betwixt  my  breasts,  but  betwixt  my  breasts  locked  in  my  heart.  He 
asked,  "  When  will  my  heart  be  loosed,  and  my  tongue  untied,  that 
I  may  express  the  sweetness  of  the  love  of  God  to  my  soul  T  and 
before  the  pastor  answered  anything,  he  answered  himself,  "  even 
when  the  wind  bloweth."  Being  asked  "  what  was  his  judgment 
concerning  the  ceremonies  now  entered  in  the  kirk  of  God  P  "  I 
think  and  am  persuaded  in  my  conscience,"  said  he,  "  they  are  supersti- 
tious, idolatrous,  and  antichristian,  and  come  from  hell,  and  I  repute 
it  a  mercy,  that  my  eyes  shall  not  see  the  desolation  that  shall  come 
upon  this  poor  church.  It's  plain  popery  that  is  coming  among  3-011 ; 
God  help  me !  God  forgive  the  nobility  !  for  they  are  either  key-cold, 
or  ready  to  welcome  popery ;  whereas  they  should  resist ;  and  wo 
be  to  a  dead  time-serving,  and  profane  ministry  ;  they  are  but  a  com- 
pany of  dumb  dogs !"  He  called  his  lady,  and  a  gentleman  who 
was  a  friend  to  her,  and  who  had  come  a  good  way  to  meet  him  witli 
the  pastor,  causing  the  chamber  door  to  be  shut  upon  all  others,  and 
from  his.  bed  directed  his  speech  to  the  gentleman,  saying,  "  I  ever 
found  you  kind  and  honest  to  me  all  the  time  of  my  life  ;  therefore, 
I  must  now  give  you  a  charge,  which  you  shall  deliver  to  all  the 
noblemen  you  know,  and  with  whom  you  are  acquainted.  Tell  them 
all  how  heavy  I  have  found  the  weight  of  the  Lord's  hand  upon  me, 
for  not  giving  testimony  to  the  Lord  my  God,  when  1  had  occasion 
once  in  my  life  at  the  last  parliament.  For  this  foul  fault,  how  fierce 
have  I  felt  the  wrath  of  the  Lord  my  God  !  My  soul  hath  raged 
and  roared.  I  have  been  grieved  to  the  heart.  Tell  them  that  they 
will  be  as  I  am  now.  Encourage  others  that  stand  for  the  Lord. 
Tell  them  that  failed,  that,  as  even  they  would  wish  to  have  mercy 
when  they  are  as  I  am  now,  that  they  should  repent  and  crave 
mercy  from  God.  Would  to  God  I  had  such  an  occasion  again,  to 
testify  my  love  to  the  Lord  ?  For  all  the  earth,  should  I  not  do  as  I 
have  done." 

Upon  Friday  morning,  the  12th  of  September,  the  day  of  his  de- 
parture from  this  life,  he  said  to  the  pastor,  "  This  night  must  I  sup 
with  Jesus  Christ  in  paradise."  After  prayer  he  said,  "  I  conceive 
good  hopes  that  God  looketh  on  me,  when  he  gives  his  servants  such 
liberty  to  pray  for  me.  Is  it  possible  that  Jesus  Christ  can  lose  his 
hold  of  me?  Neither  can  my  soul  get  itself  plucked  from  J 
Christ."  He  earnestly  desired  a  sense  of  God's  presence;  and  the 
pastor  said,  "AVdiat,  my  lord,  if  that  be  suspended  till  you  com.'  bo 
your  home,  and  be  before  the  throne,  clothed  in  white,  and  get  your 
harp  in  your  hand,  to  sing  salvation  to  the  Lamb,  and  to  him  that 


342  SCOTS  WORTHIES. 

sitteth  on  the  throne ;  for  that  is  heaven ;  and  who  dare  promise  it 
to  yon  on  earth?    There  is  a  piece  of  nature  in  desiring  a  sense  of 
God's  love ;  it  being  an  apple  that  the  Lord's  children  delight  to 
play  wi'.h.     But,  my  lord,  if  von  would  have  it  only  as  a  pledge  ot 
your  salvation,  we  shall  seek  it  from  the  Lord  for  you,  and  you  may 
lawfully  pray  for  it."     Earnest  prayers  were  made  for  him,  and  he 
testified  that" he  was  filled  with  a  sense  of  the  Lord's  love.     Being 
asked  what  he  thought  of  the  world,  he  answered,  "  It  is  more  bitter 
than  gall  or  wormwood.''     Being  demanded  if  now  he  feared  death, 
he  answered,  "  I  have  tasted  death  now.     It  is  not  a  whit  bitter : 
welcome  the  messenger  of  Jesus  Christ!"     He  never  left  off  mourn- 
ing for  his  sins,  especially  his   deserting  the  parliament.     To  which 
the  pastor  said,  "  There  is  a  process   between  the  Lord  and  your 
father's  house,  but  your  name  is  taken  out  of  it.     How  dear,  dear, 
was  heaven  bought  for  you  by  your  Saviour  Jesus  Christ  ?" — "  I 
know  there  is  wrath  against  my  father's   house,  but  I  shall  get  my 
Boul  for  a  prey  ;''  which  words  he    had  frequently  in   his   mouth. 
Ofttimes   also  "he    said,   "  Is    not    this   a    sweet  word    that    God 
eaith,    'As   I  live,   I   delight  not  in   the   death   of  a  sinner?'     I 
will   nut   let   go   the   hold"  that   I   have   got   of    Christ :    '  Though 
he  should  slay  me,   yet   will    I   trust  in   him,'  and  lie  at  his  feet 
and  die  there,  and  lie  at  his  door,  like  a  beggar,  waiting  on  him, 
and  if  I  may  not  knock,  I  may  scrape."     He  had  another  expression 
very  often, — "  Oh,  son  of  God  !  one  love-blink,  one  smile  !"     After 
he  had  been  in  a  deep  meditation  on  his  change  of  life,  he  put  this 
question,  ""What  will  Jesus  Christ  be  like  when  he  cometh  ?"     It 
was  answered,  "  All  lovely."     On  this  day  he  said  to  the  doctor,  "  I 
thought  to  have  been  dissolved  ere  now."     The  pastor  answered, 
''My  lord,  weary  not  of  the  Lord's  yoke  :  Jesus  Christ  is  posting 
fast  to  be  at  you  ;  he  is  within  a  few  miles."     He  answered  mildly, 
"This  is  my  infirmity.     I  will  wait  on;  he  is  worthy  the  on-waiting. 
Though  he  be  long  in  coming,  yet  I  dare  say  he  is  coming,  leaping 
over  the  mountains,  and  skipping  over  the   hills.     If  he  were  once 
come,  we  shall  not  sunder."'     The  pastor  said,  "  Some  have  gotten 
their  till  of  Christ  in  this  life  ;  though  he  is  often   under  a  mask  to 
his  own.     Even  his  best  saints,  Job,  David,  Jeremiah,  etc.,  were 
under  desertions."     His  lordship  answered,  ww  What  are  those  exam- 
ples to  me  !     I  am  not  in  holiness  near  to  Job,  David,  or  Jeremiah." 
The  minister  replied,  "It  is  true,  my  lord,  you  cannot  take  so  wide 
Bteps  a-  they  did,  but  you  are  in  the  same  way  with  them.     A  young 
child  followetfa  his  lather  at  the   back;  and  though  he  cannot  take 
such  wide  Bteps  as  he,  yet  this  hindereth  him  not  to  be  in  the  same 
way  with  him.     My  lord,  your  hunger  overcometh  your  faith, — only 
believe  his  word.     You  are  longing  for  Christ, — only  believe  he  is 
faithful,  and  will  come  quickly."    To  this  Kenmure  said,  "  I  think 
It  time;  Lord  Jesus,  come!"    Then  said  the  pastor,  "  My  lord,  our 
nature  is  in  trouble  to  be  wholly  upon  our  own  deliverance;  whereas 
God  Beeketh  first  to  he  glorified  in  our  faith,  and  patience,  and  hope; 
and  then  it  is  time  enough  that  we   he  delivered.''    He  answered, 
"There  is  good  reason  that  my  Lord  be  first  served.     Lord,  give  me 
to  wait  on;  only,  Lord,  burn  me  not  to  dross."     Another  said",  "  Cast 


ROBERT   CUNNINGHAM.  343 

back  your  eyes,  my  lord,  on  what  you  have  received,  and  be  thank- 
ful." At  the  hearing  whereof,  he  presently  brake  forth  in  praising 
of  God  ;  and  finding  himself  weak,  and  his  speech  failing,  more  than 
an  hour  before  his  death,  he  desired  the  pastor  to  pray, — which  he 
did.  After  prayer,  the  minister  cried  in  his  ear,  "  My  lord,  can  you 
now  sunder  with  Christ  ?"  He  said  nothing  ,  nor  was  it  expected 
he  would  speak  any  more.  Yet  a  little  after,  the  minister  asked, 
"  Have  ye  any  sense  of  the  Lord's  love  ?"  He  answered,  "  I  have 
sense."  The  pastor  said,  "Do  you  not  enjoy?"  He  answered,  "  I 
do  enjoy."  Thereafter  said  the  pastor,  "  Will  ye  not  sunder  with 
Christ?"  He  replied,  "  By  no  means."  This  was  the  last  word,  not 
being  able  to  speak  any  more.  The  pastor  then  asked  if  he  should 
pray.  Kenmure  turned  his  eye  towards  him.  In  the  time  of  that 
last  prayer,  he  was  observed  smiling  joyfully,  looking  up  with  glori- 
ous looks,  as  was  observed  by  the  beholders,  and  with  a  certain  splen- 
dour his  visage  was  beautified,  as  comely  as  ever  he  was  in  his  life. 
He  expired  with  loud  and  strong  fetches  and  sobs,  being  strong  of 
heart  and  body,  of  the  age  of  five  and  thirty  years.  The  expiring 
of  his  breath,  the  ceasing  of  the  motion  of  his  pulse  (which  the  phy- 
sician was  still  holding),  ceased  all  precisely  with  the  Amen  of  his 
prayer,  and  so  he  died  sweetly  and  holily,  and  his  end  was  peace. 
He  departed  about  the  setting  of  the  sun,  September  the  12th. 
1634. 

"  Blessed  are  they  who  die  in  the  Lord." 


ROBERT   CUNNINGHAM. 


Of  the  birth-place  and  early  life  of  this  godly  man,  nothing  seems 
to  be  known.  The  first  notice  we  have  concerning  him  i*,  that  after 
having  qualified  himself  for  the  ministry,  he  was  appointed  chap- 
lain to  a  regiment  commanded  by  the  duke  of  Buccleugh,  at  that 
time  in  Holland.  He  was  afterwards  settled  minister  at  Holyrood, 
in  Ireland,  sometime  before  Mr.  Blair's  appointment  to  Bangor,  with 
whom  he  established  an  accpuaintance  which  proved  a  source  01 
great  comfort  and  usefulness  to  both. 

He  applied  himself  so  closely  to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  and 
took    so  much  delight  in  preaching,  that  when   in  the    pulpit, 
seemed  like  a  fish  in  the  water,  or  a  bird  in  the  air.  ^  There  lie  con- 
sidered that  a  Christian  minister  might  enjoy  much  fellowship  • 


344 


SCOTS   WORTHIES. 


Christ,  and  at  the  same  time  do  him  the  most  acceptable  of  all  ser- 
vices:'always  bearing  in  mind  what  the  Saviour  said  to  Peter, — 
-1  m v  lambs— feed  my  sheep!1'  ,    ^ 

II,  continued  to  exercise  his  ministry  at  Holyrood,  as  a  faithful 
pastor  among  the  flock  over  whom  he  had  been  appointed  over- 
seer, imtil  several  of  his  brethren  were  deposed  and  ejected  by  the 
bishops;  at  which  time  the  bishop  of  Down  threatened  Mr.  Blair 
with  a  prosecution  against  himself,  Cunningham,  and  several  others. 
To  this  Blair  replied,  "  Ye  may  do  with  me  and  some  others  as 
ye  please;  but  if  ever  ye  meddle  with  Mr.  Cunningham,  your  cup 
will  be  full."  And  indeed  he  was  longer  spared  than  any  of  the  rest, 
which  was  a  great  blessing  to  their  flocks  ;  for,  after  they  were 
ejected,  he  preached  every  week  in  one  or  other  of  their  kirks.  But 
t lie  severe  exercise  to  which  he  thus  subjected  himself,  both  at  home 
and  abroad,  gradually  undermined  his  constitution,  which  at  no 
former  period  had  been  remarkable  for  vigour. 

When  Blair  and  Livingstone  were  summoned  to  appear  before  the 
bishop  to  hear  their  deposition,  they  went,  the  night  previous, 
to  take  leave  of  Cunningham  ;  and,  having  done  so,  they  were  not  a 
little  surprised  next  day,  when  he  came  up  to  them  as  they  were 
going  to  the  church  of  Parphillips.  After  mutual  salutations,  and 
having  asked  what  was  the  cause  of  this  unexpected  appearance, 
Cunningham  replied — "  I  have  been  troubled  all  night  with  that 
passage — At  my  first  answer  no  man  stood  with  me  /  therefore  I  am 
come  to  stand  by  you."  However,  being  very  offensive  to  the  pre- 
latical  clergy  in  that  part  of  the  country,  it  was  not  to  be  expected 
that  lie  should  be  permitted  to  exercise  his  ministry  long;  and  there- 
fore he  was  ejected  from  his  charge,  in  August,  1636,  along  writh 
others  of  his  faithful  brethren.  The  episcopalian  party  being  power- 
fully predominant,  and  not  knowing  what  cruelty  might  yet  be  in  re- 
i1  him,  he  entertained,  for  a  short  time,  the  idea  of  emigrating 
to  New  England ;  but  Providence,  in  his  wisdom,  overruled  the 
intention.  Being  obliged  to  leave  Ireland,  in  company  with  a  num- 
ber of  his  suffering  brethren,  he  landed  at  Irvine,  in  Scotland,  where, 
having  caught  fever,  he  soon  bade  adieu  to  all  his  earthly  sufferings, 
on  the  27thMarch,  1637. 

Ilr  was  a  man  much  under  deep  exercise  of  mind  ;  and,  although 
in  his  public  ministrations  he  complained  sometimes  of  the  want  of 
divine  illumination  and  assistance;  yet  it  was  remarked,  that  even 
al  these  times  his  sermons  were  found  most  edifying  and  refreshing  ; 
being  carried  through  with  a  full  gale,  and  using  more  piercing  ex- 
pressione  than  many  others.  The  clay  before  his  death,  the  members 
of  the  presbytery  of  Irvine  paid  him  a  visit,  whom  he  exhorted  to 
be  faithful  to  Christ  and  his  cause,  and  to  oppose  the  Service-book 
then  pressed  upon  the  church.  "The  bishop/'  said  he,  "  hath  taken 
my  ministry  from  me,  and  I  may  say  my  life  also' — for  my  ministry 
is  dearer  to  me  than  my  life."  During  his  illness,  besides  many 
other  gracious  expressions,  he  said; — "  I  see  Christ  standing  over 
tli's  head,  saying,  k  Deal  warily  with  my  servant;  loose  thou  this 
pin,  then  that  pin;  for  his  tabernacle  must  be  set  up  again  !' "  A 
little  before  his  departure,  as  his  wife  was  sitting  by  his  bedside,  wTith 


JAMES   MITCHELL. 


345 


his  hand  in  hers,  lie  recommended  in  prayer  to  God,  the  whole 
church  of  Ireland,  the  parish  of  Holyrood,  his  persecuted  breth] 
and  his  children  ;  adding,  at  the  same  time,  these  words — "  Lord,  I 
recommend  this  gentlewoman  to  thee,  who  is  no  more  my  wife  •"— 
and,  with  that  he  softly  disengaged  his  hand  from  hers,  and  gently 
put  it  a  little  distance  from  him.  At  this  she  and  several  of&  those 
who  were  present  burst  into  tears  ;  but  he  endeavoured  to  comfort 
them  with  many  heavenly  expressions,  and  with  the  Lord's  servant 
of  old,  "  having  served  his  own  generation,  by  the  will  of  God  he 
fell  asleep,"  and  was  gathered  unto  his  fathers. 


JAMES  MITCHELL. 


This  exemplary  youth  was  the  son  of  James  Mitchell  of  Dykes, 
factor  to  the  earl  of  Eglinton ;  a  man  of  singular  piety  and  godli- 
ness. The  subject  of  this  narrative  was  born  about  the  year  1021  ; 
and,  after  receiving  a  liberal  education,  was  sent  to  the  university  of 
St.  Andrew's  when  very  young ;  where  his  progress  in  literature  was 
so  rapid  and  sure,  that  by  the  time  he  had  reached  his  eighteenth 
year,  he  had  attained  to  the  distinguished  honour  of  Master  of  Arts. 

Soon  after  this  he  returned  to  his  father's  house,  where  he  remained 
for  nearly  two  years  and  a  half,  pursuing  his  studies  with  unwearied 
diligence,  and  the  Lord  blessing  his  exertions  with  remarkable  suc- 
cess. In  these  he  wns  greatly  assisted  by  the  kindness  of  Mr.  Robert 
Baillie,  minister  of  Kilwinning,  who  lent  him  books,  aided  him  by 
his  counsel,  and  gave  directions  for  the  order  of  his  studies. 

About  this  time  he  was  selected  by  lady  Houston,  to  superintend 
the  education  of  her  eldest  son  at  college  ;  and  in  this  employment 
he  continued  other  two  years  and  a  half,  during  which  time  the  Lord 
blessed  his  own  studies  exceedingly.  Besides  the  marks  of  attention 
shown  by  Baillie,  he  was  also  particularly  noticed  by  Mr.  Dickson, 
then  a  professor  in  the  university  of  Glasgow,  and  enabled  to  pass 
his  trials  for  the  ministry,  with  much  satisfaction.  Having  obtained 
license  to  preach  the  gospel,  he  made  his  first  public  appearances  in 
the  parish  of  Kilwinning  and  Stevenston,  where  he  made  such  an 
eminent  display,  as  to  call  forth  the  gratitude  of  all  who  heard  him, 
that  the  Lord  had  been  pleased  to  call  into  his  service,  a  man  who 
gave  such  powerful  indications  of  future  usefulness. 

In  the  end  of  Autumn,  1643,  he  returned  to  Glasgow  with  his 


34:6 


SCOTS   WORTHIES. 


pupil  and  applied  himself  with  untiring  diligence,  both  to  his  own 
mental  improvement,  and  that  of  the  young  man  who  had  been 
i. laced  under  his  charge.  There  he  preached  repeatedly,  pleasing, 
both  by  his  manner  and  doctrine,  all  who  loved  Christ  and  his  cause 
and  wospel.  In  confirmation  of  this,  three  of  the  excellent  ministers 
of  that  period,  Baillie,  Dickson,  and  Eamsay,  told  his  father  that  he 
had  much  reason  to  bless  God  for  the  eminent  talents  conferred  upon 
his  son,  and  for  the  gifts  and  graces  so  conspicuously  bestowed  upon 
him,— adding  what  was  of  far  higher  importance,  that  the  Lord  had 
in  reality  made  a  saving  change  upon  his  heart,  and  was  dealing 
very  graciously  with  his  soul. 

Mitchell  had  given  himself  much  to  prayer,  and  the  study  of  the 
Scriptures,  and  reading  therein  was  now  become  his  delight ;  but  the 
Lord  having  other  thoughts  concerning  him,  in  a  short  time  all  these 
high  expectations  of  him  in  the  ministry  were  frustrated.  By  his 
extreme  abstinence,  indefatigable  application  to  study  without 
necessary  bodily  exercise,  drinking  too  copiously  of  water,  with 
other  inattentions  to  bodily  health,  he  contracted  a  disease,  which 
soon  after  terminated  his  days.  His  body  began  to  decay,  for  want 
of  appetite,  and  his  constitution  very  soon  gave  way.  Dickson  was 
extremely  grieved  at  his  condition,  and  took  him  to  his  own  house 
for  fifteen  days,  in  the  hope  that  his  health  might  improve  ;  but  as 
there  was  no  change  for  the  better,  he  went  to  Houston,  and  remained 
as  long  there.  The  attentions  of  lady  Houston  and  her  daughter 
were  very  great ;  not  only  for  the  care  he  had  bestowed  upon  his 
young  scholar,  but  also  for  the  rare  gifts  and  graces  which  God  had 
conferred  upon  him.  Baillie  was  in  London  at  the  time.  At  length 
his  father  having  sent  for  him,  he  returned  home.  After  the  first 
day  of  his  journey,  he  remained  all  night  with  Ralston ;  and  the 
laird  of  Ducathall  being  there,  he  accompanied  Mitchell  the  rest  of 
the  way ;  because  in  consequence  of  his  extreme  weakness,  it  was 
frccpiently  necessary  for  him  to  alight  and  rest,  not  being  able  to 
ride  more  than  two  miles  at  a  time. 

After  he  arrived  at  his  father's  house,  he  rose  and  dressed  himself 
iy  day  for  fifteen  days;  but,  after  that,  till  the  day  of  his  death, 
which  was  ten  weeks  after,  he  was  confined  constantly  to  bed. 
During  all  that  time,  however,  he  experienced  large  measures  of 
mercy  and  grace,  both  in  body  and  soul.  His  body,  from  complete 
exhaustion,  was  reduced  to  that  of  a  skeleton;  but  his  countenance 
continued  pleasant,  comely,  and  well-coloured  to  the  last.  During 
the  last  five  or  six  weeks  of  his  life,  he  was  attended  by  three  or  four 
persons,  and  sometimes  more,  at  a  time;  but  they  never  had  reason 
weary.  On  the  contrary  they  were  refreshed  daily  by  the  many 
wise,  sweet,  and  gracious  discourses  that  proceeded  out  of  his  mouth. 
His  last  words  were  these: — "Lord,  open  the  gates  that  I  may  enter 
in!" — and,  shortly  after,  his  father  asking  what  he  was  doing, — he 
lifted  up  bis  hands,  and  caused  all  his  fingers  to  twirl.  With  this, 
in  the  presence  of  many  honest  neighbours,  he  yielded  up  his  spirit, 
and  went  to  his  rest,  a  little  after  sunrise,  on  the  11th  of  June,  1613, 
being  then  only  twenty-three  years  of  age. 

Tims,  in  the  bloom  of  youth,  did  this  amiable  person  end  his 


JAMES   MITCHELL.  347 

earthly  warfare,  and  enter  into  Lis  heavenly  inheritance, — a  young 
man,  but  a  ripe  Christian;  and,  it  was  remarked,  that  three  special 
gifts  had  been  vouchsafed  to  him  by  his  Divine  Master;  viz.,  ;i 
notable  invention,  a  great  memory,  and  a  ready  expression.  Ann 
other  fruits  of  his  meditation  and  industry,  he  drew  up  a  model  01 
preaching,  which  he  entitled — "  The  Method  of  Preaching."  Be- 
sides this,  he  left  many  other  manuscripts  ;  none  of  which,  however, 
were  ever  published. 

During  his  illness,  Mitchell  was  possessed  of  all  patience  and 
submission,  and  never  was  heard  to  murmur  in  the  least ;  but  often 
thought  his  Master's  time  well  worth  waiting  on.  He  was  fre- 
quently much  refreshed  by  seeing  and  hearing  good  and  gracious 
neighbours,  who  came  to  visit  him;  so  that  he  had  little  reason  with 
He  man,  to  complain,  "  Lover  and  friend  hast  thou  put  far  from  me, 
and  mine  acquaintance  into  darkness." 

Among  other  gracious  sayings,  he  declaimed  much  against  im- 
prudent speaking,  wishing  it  might  be  amended,  especially  in 
students  and  young  ministers  :  as  being  but  the  froth  and  vanity  of  a 
foolish  mind.  He  lamented  the  pride  of  many  such  in  usurping  a 
priority  of  place,  which  became  them  not,  and  exclaimed  frequently 
against  himself  for  his  own  practice  ;  yet  said  he  was  in  the  strength 
of  God  brought  to  mortify  the  same.  He  frequently  exhorted  his 
parents  to  carry  themselves  to  one  another  as  the  word  of  God 
required,  and  above  all  things  to  fear  God,  and  delight  in  his  word. 
He  often  said,  that  he  dearly  loved  the  Book  of  God,  and  sought 
them  to  be  earnest  in  prayer,  showing  that  it  was  an  unknown  thing, 
and  a  thing  of  another  world,  and  that  the  influence  of  prayer 
behoved  to  come  out  of  heaven ;  and  that  the  spirit  of  supplication 
must  be  wrestled  for,  else  all  prayer  would  be  but  lifeless  and  natural. 
He  mentioned,  that  being  once  with  lady  Houston,  and  some  country 
gentlemen  at  Baglas,  the  spirit  of  prayer  and  supplication  was  poured 
upon  him,  in  such  a  powerful  and  lively  manner,  two  several  days 
before  dinner,  that  all  present  were  much  affected,  and  shed  tears  in 
abundance ;  and  that  yet  at  night  he  found  himself  so  emptied  and 
dead,  that  he  durst  not  venture  to  pray  any  at  all  these  two  nights, 
but  went  to  bed,  and  was  much  vexed  and  cast  down,  none  knowing 
the  reason.  By  this  he  was  from  that  time  convinced,  that  the 
dispensation  and  influence  of  spiritual  and  lively  prayer  came  only 
from  heaven,  and  from  no  natural  abilities  that  were  in  man. 

On  one  occasion,  the  laird  of  Cunningham  coining  to  visit  him,  as 
he  did  frequently,  he  enumerated  all  the  remarkable  passages  of 
God's  goodness  and  providence  towards  him,  especially  since  he 
began  to  grow  weaker;  in  showing  infinite  mercy  to  his  soul,  tender 
compassion  towards  his  body,  patience  and  submission  to  his  will 
without  grudging,  calmness  of  spirit  without  passion,  solid  and 
constant  peace  within  and  without !  "  This,"  said  he,  "  is  far  beyond 
the  Lord's  manner  of  dealing  with  many  of  his  dear  saints ;  and  now, 
Sir,  think  ye  not  that  I  stand  greatly  indebted  to  the  goodness  and 
kindness  of  God,  who  deals  thus  graciously  and  warmly  with  me 
every  way  ?"  After  this  he  burst  out  in  praise  to  God  in  a  sweet  and 
lively  manner. 


348  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

At  another  time,  the  laird  being  present,  Mitchell  looking  out  of 

bed  to  the  sun  shining  brightly  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  house, 

I,  ••  < )  what  a  splendour  and  glory  will  all  the  elect  and  redeemed 

nta  have  one  day  !  and  O !  how  much  more  will  the  glory  of  the 

( !reator  be,  who  shall  communicate  that  glory  to  all  his  own ;  but  the 

shallow  thoughts  of  men  are  not  able  to  conceive  the   excellency 

thereof."  ■ 

in,  Mr.  Macqueen  being  present,  his  father  inquired  at  him 
wherein  our  communion  with  God  stood  ?  He  said,  "  in  reconciliation 
and  peace  with  him,  which  is  the  first  effect  of  our  justification  ;" 
then,  he  observed,  there  is  access  and  love  to  God,  patience  and 
submission  to  his  will,  &c;  then  the  Lord  manifests  himself  to  us,  as 
Christ  says  himself,  "Ye  shall  know  that  T  am  in  the  Father,  and 
vou  in  me,  and  I  in  you."  And  again,  "He  that  loveth  me,  shall 
loved  of  my  Father,  and  I  will  love  him,  and  manifest  myself 
unto  him." 

One  morning,  to  Hugh  Macgavinand  his  father  he  said,  "I  am  not 
afraid  of  death,  for  I  rest  on  infinite  mercy,  procured  by  the  blood 
of  the  Lamb."  Then  he  spake  as  to  himself,  "  Fear  not,  little  flock, 
it  is  the  Father's  good  pleasure  to  give  you  the  kingdom:"  and  then 
said.  '-What  are  these  who  are  of  this  little  flock?  Even  sinners. 
'  I  came  not  to  call  the  righteous,  but  sinners  to  repentance." 

Another  morning,  he  said  twice,  "  My  soul  longeth  for  the  Lord 
more  than  they  that  watch  for  the  morning."  At  another  time, 
perceiving  his  father  weeping,  he  said,  "I  cannot  blame  you  to 
mourn,  for  I  know  you  have  thought  that  I  might,  with  God's 
blessing,  have  proved  a  comfortable  child  to  you;  but  comfort 
yourself  in  this,  that  ere  it  be  long,  I  will  be  at  a  blessed  rest,  and  in 
a  far  better  state  than  I  can  be  in  this  life,  free  from  sin  and  every 
kind  of  misery  ;  and  within  a  short  time  ye  wall  follow  after  me.  In 
the  mean  time  encourage  yourself  in  the  Lord,  and  let  not  your 
mourning  be  like  those  who  have  no  hope.  What  reason  have  I  to 
bless  God,  who  in  mercy  is  timosly  removing  me  from  all  trouble, 
and  will  make  me  as  welcome  to  heaven  as  if  I  had  preached  forty 
years  ;  for  he  knew  it  was  my  intention,  by  his  grace  to  have 
honoured  him  in  my  ministry;  and  seeing  he  has  accepted  the  will 
fur  the  deed,  what  reason  have  I  to  complain? — for  now  I  am  willing 
and  ready  to  be  dissolved,  and  to  be  with  Christ,  which  is  best  of  all ; 
wherefore,  dear  father,  comfort  yourself  with  this." 

Concerning  sin  in  the  godly,  his  father  said  to  him,  "  I  am  sure 
you  are  not  now  troubled  with  corruption,  being  so  near  death."  He 
answered,  "  You  are  altogether  deceived ;  for  as  long  as  my  foot 
remaineth  on  this  earth,  though  the  earth  were  translated  above  the 
clouds,  my  mind  would  not  be  free  of  sinful  notions."  Some  time 
before  his  death,  he  fell  into  fainting  fits.  About  ten  or  twelve  days 
before  his  dissolution,  he  fell  into  one,  and  was  speechless  for  nearly 
an  hour,  so  that  none  present  had  any  hope  that  he  would  as;ain 
recover  ;  but  in  the  mean  time  he  was  absorbed  in  divine  contempla- 
tion, lie  began  to  recover  at  last,  and  his  heart  being  enlarged,  he 
opened  his  mouth  with  such  lively  exhortations  as  affected  all 
present ;  and,  directing  his  speech  to  his  father,  he  said,  "  Be  glad, 


ALEXANDER  HENDERSON.  349 

Sir,  to  see  your  son,  yea,  I  say  your  second  son,  made  a  crowned 
king !"  To  his  mother  also,  he  said,  "  Be  of  good  courage,  and 
mourn  not  for  me,  for  ye  will  find  me  in  the  all-sufficiency  ot  God  ;" 
and  then  exclaimed,  "  O  death,  I  give  thee  a  defiance,  through  Jesus 
Christ!"  saying  to  the  on-lookers,  "  Sirs,  this  will  be  a  blithe  and 
joyful  good  night !" 

In  the  mean  time  Mr.  Bell  came  in,  and  to  him  he  said,  "  Sir,  you 
are  welcome  as  witness  to  see  me  fight  out  my  last  fight!"  After 
this  he  fell  quiet,  and  got  some  rest.  "Within  two  days,  Mr.  Bell 
having  come  to  visit  him  again,  he  said,  "  O  Sir,  but  I  was  glad  the 
last  night  you  were  here,  when  I  thought  to  be  dissolved,  that  I 
might  have  met  with  my  Master,  and  have  enjoyed  his  presence  for 
ever  ;  but  I  was  much  grieved,  when  I  perceived  a  little  reviving,  and 
that  I  was  likely  to  live  longer  !"  And  to  Mr.  Gabriel  Cunningham, 
he  said,  "  O !  how  sweet  a  thing  it  were  for  a  man  to  sleep  to  death 
in  the  arms  of  Christ."  He  had  many  other  lively  and  comfortable 
speeches,  which  were  not  remembered  ;  not  a  day  passing  during  the 
time  of  his  sickness,  but  the  attendants  were  refreshed  by  him. 

The  night  before  his  departure,  he  was  sensible  of  great  pain. 
Upon  this  he  said,  "I  see  it  is  true,  we  must  enter  into  heaven 
through  trouble,  but  the  Lord  will  help  us  through  it."  Then  he 
said,  "  I  have  great  pain,  but  mixed  with  great  mercy,  and  strong 
confidence."  He  called  to  mind  the  saying  of  John  Knox  on  his 
deathbed,  "  I  do  not  esteem  that  pain,  which  will  be  to  me  an  end 
of  all  trouble,  and  the  beginning  of  eternal  felicity !"  His  last 
words  were  these  :  "  Lord,  open  the  gates  that  I  may  enter  in !" 


ALEXANDER  HENDERSON. 


It  is  to  be  regretted  that  no  authentic  account  can  be  obtained  of 
Henderson's  parentage,  birth  and  education.  Tradition  informs  us, 
that  he  was  but  of  humble  birth,  having  been  the  son  of  a  feuar, 
and  born  in  a  house,  now  demolished,  between  the  villages  of  Lithrie 
and  Brunton.  The  parish  of  Creich,  in  Fife,  too,  claims  the  honour 
of  his  birth  ;  but  the  minister  of  that  place,  after  much  inquiry,  and 
patient  investigation  into  everything  connected  with  Hendersons 
history,  has  not  been  able  to  come  to  such  a  conclusion,  and  the  bap 
tismal  records  of  that  parish  do  not  extend  further  back  than  1688, 
or  1668.     Wodrow,  in  his  memorial  to  Dr.  Fraser,  says— "He  was 

born  anno ,  of  parents  of  good  esteem,  and  descended  from  the 

family  of  Fordel,  in  Fife,  an  old  family,  and  of  good  repute.      me 


350  SCOTS  WORTHIES. 

accurate  and  indefatigable  biographer.  Chambers,  also,  in  writing 
upon  this  subject,  says— "  For  my  own  part,  I  have  not  the  least 
doubt  but  that  Alexander  Henderson  was  of  the  Fordel  family." 
The  Hendersons  themselves,  farther,  claim  kindred  to  the  Covenanter, 
and  have  always  been  proud  to  name  him  as  a  cadet  of  their  family. 
The  accredited  account,  therefore  is,  that  this  was  his  origin,  and  we 
learn  from  his  monumental  inscription,  that  he  was  born  in  the  year 

1583. 

That  his  parents  had  been  in  easy  circumstances  appears  from  the 
liberal  education  he  received  in  his  youth  ;  and,  it  is  farther  obvious, 
that  he  was  destined  for  one  of  the  learned  professions.  Having 
made  choice  of  the  ministry,  he  was  sent  to  the  university  of  St. 
Andrew's,  where  he  was  matriculated  in  the  college  of  St.  Salvator, 
on  the  19th  of  December,  1599.  In  1603,  he  took  the  degree  of 
Master  of  Arts  ;  and  in  1610,  we  find  him  a  Professor,  and  also 
Questor  of  the  Society  of  Arts. 

At  this  period,  his  feelings  were  strongly  in  favour  of  episcopacy, 
and  upon  his  admission  to  holy  orders,  he  was  presented  by  the  arch- 
bishop to  the  parish  of  Leuchars,*in  the  presbytery  of  St.  Andrew's  ; 
but  his  sentiments  on  religion  being  well-known,  everything  was  done 
to  obstruct  his  settlement.  Accordingly,  on  the  day  appointed  for 
his  ordination,  the  parishioners  met  in  a  body  to  oppose  his  induc- 
tion ;  and  so  violent  was  their  determination,  that  although  no  actual 
attack  was  made  upon  the  clergymen  present,  the  church  doors  had 
been  previously  made  fast  inside,  so  that  entrance  could  not  be 
effected  by  that  wTay.  Henderson  and  his  friends,  however,  were 
resolute  ;  and  having  got  in  by  a  window,  the  solemnities  of  the  day 
were  gone  through  without  further  annoyance.  But  he  was  looked 
upon  as  an  intruder — a  hireling,  and  not  the  shepherd  of  the  sheep, 
and  his  ministrations  were  consequently  not  attended  by  the  great 
body  of  the  people.  This  state  of  things,  however,  was  not  of  long 
continuance ;  for  in  about  two  or  three  years  after,  a  change  began 
to  take  place  in  his  mind.  A  desire  to  guide  his  people  into  the  way 
of  truth  had  begun  to  be  more  and  more  apparent ;  and  before  he 
was  aware  of  it,  he  had  fallen  into  the  ranks  of  those  who  had  been 
most  opposed  to  him. 

While  Henderson's  mind  was  in  this  unsettled  state,  a  very 
remarkable  incident  occurred  ;  which,  though  in  itself  apparently 
unimportant,  evidently  appears  to  have  been  heaven-directed. 

Having  heard  of  a  communion  in  the  neighbourhood,  at  which 
the  famous  Mr.  Bruce,  minister  of  Kinnaird,  was  to  be  an  assistant, 
he  went  thither  secretly  ;  and  not  wishing  to  attract  observation, 
placed  himself  in  a  dark  corner  of  the  church,  where  he  mio-ht  not 
he  readily  seen  or  known.  Bruce,  having  come  into  the  pulpit, 
paused  for  a  little,  as  was  his  usual  manner,  a  circumstance  which 
excited  Henderson's  surprise ;  but  it  astonished  him  much  more 
when  he  heard  him  read  as  his  text,  these  very  striking  words,  "  He 
that  entereth  not  in  by  the  door,  but  climbeth  up  some  other  way,  the 

*  In  the  Bio^raphia  Scoticana,  it  is  said  that  Henderson  was  admitted  to  the  parish  of 
Leuchars,  about  the  year  1G20  ;  but  Dr.  M'Crie  mentions  that  he  must  have  entered  to  that 
charge,  during  the  year  1615,  or  perhaps,  somewhat  sooner. 


ALEXANDER  HENDERSON.  251 

same  is  a  thief  and  a  robber  ;"  "which  words,  by  the  blessing  of 
God,  and  the  effectual  working  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  took  such  hold  on 
him  at  that  very  instant,  and  left  such  an  impression  on  his  heart 
afterwards,  that  they  proved  the  very  first  means  of  nis  conversion 
to  Christ.  Ever  after  he  retained  a  great  affection  for  Bruce,  and 
used  to  make  mention  of  him  with  marks  of  the  highest  respect. 

Henderson  now  began  to  look  upon  the  conduct  of  the  prevailing 
party  in  the  church  with  a  different  eye  from  what  he  had  done 
formerly,  when  guided  by  a  worldly  spirit,  and  by  views  of  ambition. 
He,  however,  judged  it  proper  to  give  the  existing  controversy  a 
deliberate  investigation ;  the  result  of  which  was,  that  he  found 
episcopacy  to  be  unauthorized  by  the  word  of  God,  and  inconsistent 
with  the  reformed  constitution  of  the  Church  of  Scotland.  lie  did 
not  long  want  an  opportunity  of  publicly  declaring  his  change  of 
mind,  and  of  appearing  on  the  side  of  that  cause  which  he  had 
hitherto  discountenanced.  From  the  time  that  the  prelatic  govern- 
ment had  first  been  obtruded  upon  the  church,  a  plan  had  been  laid 
to  assimilate  her  worship  also  to  the  English  model.  After  various 
preparatory  steps,  an  Assembly  was  suddenly  called  at  Perth,  in  the 
year  1618  ;  in  which,  by  the  most  undue  influence,  a  number  of 
superstitious  innovations  were  authorized.*  Among  those  ministers 
who  had  the  courage  to  oppose  these,  and  who  argued  against  them 
with  great  force  of  truth,  but  without  success,  we  find  the  name  of 
Alexander  Henderson  of  Leuchars. 

In  the  month  of  August,  1619,  he,  with  other  two  ministers,  were 
called  before  the  court  of  high  commission  at  St.  Andrew's,  charged 
with  composing  and  publishing  a  book  proving  the  nullity  of  the 
Perth  Assembly,  and  with  raising  a  contribution  to  defray  the 
expense  of  printing  it.  They  appeared  and  answered  for  themselves 
with  such  wisdom,  that  the  bishops  could  gain  no  advantage  over 
them.  They  were  therefore  obliged  to  dismiss  them  with  threat- 
enings.  From  this  period  till  the  year  1637,  it  does  not  appear  that 
he  suffered  much,  although  he  continued  to  be  watched  with  a 
jealous  eye,  and  to  be  cramped  in  his  exertions  for  promoting  the 
cause  of  truth  and  holiness.  The  time  which  he  spent,  however,  in 
this  retirement,  though  obscure  on  the  page  of  history,  was  not  the 
least  useful  period  of  his  life.  Living  sequestered  in  his  parish,  and 
excluded  from  taking  any  share  in  the  management  of  the  ecclesi- 
astical affairs  of  the  nation,  he  had  leisure  to  push  his  inquiries  into 
the  extensive  field  of  theology,  and  the  history  of  the  church,  and  to 
lay  up  those  stores  of  knowledge  which  he  afterwards  had  an 
opportunity  of  disseminating.  The  discharge  of  his  pastoral  duties 
furnished  him  with  daily  employment,  and  the  success  which 
attended  his  visitations  yielded  him  the  purest  gratifications. 
Besides  this,  he  met  occasionally  with  brethren  of  the  same  mind,  at 
fasts  and  communions,  when  they,  by  sermons  and  conferences, 
encouraged  one  another  in  adhering  to  the  good  old  principles  of  the 
Church  of  Scotland,  and  joined  in  fervent  supplications  to  God  tor 
the  remedy  of  those  evils  under  which  they  groaned.     Livingstone 

*  Five  Articles  of  .Perth,  already  referred  to. 


352  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

mentions  Henderson  as  one  of  those  "  godly  and  able  ministers" 
with  whom  he  became  acquainted  in  attending  these  solemn 
occasions,  between"  the  years  1626  and  1630,  "the  memory  of 
whom,''  says  he,  "  is  very  precious  and  refreshing." 

At  length  the  time  for  delivering  the  Church  of  Scotland  arrived. 
In  1636,  a  book  of  ecclesiastical  canons  was  sent  down  from  England, 
and  in  the  course  of  the  same  year,  a  book  of  ordination.  After 
a  ime  delay,  the  Anglo-Popish  Liturgy,  or  Service-look,  which  was 
intended  to  complete  the  change,  made  its  appearance.  Had 
Scotland  tamely  submitted  to  this  yoke,  she  might  afterwards  have 
sighed  and  struggled  in  vain  for  liberty.  But  the  arbitrary  manner 
in  which  these  innovations  were  imposed,  not  less  offensive  than  the 
matter  of  them,  added  to  the  dissatisfaction  produced  by  former 
measures  of  the  court  and  bishops,  excited  universal  disgust,  and 
aroused  a  spirit  of  opposition,  which  was  not  allayed,  until  not  only 
the  obnoxious  acts  were  swept  away,  but  the  whole  fabric  of 
episcopacy,  which,  during  so  many  years  they  had  laboured  to  rear, 
was  levelled  with  the  dust.  The  tumult  which  was  produced  by  the 
first  reading  of  the  Liturgy  in  Edinburgh,  on  the  23d  of  July,  1637,* 
has  been  variously  related.  Although  Henderson  had  no  share 
either  in  this,  or  in  any  cabal  or  plot — as  his  enemies  have  alleged, — 
he,  from  the  first  intimation  of  the  projected  change,  expressed  his 
disapprobation  of  them,  and  did  not  scruple,  after  their  appearance, 
publicly  to  expose  their  dangerous  tendency.  "While  this  endeared 
him  to  some,  it  irritated  the  ruling  party  against  him,  and  was  the 
occasion  of  his  being  singled  out  among  the  objects  of  prosecution, 
to  deter  others  from  imitating  his  example.  The  archbishop  of  St. 
Andrew's  charged  him  and  other  two  ministers,  to  purchase  each  two 
copies  of  the  Liturgy,  for  the  use  of  their  parishes,  within  fifteen 
days,  under  pain  of  rebel-lion.  Henderson  immediately  came  to 
Edinhurgh,  and  on  the  23d  of  August,  1637,  presented  a  petition  to 
the  privy-council  for  himself  and  his  brethren,  stating  their  objec- 
tions, and  praying  for  a  suspension  of  the  charge.  To  this  petition, 
and  others  of  a  similar  kind  from  different  quarters  of  the  country. 

*  As  soon  as  the  Dean,  Dr.  Hanna,  began  to  read  the  Service-book,  a  "  wonderful  sturre" 
arose,  when  a  number  of  the  meaner  sort  of  women,  who  occupied  moveable  seats  at  the 
lower  end  of  the  church,  and  who  usually  kept  places  till  the  service  commenced,  for  the 
higher  ranks,  raised,  with  a  clapping  of  hands,  cursing,  and  outcries,  such  a  barbarous 
hubbub  that  no  one  could  hear  or  be  heard  The  general  cry  from  the  remote  corners 
was  : — "  They  are  going  to  say  mass  !  Sorrow,  sorrow  for  this  doleful  day  !  They  are 
bringing  in  Popery  among  us  !" — As  if  by  simultaneous  impulse,  the  whole  congregation 
was  so  vehemently  perturbed,  that  the  like  of  the  novelty  was  never  heard  before,  since 
the  Reformation.  When  the  confusion  became  such  as  to  prevent  detection,  even  the 
gentlemen  lent  their  aid  by  crying  out  that  "  Baal  was  in  the  church."  For  a  time  the 
fury  was  directed  against  the  dean.  Some  cried,  "  He  is  ane  of  a  witch's  breeding,  and  the 
devil's  gette.  Ill  hangit  thief !  gif  at  that  time  thou  wentest  to  court  thou  hadst  been 
Weill  hangit,  as  thou  wert  ill  hangit,  thou  hadst  not  been  to  be  a  pest  to  God's  kirk  this 
day !"  The  dean's  courage  failed  him,  and  he  paused,  when  the  bishop  called  on  him  to 
proceed  with  the  Collect  of  the  day;  whereupon  Janet  Geddes,  an  old  woman  who  kept 
an  herb  stall  near  the  Trone  church,  cried — ''Deil  colic  the  wame  o'ye!" — and.  suiting  the 
action  to  her  words,  let  fly  at  the  head  of  the  dean  the  stool  she  had  brought  with  her 
to  church.  Jouking  then  became  the  dean's  safeguard  from  this  ticket  of  remembrance, 
which  passed  over  his  head.  On  this  signal,  stools,  clasped  Bibles,  stones,  sticks,  cudgels, 
and  whatever  were  within  the  people's  reach,  were  hurled  against  the  dean.  There- 
after, invading  him  more  nearly,  they  strove  to  pull  him  from  the  pulpit ;  others  ran 
out  of  the  kirk  with  pitiful  lamentations.—"  Aitbn's  Life  and  Timet." 


y 


dt 


ALEXANDER   HENDERSON.  353 

the  council  returned  a  favourable  answer,  and  transmitted  to  London 
an  account  of  the  aversion  of  the  country  to  conformity. 

From  this  time  forward,  Henderson  took  an  active  share  in  all  the 
measures  of  the  petitioners  against  conformity,  and  his  prudence  and 
diligence  contributed  not  a  "little  to  bring  them  to  a  happy  issue. 
They  soon  discovered  his  worth,  and  improved  it  by  employing  him 
in  their  most  important  transactions.  After  having  been  put  off  for 
some  time  with  promises,  the  meetings  of  the  petitioners  were 
suddenly  prohibited,  by  a  proclamation  from  his  majesty,  under  pain 
of  rebellion.-  Alarmed  by  this  procedure,  and  convinced  that  they 
could  not  confide  in  the  court,  they  saw  the  necessity  of  adopting 
some  other  method  for  strengthening  their  union  ;  and  that  to  which 
they  were  directed  was,  both  in  a  divine  and  human  point  of  view, 
the  most  proper.  They  recollected,  that  formerly  in  a  time  of  great 
danger,  the  nation  had  entered  into  a  solemn  covenant,  by  which 
they  bound  themselves  to  continue  in  the  true  Protestant  religion, 
and  to  defend  and  support  one  another  in  that  cause  against  their 
common  enemies.  They  therefore  agreed  to  renew  this  covenant, 
and  a  committee  having  been  appointed  to  prepare  a  draught,  it  was 
read  to  the  general  body,  and  unanimously  adopted,  it  was  in 
substance  the  same  with  the  National  Covenant,  which  had  been 
sworn  to  by  all  ranks,  and  ratified  by  all  authorities  in  the  kingdom 
during  the  preceding  reign ;  but  it  was  farther  adapted  to  the 
corruptions  which  had  been  introduced  since  that  period,  and  to  the 
circumstances  in  which  the  covenanters  were  placed.  On  the  1st  of 
March  1638,  it  was  sworn  with  uplifted  hands,  and  subscribed  in  the 
Grayfriars  Church  of  Edinburgli*  by  thousands,  consisting  of  tlie, 
nobility,  gentry,  burgesses,  ministers  of  the  gospel,  and  commons, 
assembled  from  all  parts  of  Scotland.  "  This  memorable  deed,"  says 
Mr.  Laing,  "  of  which  it  would  be  improper  to  forget  the  authors, 
was  prepared  by  Alexander  Henderson,  the  leader  of  the  clergy, 
and  Archibald  Johnson,  afterwards  of  Warriston,  an  advocate  "in 
whom  the  suppliants  chiefly  confided ;  and  revised  by  Balmerino, 
Loudon,  and  Rothes. 

The  covenant  being  thus  agreed  upon,  and  sworn  to  by  all  ranks 
in  the  land,  the  Marquis  of  Hamilton  was  sent  by  the  king  with  a 
view  to  suppress  it.  After  several  conferences  to  little  purpose,  he  at 
last  told  the  supporters  of  that  measure,  that  the  book  of  canons  and 
liturgy  should  be  discharged,  on  condition  they  would  yield  up  their 
covenant ;  which  proposal  not  only  displeased  the  covenanters,  but 
made  them  even  more  vigilant  to  support  and  vindicate  that  solemn 
deed.  Upon  this,  Henderson  was  again  set  to  work,  and  in  a  short 
time  favoured  the  public  with  sufficient  grounds  and  reasons  why 
they  should  not  recede  from  any  part  of  it. 

Some  time  after  this,  the  Tablesf  (as  they  were  called)  of  petition- 

*  After  it  had  gone  the  round  of  the  whole  church,  it  was  taken  out  to  be  signed  by  the 
crowd  in  the  churchyard.  Here  it  was  spread  before  them  like  another  roll  of  the  prophets, 
upon  a  flat  grave-stone,  to  be  read  and  subscribed  by  as  many  as  could  get  near  it.  Many, 
in  addition  to  their  name,  wrote,  till  death ;  and  some  even  opened  a  vein,  and  subscribed 
with  their  blood. —  Aitmi's  Life  and  Times." 

t  These  Tables  were  lour  in  number.  Each  of  the  four  Tables  consisted  of  four 
individuals,  making  in  all  a  cabinet  of  sixteen, — viz.,  four  noblemen,  four  gentlemen,  four 

23 


og^  SCOTS  WORTHIES. 

on  who  were  assembled  at  Edinburgh  for  carrying  on  the  reformation, 
being  sorry  that  the  town  and  shire  of  Aberdeen  (influenced  by  the 
persuasion  of  their  doctors)  stood  out  and  opposed  that  work,  sent 
,■  noblemen  with  Henderson,  Dickson,  and  Cant,  to  see  if  they 
could  reclaim  them.  But  upon  their  arrival  at  Aberdeen,  they  were 
refused  admission  into  any  church;  upon  which,  the  three  ministers 
resolved  to  preach  in  the  earl  of  Marischal's  close  and  hall,  as 
the  weather  favoured  them.  Accordingly  they  preached  by  turns ; 
Dickson  in  the  morning,  to  a  very  numerous  multitude ;  Cant  at 
noon;  and  Henderson  at  night,  to  no  less  an  auditory  than  in  the 
morning;  all  of  them  using  "the  strongest  arguments  for  subscribing 
the-  covenant;  which  had  such  an  effect  upon  the  people,  that,  after 
worship  was  over,  about  500  persons,  some  of  whom  were  people  of 
the  best  quality,  subscribed. 

And  here  one  thing  was  very  remarkable.  While  Henderson 
preached,  the  crowd  being  very  great,  there  were  some  who  mocked  ; 
and,  among  the  rest,  one  John  Logie,  a  student,  even  threw  clods  at 
the  commissioners.  It  was  remarked,  however,  that  within  a  few 
days  after,  this  person  killed  a  young  boy;  and  though  at  that  time 
he  escaped  justice,  yet  he  was  afterwards  taken,  and  executed,  in 
16U.  Such  was  the  fate  of  him  who  had  been  so  forward  in 
disturbing  the  worship  of  God,  and  mocking  at  the  ambassadors  of 
Jesus  Christ. 

In  the  same  year,  1638,  at  the  famous  General  Assembly,  which 
met  at  Glasgow,  the  first  which  had  been  convened  for  a  long  period, 
Henderson,  without  one  dissenting  voice,  was  chosen  moderator. 
Having  by  solemn  prayer  constituted  the  Assembly,  in  the  name  of 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  he  addressed  the  members  in  a  neat  and 
appropriate  speech;  and  indeed  throughout  the  whole  of  it,  fully 
justified  the  good  opinion  which  his  brethren  entertained  of  him. 
To  his  majesty's  commissioner  he  behaved  with  the  greatest  respect, 
and  at  the  same  time  with  an  independence  and  firmness  which 
became  the  president  of  a  free  Assembly.  His  behaviour  to  the 
nobility  and  gentry,  who  were  members,  and  to  his  brethren  in  the 
ministry,  was  equally  decorous.  His  prudence  and  ability  were  put 
to  the  test  on  two  occasions, — the  premature  dissolution  of  the 
Assembly  by  the  royal  commissioner,  and  the  excommunication  of 
the  bishops.  Of  his  conduct  in  these,  it  is  proper  to  give  some 
account. 

Although  the  king  had  called  the  Assembly,  it  was  not  his  design 
t<>  allow  them  to  proceed  fairly  to  the  discussion  of  ecclesiastical 
business,  and  to  examine  and  rectify  abuses.  The  Marquis  of 
Hamilton,  his  majesty's  commissioner,  had  instructions  not  to  consent 
formally  to  any  part  of  their  procedure,  and  at  a  proper  time  to 
oppose  the  whole.  On  the  other  hand,  the  members  considered 
themselves  as  a  free  Assembly,  and  were  resolved  to  claim  and 
exercise  that  liberty  and  power  which  they  possessed,  agreeably  to 
the  laws  of  the  land,  ratifying  the  presbyterian  government,  and  the 

ministers,  and  four  burgesses.  A  member  from  each  of  these  again  constituted  a  chief 
Table  of  last  resort,  making  a  supreme  council  of  four  members  only.  —"JUton's  Life  and 
Tim*."  J 


ALEXANDER  HENDERSON.  355 

freedom  of  its  judicatories.  The  declinature  of  the  bishops  baying 
been  read,  at  the  repeated  request  of  the  commissioner,  the  Assembly 
were  proceeding  in  course  to  vote  themselves  competent  judges  of  the 
libels  raised  against  them,  when  the  commissioner  interposed,  and 
declared  that  if  they  proceeded  to  this,  he  could  continue  with  them 
no  longer,  and  delivered  his  majesty's  concessions  to  be  read  and 
registered.^  After  the  clerk  had  read  them,  the  moderator  addressed 
his  Grace  in  a  grave  and  well-digested  speech.  But  again  on  moving 
the  question  before  them,  the  commissioner  repeated,  that  in  this 
case  it  behoved  him  to  withdraw.  "I  wish  the  contrary  from  the 
bottom  of  my  heart,"  said  Henderson,  "  and  that  your  Grace  would 
continue  to  favour  us  with  your  presence,  without  obstructing  the 
work  and  freedom  of  the  Assembly."  But  after  having  in  vain 
insisted  on  the  moderator  to  conclude  with  prayer,  the  commissioner 
did,  in  his  majesty's  name,  dissolve  the  Assembly,  discharging  them 
under  the  highest  pains  from  continuing  to  sit  longer. 

Upon  the  commissioner's  leaving  the  house,  the  moderator  de- 
livered an  animating  address  to  the  Assembly,  and  reminded  them 
of  the  divine  countenance  which  had  hitherto  been  shown  to  them 
in  the  midst  of  their  greatest  difficulties.  At  the  opening  of  the 
next  sederunt,  he  again  addressed  them,  putting  them  in  mind  of 
the  propriety  of  paying  particular  attention,  in  the  circumstances  in 
which  they  were  then  placed,  to  gravity,  quietness,  and  order ;  an 
advice  which  was  punctually  complied  with,  throughout  the  whole 
of  that  long  Assembly. 

The  Assembly  having  finished  the  processes  of  the  bishops,  agreed, 
at  the  close  of  their  19th  sederunt,  that  the  sentences  passed  against 
them  should  be  publicly  pronounced  next  day  by  the  moderator, 
after  a  sermon  to  be  preached  by  him,  suitable  to  the  solemn  occa- 
sion. Accordingly,  at  the  time  appointed,  he  preached  before  a  very 
large  auditory,  from  Psal.  ex.  i.  "  The  Lord  said  unto  my  Lord,  Sit 
thou  at  my  right  hand,  until  I  make  thine  enemies  thy  footstool." 
After  narrating  the  steps  which  the  Assembly  had  taken,  and  caus- 
ing an  abstract  of  the  evidence  against  the  bishops  to  be  read  for 
the  satisfaction  of  the  people,  he,  "  in  a  very  dreadful  and  grave 
manner,"  said  one  who  was  present,  "  pronounced  the  sentences  of 
deposition  and  excommunication  ;  the  whole  Assembly  being  deeply 
aifected,  and  filled  with  the  mingling  emotions  of  admiration,  pity, 
and  awe." 

On  the  day  following,  two  petitions  were  given  in,  for  liberty  to 
transfer  Henderson  from  Leuchars,  the  one  to  St.  Andrew's,  the  other 
to  Edinburgh  ;  but  to  neither  of  these  was  he  willing  to  agree,  hav- 
ing already  been  nearly  eighteen  years  minister  of  that  parish.  He 
pleaded  that  he  was  now  to  old  a  plant  to  take  root  in  another  soil ; 
yet,  after  much  contest  betwixt  the  two  parties  for  some  days,  Edin- 
burgh carried  it  by  seventy-five  votes,  very  much  against  his  inclina- 
tion.— However,  he  submitted,  on  condition  that,  when  old  age- 
should  overtake  him,  he  should  again  be  removed  to  a  country 
charge.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  Assembly,  he  addressed  them  in 
an  able  speech  of  considerable  length.  After  desiring  some  mem- 
bers to  supply  anything  which  he  had  omitted,  he  concluded  with 


356  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

prayer,  Bulging  the  133d  psalm,  and  pronouncing  the  apostolical  bene- 
diction.    Upon  which  the  Assembly  rose  in  triumph.     "We  have 
now   cast  down  the  walls  of  Jericho,"  said  Henderson  when  the 
members  Mere  rising :— " Let  him  that  rebuildeth  them  beware  of  ■ 
the  curse  of  Hiel  the  Bethelite  !" 

In  1039,  he  was  one  of  those  commissioned  for  the  church,  to  treat 
upon  the  articles  of  pacification  with  the  king  and  his  commis- 
Bioners,  in  which  difficult  affair  he  behaved  with  great  prudence  and 
candour. 

When  the  General  Assembly,  the  same  year,  sat  down  at  Edin- 
burgh, August  12th,  having  been  the  former  moderator,  he  preached 
to  them  from  Acts  v.  33.  "  When  they  heard  that,  they  were  cut 
to  the  heart,  and  took  counsel  to  slay  them."  Towards  the  close  of 
his  discourse,  he  addressed  John,  earl  of  Traquair,  his  majesty's  com- 
missioner, in  these  words  : — "  We  beseech  your  grace  to  see  that 
Ccesar  have  his  own,  but  let  him  not  have  what  is  due  to  God,  by 
whom  king's  reign.  God  hath  exalted  your  grace  unto  many  high 
places,  within  these  few  years,  and  is  still  doing  so.  Be  thankful, 
and  labour  to  exalt  Christ's  throne.  When  the  Israelites  came  out 
.of  Egypt,  they  gave  all  the  silver  and  gold  they  had  carried  thence, 
for  the  building  of  the  tabernacle  ;  in  like  manner  your  grace  must 
employ  all  your  parts  and  endowments  for  building  up  the  Church 
of  God  in  this  land."  And  to  the  members  he  said,  "Eight  honour- 
able, worshipful,  and  reverend,  go  on  in  your  zeal  and  constancy ; 
true  zeal  doth  not  cool,  but  the  longer  it  burns  the  more  fervent  it 
will  grow.  If  it  shall  please  God,  that  by  your  means  the  light  of 
the  gospel  shall  be  continued,  and  that  you  have  the  honour  of  being 
instrumental  in  a  blessed  reformation,  it  shall  be  useful  and  comfort- 
able to  yourselves  and  your  posterity.  But  let  your  zeal  be  always 
tempered  with  moderation ;  for  zeal  is  a  good  servant,  but  a  bad 
master ;  like  a  ship  that  hath  a  full  sail,  but  no  rudder.  We  had 
much  need  of  Christian  prudence,  for  we  know  what  advantage 
some  have  attempted  to  take  of  us  this  way.  For  this  reason,  let  it 
be  seen  to  the  world,  that  Presbytery,  the  government  we  contend 
for  in  the  church,  can  consist  very  well  with  monarchy  in  the  state  ; 
and  thereby  we  shall  gain  the  favour  of  our  king,  and  God  shall  get 
the  glory."  After  this  discourse,  and  calling  the  commissions,  Tra- 
quair earnestly  desired  that  Henderson  might  be  continued  modera- 
tor. Whether  this  was  to  promote  his  master's  designs,  or  from  a 
regard  to  Henderson's  abilities,  as  the  earl  professed,  is  not  certain ; 
but  the  Assembly  opposed  the  motion,  as  favouring  too  much  the 
idea  of  a  constant  moderator  ship,  one  of  the  first  steps  towards  the 
introduction  of  Prelacy  ;  and  no  man  opposed  it  more  than  Hender- 
son himself;  eo,  it  was  overruled. 

On  the  31st  of  the  same  month,  Henderson  was  also  called  upon 
to  preach  at  the  opening  of  the  parliament,  when  he  delivered  an 
excellent  discourse  from  1  Tim.  ii.  1 — 3,*  in  which  he  treated  in  a 
masterly  style,  of  the  end,  duties,  and  utility  of  magistrates. 

*  u  I  exhort,  therefore,  that,  first  of  all,  supplications,  prayers,  intercessions,  and  giving 
of  thanks,  be  made  for  all  men ;  for  kings,  and  for  all  that  are  in  authority ;  that  we  may 
lead  a  quiet  and  peaceable  life  in  all  godliness  and  honesty.  For  this  is  good  and  accepta- 
ble in  the  sight  of  God  our  Saviour." 


ALEXANDER   HENDERSON. 


357 


In  1640,  he  -was  placed  as  Kector  at  the  head  of  the  university  of 
Edinburgh,  by  the  town-council  of  that  city.  They  had  now  resolved 
that  the  office  should  be  annual,  with  the  view  of  rendering  it  more 
efficient  Nor  had  they  any  reason  to  repent  of  their  choice.  They 
empowered  him  to  superintend  all  matters  connected  with  the  con- 
duct of  the  principal  and  professors,  the  education  of  youth,  the 
revenues,  &c. ;  to  admonish  offenders,  and,  in  case  of  obstinacy, 
to  make  a  report  to  the  town  council.  In  this  office,  which  he 
appears  to  have  enjoyed,  by  re-election,  to  his  death,  he  exerted 
himself  sedulously  to  promote  the  interests  of  that  learned  semi- 
nary. 

From  the  superintendence  of  this  peaceful  seat  of  literature,  and 
from  his  pastoral  functions,  Henderson  was  again  reluctantly  called 
to  take  an  active  part  in  public  affairs.  The  king,  yielding  to  the 
importunate  solicitations  of  the  episcopal  clergy,  having  refused, 
notwithstanding  his  promise  at  the  late  settlement,  to  ratify  the 
conclusions  of  the  Assembly  and  parliament,  suddenly  prorogued 
the  latter,  denounced  the  Scots  as  rebels,  and  prepared  again  to 
invade  the  country.  But  the  success  of  the  Scottish  army,  which 
entered  England  in  August  1640,  compelled  him  a  second  time  to 
accede  to  pacific  proposals  ;  and  a  treaty  to  this  effect  was  begun  at 
Eippon,  which  in  a  short  time  after  was  transferred  to  London. 
Henderson  was  appointed  one  of  the  commissioners  for  this  treaty, 
and  on  this  occasion  distinguished  himself  as  the  author  of  a  very 
able  paper,  which  was  ultimately  transmitted  to  the  English  parlia- 
ment, in  support  of  the  Scottish  commissioners  for  "  unity  of 
religion,  and  uniformity  of  church  government,  in  the  two 
kingdoms." 

Indeed,  during  the  whole  time  that  he  was  in  London,  attending 
to  the  treaty,  which  was  protracted  through  nine  months,  he  was 
laboriously  employed.  Besides  taking  his  turn  with  his  brethren, 
who  attended  as  chaplains  to  the  Scottish  commissioners,  in  the 
church  of  St.  Antholine's,  which  was  assigned  to  them  as  a  place  of 
public  worship,  he  and  the}r  were  often  employed  in  preaching  for 
the  London  ministers,  both  on  sabbath  and  on  other  days.  He 
prepared  several  tracts  for  the  press,  which  were  published  without 
his  name.  The  revisal  of  the  most  important  papers  of  the  Scottish 
commissioners  was  committed  to  him,  before  they  were  given  in  to 
the  commissioners  and  parliament  of  England,  and  those  which 
respected  religion  were  of  his  own  composition. 

During  his  stay  in  London,  he  had  a  private  conference  with  the 
king,  the  special  object  of  which  was  to  procure  assistance  to  the 
universities  in  Scotland,  from  the  rents  formerly  appropriated  to  the 
bishops.  He  was  graciously  received,  and  had  reason  to  expect  that 
his  request  would  be  complied  with. 

He  returned  to  Edinburgh  about  the  end  of  July,  1641.  The 
General  Assembly  had  met  at  St.  Andrew's  some  days  before  ;  but 
as  the  parliament,  which  was  sitting  in  Edinburgh,  had  sent  to 
request  them  to  remove  to  that  place,  for  the  convenience  of  those 
who  were  members  of  both,  and  as  they  wished  that  Henderson,  who 
had  not  then  returned  from  London,  should  act  as  moderator  of  this 


35S  SCOTS  WORTHIES. 

meeting  the  members  agreed  that  they  should  meet  at  Edinburgh 
on  tbe&27th  of  July,  and  that  the  former  moderator  should  preside 
till  that  time.  Henderson  had  been  chosen  a  member  of  this 
Assembly;  but,  as  it  was  uncertain  if  he  could  be  present,  his 
constituents  had  elected  Mr.  Fairfoul  to  supply  his  place  in  case  of 
his  absence,  and  he  had  taken  his  seat  at  St.  Andrew's.  Upon 
Henderson's  arrival,  Mr.  Fairfoul  proposed  to  give  place  to  him. 
This  was  keenly  opposed  by  Calderwood,  who  insisted  that  his 
commission  could  not  now  be  received;  in  which  he  was  seconded 
by  Henderson  himself.  But  the  Assembly  sustained  his  commission, 
and  although  he  declined  the  office  of  moderator,  this  also  was,  by  a 
plurality  of  votes,  laid  upon  him. 

Henderson  delivered  to  the  Assembly  a  letter  which  he  had 
brought  with  him,  from  a  number  of  ministers  in  London  and  its 
vicinity,  requesting  advice  from  the  Assembly  respecting  the  opin- 
ions of  some  of  their  brethren  who  inclined  to  Independency,  and 
popular  government  in  the  church.  The  Assembly  gave  him 
instructions  to  answer  this  letter.  He  also  moved,  that  the  Assembly 
should  take  steps  for  drawing  up  a  Confession  of  Faith,  Catechism, 
and  Directory  for  Worship,  in  which  England  might  afterwards 
agree  with  them  ;  a  motion  which  was  unanimously  approved  of, 
and  the  burden  of  preparing  them  was  laid  upon  the  mover  ;  liberty 
being  at  the  same  time  given  him,  to  abstain  from  preaching  when 
he  should  find  it  necessary  to  attend  to  this  interesting  business,  and 
to  call  in  the  aid  of  such  of  his  brethren  as  he  pleased.  He  declined 
the  task  as  too  arduous,  but  it  was  left  upon  him  ;  and  there  can  be 
little  doubt,  that  this  early  appointment  contributed  to  prepare  him 
for  giving  assistance  in  that  work,  when  it  was  afterwards  undertaken 
by  the  Assembly  at  Westminster. 

Previous  to  the  conclusion  of  this  Assembly,  he  petitioned  for 
liberty  to  be  removed  from  Edinburgh,  in  support  of  which  he 
urged  that  his  voice  was  too  weak  for  any  of  the  churches  in  town  ; 
that  his  health  was  worse  there  than  in  any  other  place,  and  that  to 
keep  him  there  was  to  kill  him ;  besides  that,  in  the  act  for  his 
translation  from  Leuchars  there  was  an  expressive  clause,  which 
provided  that  he  should  have  the  liberty  which  he  now  craved. 
The  Assembly  were  much  perplexed  by  this  petition.  It  was  at  last 
granted,  however ;  but  he  either  did  not  find  it  necessary,  or  was 
prevailed  upon  not  to  make  use  of  the  liberty  which  he  obtained. 

King  Charles,  having  come  to  Scotland  to  be  present  at  the 
parliament  held  at  this  time,  attended  on  the  forenoon  of  the  sabbath 
after  his  arrival,  at  the  Abbey  Church,  and  heard  Henderson  preach 
from  Rom.  xi.  36.  "  For  of  him,  and  through  him,  and  to  him,  are 
all  things  :  to  whom  be  glory  for  ever.  Amen."  In  the  afternoon 
he  absented  himself;  but  Henderson  having  conversed  with  him 
respecting  this,  he  afterwards  gave  constant  attendance.  Having 
been  appointed  his  chaplain,  Henderson  performed  family- worship  in 
the  palace  every  morning  and  evening,  after  the  Scottish" form.  His 
majesty  attended  duly  upon  this  service,  and  exhibited  no  symptom 
of  dissatisfaction  or  scruple  at  the  want  of  a  liturgy  ;  a  circumstance 
which  gave  the  Scots  encouragement  to  expect  that  he  would  easily 


ALEXANDER  HENDERSON.  359 

give  way  to  the  reformation  of  the  English  service.  On  the  last  day 
of  the  meeting  of  parliament,  which  it  was  the  custom  to  hold  with 
great  solemnity,  his  majesty  being  seated  on  his  throne,  and  tin- 
estates  in  their  places,  Henderson  began  with  prayer ;  and  the 
business  being  finished,  he  closed  the  meeting  with  a  sermon.  The 
revenues  of  the  bishoprics  being  divided  at  this  parliament,  Hender- 
son exerted  himself  on  the  occasion  for  the  Scottish  universities  ;  and 
by  his  influence,  what  belonged  to  the  bishopric  of  Edinburgh  and 
priory,  was,  not  without  difficulty,  procured  for  the  university  of  that 
city.  As  a  recompense  for  his  own  laborious  and  expensive  services 
too,  in  the  cause  of  the  public,  the  emoluments  of  the  chapel-royal, 
amounting  to  about  4000  rnerks  a-year,  were  conferred  upon 
himself. 

Some  of  his  friends  were  displeased  with  his  conduct  during  this 
parliament,  particularly  in  using  means  to  screen  from  punishment 
some  persons  who  had  entered  into  engagements  hostile  to  the  late 
proceedings  of  the  nation.  Besides,  reports  injurious  to  his  character, 
and  the  purity  of  his  motives,  were  circulated  ;  and,  as  is  common 
in  such  cases,  met  with  too  easy  belief.  But  one,  who  differed  from 
him  in  opinion  as  to  the  measures  in  question,  bears  witness,  that 
"his  great  honesty,  and  unparalleled  abilities  to  serve  this  church 
and  kingdom,  did  ever  remain  untainted."  In  the  next  Assembly, 
he  made  a  long  and  impassioned  apology  for  his  conduct.  lie  said, 
that  certain  things  for  which  he  had  been  blamed  were  done  by  the 
commissioners  of  the  church,  not  by  him  ;  that  what  he  had 
received  from  the  king  for  his  attendance  upon  a  laborious  charge 
was  no  pension  ;  that  he  had  as  yet  touched  none  of  it ;  and  that  he 
was  vexed  with  injurious  calumnies.  Having  unburdened  his  mind, 
and  received  the  sympathy  of  his  brethren,  with  the  assurance  of 
their  unshaken  confidence  in  him,  he  recovered  his  cheerfulness. 

During  the  year  164:2,  Henderson  was  employed  in  managing  the 
correspondence  with  England  respecting  ecclesiastical  reformation  and 
union.  The  parliament  of  England,  having  abolished  prelacy,  requested 
that  some  divines  should  be  sent  from  Scotland  to  assist  in  the  Synod 
which  they  had  agreed  to  call.  Upon  this  the  commission  of  the 
church  met,  and  being  authorized  by  the  former  General  Assembly, 
appointed  certain  persons  as  commissioners,  to  be  ready  to  repair  to 
England  as  soon  as  it  should  be  necessary.  Henderson  was  one  of 
these.  He  was  averse  to  the  appointment,  protesting,  that  on  Ins 
former  journey  he  thought  he  should  have  died  before  he  reached 
London;  but  he  at  last  acquiesced,  not  without  complaining  that 
some  persons  were  ready  to  impose  heavy  burdens  upon  him,  and 
afterwards  to  invent  or  receive  reports  injurious  to  his  character. 

The  dissensions  between  the  king  and  parliament,  which  had  now 
burst  out  into  a  civil  war,  for  some  time  hindered  this  journey. 
Henderson  was  sincerely  disposed  to  use  every  proper  method  for 
effecting  a  reconciliation,  and  joined  with  a  number  of  leading  men 
in  an  invitation  to  the  queen  to  come  to  Scotland,  with  a  view  to 
promote  a  mediation, — a  proposal  which  was  rejected  by  the  king. 
After  this,  he  went  in  person  to  his  majesty  at  Oxford,  in  company 
with  the  commissioners  who  were  sent  to  offer  the  mediation  of 


36Q  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

-  otiand.  The  interview,  however,  produced  no  good  effect.  At 
first  bis  majesty  treated  him  with  much  attention,  and  strove  to  con- 
vince him  of  the  justice  of  his  cause ;  but  as  soon  as  he  found  that 
lie  did  not  acquiesce  in  his  representation,  his  behaviour  to  him 
altered  completely.  He  expressed  high  offence  at  the  interest  that 
the  Sots  took  indie  reformation  of  England,  vindicated  his  employ- 
ing papists  in  the  army,  and  refused  permission  to  the  commissioners 
to  proceed  to  London  to  treat  with  the  parliament.  They  were  forth- 
with insulted  in  the  streets  by  the  inhabitants  of  Oxford,  and  were 
even  under  apprehensions  of  their  personal  safety.  While  Hender- 
son remained  there,  some  of  the  academical  divines  wished  to  engage 
him  in  controversy,  by  proposing  certain  questions  to  him  respecting 
church  government ;  but  he  declined  the  dispute,  and  signified  that 
his  business  was  with  the  king.  Upon  his  return  to  Edinburgh,  the 
commissioners  of  the  church  expressed  their  entire  satisfaction  with 
his  mission  ;  and  their  judgment  was  approved  by  the  next  Assem- 
bly, who  pronounced  his  conduct  to  have  been  "  faithful  and  wise." 

The  Scots,  being  highly  dissatisfied  with  the  treatment  which  their 
commissioners  had  received  at  Oxford,  soon  after  entered  into  a  very 
close  alliance  with  the  parliament  of  England ;  in  consequence  of 
which  Henderson  was,  afterwards,  again  sent  to  London. 

In  the  mean  time,  however,  upon  his  return  he  was  chosen  moder- 
ator to  the  General  Assembly  of  1643.  This  Assembly  was  rendered 
remarkable  by  the  presence  of  the  English  commissioners,  Sir  Wil- 
liam Annyn,  Sir  Harry  Yane,  Messrs.  Hatcher  and  Darley,  from 
the  parliament ;  together  with  two  ministers,  Stephen  Marshall,  a 
presbyterian,  and  Philip  Nye,  an  Independent.*  These  persons 
were  commissioned  to  the  General  Assembly,  craving  their  aid  and 
counsel  upon  the  emergent  circumstances  of  both  kingdoms ;  and  in 
their  presence  the  business  of  the  Assembly  was  conducted  by  Hen- 
derson in  his  official  capacity,  with  great  dignity  and  decorum.  He 
was  among  the  first  of  those  nominated  as  commissioners,  to  go  up 
in  return  to  the  parliament  and  Assembly  of  England.  In  a  little 
after,  Henderson  and  Gillespie,  with  Messrs.  Hatcher  and  Nye,  set 
out  for  London,  to  have  the  Solemn  League  ratified  there, — it  having 
been  agreed  upon,  that  the  union  between  the  two  kingdoms  biiould 
be  cemented  by  such  a  deed.  They  set  sail  from  Leith  on  the  30th 
of  August.  The  rest  of  the  commissioners  stayed  behind,  until  it 
should  be  returned.  Upon  their  arrival  in  London,  where  the  Assem- 
bly of  Divines  were  sitting,  and  to  whom  they  were  appointed  to  re- 
present the  state  of  the  Church  of  Scotland,  Henderson  and  his 
brethren  received  a  warrant  from  the  parliament  to  sit  in  the  next 
meeting.  This  warrant  was  presented  by  Henderson,  upon  which 
the  Assembly  sent  out  three  of  their  number  to  introduce  them.  At 
their  entry,  Dr.  Twisse,  the  president,  rose  and  welcomed  them  in 
name  of  the  Assembly,  and  complimented  them  for  the  hazard  they 

*  A  few  of  the  nobles,  in  the  name  of  the  estates,  were  appointed  to  meet  them  and 
firing  them  up  in  a  coach  ;  and  Henderson  moved  that  now,  when  the  eyes  of  strangers 
were  to  be  upon  them,  the  members  of  Assembly  should  think  well  of  their  ways,  and  if 
possible,  appear  more  grave  than  ordinary.  The  business  of  the  House  was  accordingly 
carried  on  with  more  solemnity  than  usual;  and  Henderson,  as  became  his  person  well, 
moderated  with  some  little  austere  severity. — JIUon'a  '"Life  and  Times." 


ALEXANDER  HENDERSON.  361 

had  undergone  in  the  public   cause,  both  by  sea  and  land;  afl 
which,  they  were  conducted  to  a  place  the  most  convenient  in  the 
house,  which  they  kept  ever  after. 

The  Solemn  League  having  been  already  approved  of  by  the  two 
houses  of  parliament,  and  this  venerable  Assembly,  the  members  of 
the  latter,  with  those  of  the  House  of  Commons,  convened  in  St.* 
Margaret's,  Westminster,  upon  the  25th  of  September;  and  having 
first  sworn,  afterwards  subscribed  it.  Immediately  before  they  pro- 
ceeded to  this  solemn  work,  Henderson  made  a  long  speech,  stating 
what  the  Scots  had  done,  and  the  good  they  had  received  by  such 
covenants  ;  after  which  the  covenant  was  read,  article  by  article, 
from  the  pulpit,  all  persons  standing  uncovered,  with  their  right 
hand  lifted  up  in  worship,  and  the  solemnity  of  an  oath.  Two  hun- 
dred and  twenty-two  members  of  parliament  signed,  as  did  also  the 
divines  of  the  Assembly  and  the  Scottish  commissioners. 

During  the  three  following  years,  he  remained  in  London,  and  was 
unremittingly  employed  in  assisting  the  Assembly  in  preparing  the 
public  formularies  for  the  religious  union  between  the  three  king- 
doms, which  had  been  sworn  in  the  Solemn  League.  Being  a  stran- 
ger, and  sustaining,  with  the  rest  of  the  commissioners  from  Scotland, 
a  peculiar  relation  to  the  Assembly,  he  spoke  but  seldom  in  its 
debates.  But  when  it  was  necessary  to  vindicate  the  principles  of 
the  Church  of  Scotland,  and  of  the  other  reformed  churches,  from 
slanderous  imputations,  he  did  not  keep  silence.  Mr.  Nye,  having 
one  day  undertaken  to  demonstrate,  that  the  presbyterian  mode  of 
drawing  a  whole  kingdom  under  one  national  Assembly  was  formid- 
able and  pernicious  to  civil  states  and  kingdoms, — Henderson,  indig- 
nant at  such  language  from  one  who  had  solemnly  engaged  to  pre- 
serve the  government  of  the  Church  of  Scotland,  with  honest  warmth 
repelled  the  charge.  He  remonstrated  against  the  inflammatory 
tendency  of  such  speeches,  and  showed  that  he  had  calumniated  not 
only  the  Church  of  Scotland,  but  all  reformed  churches  whatever. 
His  wisdom  was  displayed  in  preserving  harmony  among  the 
members  of  the  Assembly,  regarding  measures  which  were  requisite 
for  the  prosecution  of  the  cause,  which  they  had  all  solemnly  sworn 
to  promote.  But  while  he  exerted  himself  in  reconciling  differences 
which  arose  respecting  subordinate  steps  of  procedure,  he  steadily 
resisted  every  attempt  to  introduce  principles  contradictory  to  those 
of  the  Church  of  Scotland,  and  the  other  reformed  and  Presbyterian 
churches. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1645,  Henderson  was  appointed  to 
assist  the  commissioners  of  the  two  parliaments,  in  the  treaty  between 
them  and  the  king,  at  Uxbridge.  The  parliamentary  commissioners 
were  instructed  to  demand  the  abolition  of  episcopacy,  and  the '  rati- 
fication of  the  presbyterian  government.  The  king's  commissioners 
objected  to  the  abolition  of  episcopacy,  upon  which  it  was  agreed  to 
hear  the  divines  on  both  sides.  Henderson  opened  the  case,  and 
brought  forward  such  arguments  as  seemed  most  likely  to  bring  the 
question  to  that  speedy  issue  which  the  state  of  matters  required. 
The  debate  lasted  a  considerable  time  ;  and  although — as  is  common 
on  such  occasions — each  party  claimed  the  victory,  yet  in  the  judg- 


SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

ment  of  those  who  must  be  allowed  not  to  have  been  prejudiced  in 
favour  of  the  divine  right  of  presbytery,  Henderson,  while  he 
equalled  the  king's  commissioners  in  learning,  surpassed  them  far  in 
in.  xlesty.  The  treaty  having  been  broken  oft,  he  returned  to  London, 
and  continued  to  assist  the  Assembly  of  divines  in  their  labours. 
•  Towards  the  close  of  this  year,  it  was  judged  necessary  that  he, 
with  some  others,  should  go  down  to  Scotland,  to  attempt  to  bring 
about  a  better  correspondence  among  the  nobility,  who  in  conse- 
quence of  the  distresses  of  the  country — occasioned  by  the  ravages 
of  the  carl  of  Montrose — had  fallen  into  disunion  and  animosities, 
which  were  fomented  by  the  secret  artifices  of  the  court.  But,  just 
when  they  were  ready  to  take  their  journey,  Henderson  was  detained 
at  the  earnest  request  of  the  ministers  and  city  of  London,  who 
represented  the  impropriety  of  his  absence  at  that  critical  time,  when 
certain  questions  upon  which  the  uniformity  between  the  kingdoms 
turned,  were  in  dependence. 

In  the  spring  of  1646,  the  king's  affairs  being  entirely  ruined,  he 
threw  himself,  without  any  previous  notice,  into  the  Scottish  army, 
which  retired  with  him  to  Newcastle.  He  had  no  sooner  entered  the 
town  than  he  sent  for  Henderson.  This  was  a  critical  moment.  The 
only  measure  which  promised  settlement  to  the  nation,  and  the 
restoration  of  the  king  to  the  exercise  of  his  authority,  was  his  speedy 
consent  to  the  establishment  of  the  Presbyterian  Reformation. 
Henderson  was  judged  the  fittest  person  to  deal  with  his  majesty 
about  the  necessity  of  a  speedy  concurrence  in  it ;  and  in  these 
circumstances,  notwithstanding  his  unfitness  for  the  journey,  he 
complied  with  the  king's  request,  and  arrived  at  Newcastle  about  the 
middle  of  May. 

Although  he  received  a  welcome  reception  from  his  majesty,  he 
soon  perceived,  not  without  deep  concern,  that  he  had  been  deceived 
as  to  his  hopes  of  his  compliance  with  the  requisitions  of  parliament. 
Charles  signified  that  he  could  not  in  conscience  consent  to  the 
abolition  of  episcopacy,  and  proposed  that  Henderson  should  enter 
into  a  debate  with  some  episcopal  divines,  of  whose  names  he  gave 
him  a  list,  in  his  presence.  This,  however,  Henderson  declined,  as 
what  he  had  no  authority  to  undertake,  and  what  would  be.  exceed- 
ingly prejudicial  to  his  majesty's  affairs.  It  was,  therefore,  agreed, 
that  the  scruples  which  the  king  entertained  should  be  discussed  in  a 
series  of  papers,  which  should  pass  privately  between  him  and 
Henderson.  These  continued  from  the  29th  of  May  to  the  15th  of 
July.  The  papers  are  eight  in  number— five  by  his  majesty,  who 
was  assisted  in  the  dispute  by  Sir  Eobert  Murray ;  and  three  by 
Il.nderson. 

Most  unfortunately  for  the  king,  and  probably  for  the  honour  of 
fland,  Henderson's  constitution  broke  down  at  this  critical  period, 
under  the  crushing  mental  anxiety  and  actual  bodily  fatigue  he  had 
for  years  endured  in  the  public  service.  He  was  a  man  by  no  means 
robust  from  the  first,  and  his  health  had  been  but  precarious  from  the 
time  he  was  translated  to  Edinburgh.  With  a  view  to  recover  his 
strength,  which  had  begun  to  sink  while  he  was  there,  he  petitioned 
the  Assembly  to  be  allowed  to  retire  to  the  peace  and  purity  of  a 


ALEXANDER   HENDERSON. 


3G3 


country  parish  ;  but  the  state  of  parties  Loth  in  England  and  Scot- 
land would  not  admit  of  it.  The  first  symptom  that  alarmed  his 
friends  was  about  the  middle  of  June,  1045,  when  fur  several  days 
he  was  confined  to  his  bedroom  by  a  languishing  but  not  sharp  i 
of  gravel.  In  about  a  fortnight  after,  the  urinary  passage  was  for  a 
time  altogether  obstructed.  "  This,"  says  Baillie,  "  feared  me  much  ; 
but  now,  blessed  be  God,  he  is  well."  Upon  his  return  to  Edin- 
burgh, he  was  invited  to  dine  with  his  good  friend,  Mr.  Stewart 
(afterwards  Sir  James),  subsequently  Lord  Provost  of  Edinburgh. 
He  was  extremely  cheerful  and  hearty  at  table.  After  dinner  was 
over,  he  asked  Sir  James  if  he  had  not  observed  him  more  than 
ordinarily  cheerful.  He  answered,  he  was  extremely  pleased  to  find 
him  so  well  as  he  was.  "  Well,"  said  the  other,  "  I  am  near  the  end 
of  my  race,  hasting  home,  and  there  was  never  a  school-boy  more 
desirous  to  have  the  play  than  I  am  to  have  leave  of  this  world  ;  and 
in  a  few  days  (naming  the  time,)  I  will  sicken  and  die.  In  my  sick- 
ness I  will  be  much  out  of  ease  to  speak  of  anything,  but  I  desire 
that  you  may  be  with  me  as  much  as  you  can,  and  you  shall  see  all 
will  end  well."  All  fell  out  as  he  had  foretold ;  and  on  the  10th  of 
August,  Henderson  rested  from  all  the  toils  of  a  useful  and  busy  life. 

On  the  testimony  of  several  of  his  brethren,  who  visited  him  on 
his  deathbed,  he  continued  to  manifest  the  strongest  desire  that  the 
work  of  reformation  should  go  on,  in  the  same  way  it  had  done  from 
the  beginning.  To  himself,  his  death  was  a  relief  from  sickness  and 
sorrow ;  but  to  his  friends,  it  was  one  of  the  sad  presages  of  ap- 
proaching evil. 

Henderson's  mortal  remains  were  interred  in  the  churchyard  of 
St.  Giles,  near  the  grave  of  his  fellow-reformer  in  the  Scottish  church. 
When  this  cemetery  was  converted  into  the  Parliament  Square, 
his  body  was  removed  to  the  Grayfriars,  where  it  lies  in  the  burial 
ground  of  the  Henderson's  of  Fordel.  His  nephew,  George  Hen- 
derson, erected  a  suitable  monument  to  his  memory,  which  still 
stands  entire  on  the  south-west  side  of  Grayfriars  church. 

So  violent  was  the  spirit  of  dissension  in  those  days,  that  when  the 
episcopal  party  got  the  ascendancy  after  the  Restoration,  they  erased 
the  inscription  from  the  monument ;  but  it  has  since  been  restored. 

By  Henderson's  decease,  the  church  and  kingdom  experienced  a 
severe  loss.  His  death  was  justly  lamented  by  the  Covenanters. 
Before  the  General  Assembly,  in  1617,  Baillie  pronounced  the  fol- 
lowing tender  eulogium,  which  cannot  fail  to  be  read  with  the  deep- 
est interest :  "  One  of  my  dear  colleagues  (Henderson,)  having  been 
removed  by  death,  may  I  be  permitted  to  conclude  with  my  earnest 
wish,  that  that  glorious  soul,  of  worthy  memory,  who  is  now  crowned 
with  the  reward  of  his  labours  for  God  and  for  us,  may  be  fragrant 
among  us,  so  long  as  free  and  pure  Assemblies  remain  in  this  land, 
which  I  hope  will  be  till  the  coming  of  our  Lord.  You  know  he 
spent  his  strength,  wore  out  his  clays,  and  breathed  out  his  life,  in 
the  service  of  God  and  this  church.  This  binds  it  on  us  and  our 
posterity,  to  account  him  the  fairest  ornament,  after  Mr.  John  Knox, 
of  incomparable  memory,  that  ever  the  church  of  Scotland  did 
enjoy." 


o^  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

1 !  was  the  first  of  the  clergy  who  struck  the  spark  arid  kindled 
the  train  in  the  darkest  period  of  episcopal  supremacy ;  in  defiance 
of  dangere  and  difficulties  innumerable,  he  overcame  the  powers  of 
the  bishops,  when  exerted  in  compelling  presbyterians  to  use  the 
Service  Book  ;  he  restored  to  the  nation  the  inestimable  privilegeof 
convening  in  General  Assemblies;  and  he  framed  that  constitution 
of  our  church  which,  almost  unaltered,  has  blest  and  upheld  it  to  this 
dav.  By  his  discriminating  moderation  in  deliberative  councils  ;  by 
netration  in  discovering  and  suggesting  the  proper  course;  by 
his  personal  influence  as  a  constant  Moderator;  and  by  the  upright- 
ness of  his  intentions  and  the  kindness  of  his  heart,  he  maintained 
the  cause  of  his  party,  disarmed  the  rancour  of  his  opponents, 
secured  the  friendship  of  the  king,  and  sowed  the  first  seeds  of  that 
civil  and  sacred  liberty  which  was  matured  and  confirmed  by  the 
Revolution  in  16S8. 

Henderson  was  never  married.  By  his  testament,  registered  in 
the  Edinburgh  commissary  court,  he  appears  to  have  been  possessed 
of  considerable  wealth,  which,  with  the  exception  of  some  small 
legacies,  he  left  to  George  Henderson,  his  brother's  son,  who  attended 
him  during  the  latter  years  of  his  life.  With  the  exception  of  a 
great  number  of  pamphlets,  printed  speeches,  and  sermons,  composed 
during  the  bustle  of  an  active  life,  he  has  left  no  standard  works  to 
hand  down  his  great  talents  and  worth  to  posterity ;  "  But  so  long 
as  the  purity  of  our  presbyterian  establishment  remains,"  says  Dr. 
Aiton,  "  as  often  as  the  General  Assembly  of  our  church  is  per- 
mitted to  convene — while  the  Confession  of  Faith,  and  Catechisms 
Larger  and  Shorter,  hold  a  place  in  our  estimation,  second  to  the 
Scriptures  alone — and  till  the  history  of  the  revolution  during  the 
reign  of  Charles  I.  is  forgotten — the  memory  of  Alexander  Hen- 
derson will  be  respected,  and  every  presbyterian  patriot  in  Scotland 
will  continue  grateful  for  the  Second  Reformation  of  our  church, 
which  Henderson  was  so  instrumental  in  effecting." 


GEORGE  GILLESPIE. 


Tnis  eminent  divine  and  author  was  the  son  of  Mr.  John  Gillespie,  some 
time  minister  of  the  gospel  at  Kircaldy.  It  is  very  probable  that  he  was 
born  about  the  year  1610  or  1611,  as  we  find  that  in  the  year  1637, 
his  celebrated  work  entitled  "A  Dispute  against  the  English  Popish 


GEORGE    GILLESPIE. 


365 


Ceremonies,"  &c,  was,  by  public  proclamation,  prohibited  from  be- 
ing read,  in  consequence  of  having  given  offence  to  the  episcopal 
party,  who  were  then  predominant  in  the  nation  ;  and,  at  that  time 
Gillespie  is  said  to  have  scarcely  reached  the  twenty-fifth  year  of  his 
age.  It  may  also  be  supposed,  that  he  received  the  rudiments  of  his 
education  in  his  native  parish,  from  which  he  appears  to  have  been 
early  removed  to  the  university  of  St.  Andrew's,  where  his  progress 
is  reported  to  have  been  such,  as  to  bear  off  the  palm  from  the 
greater  part  of  his  fellow-students. 

His  admission  to  the  holy  ministry  was  at  a  time  when  non-con- 
formists found  it  impossible  to  be  appointed  to  a  charge,  without  the 
sanction  of  the  bishops  ;  and  therefore  it  appears  thatne  spent  a  few 
years,  after  receiving  his  license,  in  the  capacity  of  probationer.  It 
was  at  that  time,  when  chaplain  in  the  family  of  the  earl  of  Cassilis, 
that  he  wrote  the  offensive  publication  to  which  we  have  alluded  ; 
and  which,  being  of  too  corrosive  a  quality,  could  not  be  digested  by 
the  weak  stomachs  of  the  bishops.  It  is  certain,  also,  that  he  was 
chaplain  in  the  family  of  Viscount  Kenmure,  about  the  year  1634, 
as  we  have  already  mentioned,  in  the  life  of  that  distinguished 
nobleman. 

After  the  lapse  of  a  few  years,  however,  he  was  at  length  ordained 
minister  of  Wernyss,  in  Fife,  on  the  26th  April,  1638,  being  the 
first  of  that  period  who  was  admitted  by  a  presbytery,  without  an 
acknowledgment  of  the  bishops.  Gillespie  began  now  very  pro- 
minently to  exert  himself  in  defence  of  Presbytery  ;  and  at  the 
eleventh  session  of  the  memorable  Assembly  held  at  Glasgow,  in 
1638,  he  delivered  a  very  learned  and  appropriate  sermon  from  these 
words, — "The  king's  heart  is  in  the  hand  of  the  Lord,  as  the  rivers 
of  water :  he  turneth  it  whithersoever  he  will."  In  this  discourse, 
the  earl  of  Argyle  thought  he  encroached  too  nearly  upon  the  royal 
prerogative,  and  admonished  the  Assembly  very  gravely  upon  the 
subject,  which  all  took  in  good  part,  as  appeared  in  a  speech  delivered 
by  the  moderator  in  support  of  the  admonition. 

At  the  General  Assembly  held  at  Edinburgh,  in  1611,  a  call  for 
Gillespie,  from  the  town  of  Aberdeen,  was  laid  upon  the  Assembly's 
table  ;  but  in  this  instance  the  lord  commissioner  and  himself  advo- 
cated his  cause  so  well,  that  he  was  allowed  to  remain  at  Wemyss. 
His  stay  was  not  long,  however ;  for  the  General  Assembly  in  the 
following  year,  ordered  him  to  be  translated  to  the  city  of  Edinburgh, 
where  it  appears  he  continued  until  the  day  of  his  death,  which  was 
about  six  years  after. 

Gillespie  was  one  of  the  four  ministers  sent  as  commissioners  from 
the  Church  of  Scotland  to  the  "Westminster  Assembly,  in  the  year 
1643 ;  and  there  he  proved  himself  to  be  a  man  of  great  parts  and 
learning,  debating  with  such  perspicuity,  strength  of  argument,  and 
calmness  of  spirit,  as  few  could  equal,  and  none  excel.  Upon  one 
occasion,  at  a  time  when  both  parliament  and  the  Assembly  were 
sitting,  a  long  premeditated  speech  was  delivered  in  favour  of  Eras- 
tianism,  to  which  none  of  the  brethren  seemed  prepared  to  reply. 
Gillespie  having  been  urged  by  the  Scots  commissioners,  rose  and 
went  over  the  harangue,  in  such  a  masterly  manner,  as  to  give  a 


3QQ  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

triumphant  refutation  to  the  whole;  and  what  was  most  surprising 
was  that  though  Gillespie  seemed  to  have  been  employed  in  taking 
notes,  during  the  delivery  of  the  speech  to  which  he  made  answer; 
vet  those  who  sat  next  him  declared,  that  when  they  looked  into  his 
note-book,  they  found  nothing  written,  but  here  and  there,  "Lord, 
-end  light — Lord,  give  assistance — Lord,  defend  thine  own  cause !" 
etc. 

Although  all  our  Scots  commissioners  lent  their  aid  in  the  first 
formation  of  our  church's  Catechisms,  Confession  of  Faith,  Directory 
for  "Worship,  and  Form  of  Church  Government,  which  were  after- 
wards revised  and  approved  of  by  that  Assembly,  yet  the  assistance 
of  no  one  was  of  greater  service  than  that  of  Gillespie.* 

"  None  (says  one  of  his  colleagues  who  was  present,)  in  all  the 
Assembly,  did  reason  more  pertinently  than  Gillespie  ;  he  is  an  ex- 
cellent youth  ;  my  heart  blesses  God  in  his  behalf."  And  when  the 
passage,  Acts  xv.  22,  was  adduced  in  support  of  the  power  of  ordi- 
nation, and  a  very  animated  debate  followed, — "  the  very  learned 
and  accurate  Gillespie,"  &ajs  Mr.  Baillie,  "  a  singular  ornament  of 
our  church,  than  whom  not  one  in  the  Assembly  spoke  to  better  pur- 
pose, nor  with  better  acceptance  to  all  the  hearers,  showed  that  the 
Greek  word,  by  the  Episcopals  translated  ordination,  was  truly 
choosing  j  and  farther,  that  it  imported  the  people's  suffrages  in  elect- 
ing their  own  office-bearers."  Elsewhere  he  says  of  him,  "  We  get 
good  help  in  our  Assembly  debates  of  lord  Warriston,  an  occasional 
commissioner,  but  of  none  more  than  the  noble  youth  Gillespie.  I 
admire  his  gifts,  and  bless  God,  as  for  all  my  colleagues,  so  for  him 
in  particular,  as  equal  in  these  to  the  first  in  the  Assembly." 

After  his  return  from  the  Westminster  Assembly,  he  was  em- 
ployed in  most  of  the  public  affairs  connected  with  the  church,  until 
1648,  when  he  was  chosen  moderator  of  the  General  Assembly.  In 
this  Assembly  several  famous  Acts  were  passed  in  favour  of  the 
covenanted  work  of  reformation, — particularly  that  in  reference  to 
the  unlawful  engagement  against  England,  at  that  time  entered  into 
by  the  duke  of  Hamilton,  and  those  of  the  malignant  faction.  Gil- 
lespie was  also  one  of  those  nominated  by  this  Assembly,  to  prose- 
cute the  treaty  of  uniformity  in  religion  with  England ;  but  in  a 
short  time  after,  his  constitution  gave  way,  and  he  died  about  the 
17th  of  December  following. 

In  a  letter  to  Gillespie,  when  on  his  deathbed,  Kutherford  savs, 
"  Be  not  heavy,  the  life  of  faith  is  now  called  for ;  doing  was  never 
reckoned  on  your  accounts,  though  Christ  in  and  by  you  hath  done 
more  than  by  twenty,  yea,  a  hundred  gray  haired  and  godly  pastors. 
Look  to  that  word,  Gal.  ii.  20,  '  Nevertheless,  I  live  ;  yet  not  I,  but 
( Ihrist  liveth  in  me.'  " 

During  his  life  he  was  always  firmly  attached  to  the  work  of 
reformation,  and  continued  so  to  the  end.  About  two  months  before 
his  decease,  lie  sent  a  paper  to  the  Commission  of  the  General 
Assembly,  in  which  he  gave  faithful  warning  against  every  sin  and 

*  When  the  Confession  of  Faith  was  about  to  be  compiled,  the  following  persons  were 
added  to  the  Scots  commissioners  :-Dr.  Gouge,  Dr.  Hoyl,  Mr.  Herle,  Mr.  Gataker,  Mr. 
I  uckney,  Mr.  Reynolds,  and  Mr.  Reeves,  who  prepared  materials  for  that  purpose 


GEORGE   GILLESPIE.  3(37 

backsliding  that  be  then  perceived  to  be  growing  in  church  and 

state. 

Thus  died  Gillespie,  very  little  past  the  prime  of  life.  lie  was  an 
excellent  theologian,  a  man  of  singular  magnanimity,  and  one  who 
possessed  great  freedom  of  expression.  On  every  occasion  in  which 
lie  was  called  to  exercise  his  ministerial  function,  he  gave  signal 
proofs  of  his  high  talents.  No  man's  death,  at  that  time,  was  more 
lamented  than  his  ;  and  such  was  the  sense  the  public  had  of  his 
merit,  that  the  Committee  of  Estates,  by  an  act  dated  December 
20th,  101S,  did,  "  as  an  acknowledgment  for  his  faithfulness  in  all 
the  public  employments  entrusted  to  him  by  this  church,  both  at 
home  and  abroad,  his  faithful  labours,  and  indefatigable  diligence 
in  all  the  exercises  of  his  ministerial  calling,  for  his  Master's  service, 
and  his  learned  writings  published  to  the  world,  in  which  rare  and 
profitable  employments,  both  for  church  and  state,  he  truly  spent 
himself,  and  closed  his  days,  ordain,  that  the  sum  of  one  thousand 
pounds  sterling  should  be  given  to  his  wife  and  children."  Althongh 
the  parliament,  however,  by  their  act  dated  June  8th,  1650,  unani- 
mously ratified  the  above  resolution,  and  recommended,  to  their 
committee  to  make  the  same  effectual ;  yet  Cromwell,  having  soon 
after  usurped  the  reins  of  government,  frustrated  this  pious  design, 
as  his  grandson,  the  Rev.  George  Gillespie,  minister  of  Strathmiglo, 
afterwards  declared. 

Besides  "  The  English  Popish  Ceremonies,"  he  wrote  also  "  Aaron's 
Rod  Blossoming,"  which,  with  his  miscellaneous  questions,  first 
printed  in  1649,  clearly  show  that  he  was  a  man  of  most  profound 
parts,  learning,  and  abilities. 

In  his  Latter  "Will  he  declared  that  the  expectation  of  death  did 
not  shake  him  from  the  faith  and  truth  of  Christ  which  he  had  pro- 
fessed and  preached ;  and  it  was  his  firm  conviction,  that  the  so- 
much-vilified  covenant  and  reformation  of  the  three  kingdoms  was 
of  God,  and  would  have  a  happy  conclusion.  He  repented  no  for- 
wardness nor  zeal  he  had  shown  in  promoting  the  glorious  work  ; 
and  prayed  earnestly  that  there  might  be  such  a  spirit  in  those  of 
the  nobility  who  stood  up  for  the  truth,— that  they  would  take  more 
of  God's  counsel,  and  lean  less  to  their  own  reason  and  understand- 
ing." "  But,"  he  concludes,  "  if  there  be  a  falling  back  to  the  sin 
of  compliance  with  malignant  ungodly  men,  then  I  look  for  the 
breaking  out  of  the  wrath  of  the  Lord,  till  there  be  no  remedy." 


368 


SCOTS   WORTHIES. 


JOHN   M'CLELLAND 


I 


The  earliest  notice  we  have  of  this  strenuous  supporter  of  Pres- 
bytery, and  faithful  servant  of  Christ,  is,  when  he  was  employed  as 
schoolmaster  at  a  place  called  Newton,  in  Ireland.  No  account, 
either  of  his  parentage,  birth,  or  early  education,  seems  to  be  on 
record.  That  his  scholastic  attainments,  however,  were  of  a,  respect- 
able order,  may  be  presumed  from  the  circumstance  of  his  having 
educated  several  young  men  for  the  university,  who  are  said  to  have 
been  very  hopeful  students.  After  having  been  engaged  for  some 
time  in  this  humble  occupation,  he  was  taken  upon  trial  for  the 
ministry,  by  the  presbytery  of  Down,  and  having  been  found  duly 
qualified,  was  licensed  to  preach  the  everlasting  gospel.  It  does  not 
appear  that  he  had  ever  been  set  apart  to  any  particular  charge  in 
Ireland  ;  but  spent  his  time  in  itinerating  within  the  bounds  of  the 
Dresbytery,  until,  his  fidelity  and  zeal  in  the  service  of  his  Master 
laving  reached  the  ear  of  the  bishops,  he  was  by  them  deposed  and 
excommunicated. 

He  was  one  of  the  few  faithful  brethren  in  that  country,  who, 
after  their  deposition  and  ejection  from  their  livings,  meditated  a 
plan  of  emigration  to  New  England,  in  1636 ;  but  proving  abortive 
in  consequence  of  a  storm  which  forced  them  to  put  back  to  Ireland, 
preached  for  some  time  through  the  counties  of  Down,  Tyrone  and 
Donegal,  in  private  meetings  ;  until,  hunted  and  persecuted  by  epis- 
copal  tyranny,  he  was  compelled  in  disguise  to  seek  refuge  in  Scot- 
land. About  the  year  1638,  he  was  ordained  minister  of  Kirkcud- 
bright, where  he  continued  to  labour  with  great  assiduity  till  the 
day  of  his  death.  During  the  whole  of  his  incumbency  in  that 
parish,  he  discovered  more  than  ordinary  zeal,  not  only  in  testi- 
fying against  the  corruptions  of  the  times;  but  by  an  unimpeach- 
able walk  and  conversation,  as  one  bent  upon  the  advancement  of 
all  the  interests  of  religion,  in  private  as  well  as  in  public. 

But  even  the  peaceful  demeanor  and  godly  life  of  M'Clelland  did 
not  screen  him  from  persecution  ;  and  from  a  quarter,  too,  from 
which  other  things  might  have  been  expected.  Guthrie,  them  min- 
ister at  Stirling,  and  afterwards  bishop  of  Dunkeld,  having  heard 
of  his  extraordinary  diligence  in  promoting  personal  and  family 
religion,  by  encouraging  fellowship-meetings,  threatened  to  lay  a 
complaint  against  him  before  the  General  Assembly  of  1639  ;  out  of 
resentment,  it  was  said,  against  the  laird  of  Leckie,who  was  a  strenuous 
supporter  of  such  meetings.    These  private  assemblages  were  at  that 


JOHN   M'CLELLAND.  3^9 

time  becoming  very  general  throughout  Scotland ;  and  the  leading 
members,  sensible  of  the  great  good  they  had  effected  in  the  cause 
of  Presbytery,  and  in  cementing  a  union  among  the  brethren — 
rather  than  that  the  matter  should  proceed  any  further — proposed 
that  M'Clelland  should,  in  his  public  ministrations,  enforce  the  duty 
and  necessity  of  family  religion,  and  that  he,  Blair,  and  Livingstone, 
should  preach  against  such  meetings,  and  other  abuses.  Not  one 
of  these  men,  however,  could  be  persuaded  to  comply ;  and  there- 
fore Guthrie  made  good  his  threat,  by  acntally  tabling  an  accusation 
against  all  the  three,  before  the  Assembly  of  1640,  alleging  that 
they  were  the  sole  supporters  of  the  conventicles  complained  of. 
M'Clelland  entered  upon  his  defence  with  Christian  heroism,  and 
craved  that  a  committee  might  be  appointed  to  investigate  the  mat- 
ter, and  that  the  offenders  might  be  censured,  whether  it  should 
turn  out  to  be  the  persons  libelled,  or  their  accusers.  At  this, 
Guthrie,  the  earl  of  Seaforth,  and  others  of  the  coalition,  were  so 
much  irritated,  that  for  a  time  nothing  could  be  heard  in  the  Assem- 
bly, on  account  of  the  tumult  and  commotion  which  the  libel  had 
excited.  The  farther  prosecution  of  the  charge,  however,  seems  to 
have  dropped  here. 

M'Clelland  is  said  to  have  been  occasionally  endued  with  a  pro- 
phetic spirit, — and  this  assertion  seems  to  have  been  gathered  from 
some  expressions  he  had  at  one  time  employed  in  one  of  his  sermons, 
— viz., — "  That  the  judgments  of  England  should  be  so  great,  that  a 
man  might  ride  fifty  miles  through  the  best  plenished  parts  of  Eng- 
land, without  hearing  a  cock  crow,  a  dog  bark,  or  seeing  a  man's 
face  ;" — and,  "  that  if  he  had  the  best  land  in  all  England,  he  would 
sell  it  for  two  shillings  an  acre,  and  think  he  had  come  to  a  good 
market." 

Little  more  is  known  of  this  good  man  that  may  with  certainty  be 
relied  on.  After  having  faithfully  discharged  his  duties  as  minister 
of  Kirkcudbright,  for  nearly  twelve  years,  and  borne  unwavering 
testimony  against  the  unscriptural  introduction  and  exercise  of 
patronage,  and  for  the  perpetual  obligation  of  the  Solemn  League 
and  Covenant  in  these  lands,  he  was  called  home  to  his  Father's 
house,  about  the  year  1650,  to  the  full  fruition  of  what  he  had  before 
been  gratified  with  only  in  vision.  He  was  a  man  of  a  truly  apos> 
tolic  life,  not  knowing  what  it  was  to  be  afraid  of  any  one  in  the 
cause  of  Christ;  and  he  was  admitted  to  nearer  and  more  intimate 
communion  with  his  divine  Lord  and  Master,  than  generally  tails 
to  the  lot  even  of  the  most  sincere  Christians.  "  The  secret  of  the 
Lord  is  with  them  that  fear  him  ;  and  he  will  show  them  his  cove- 
nant." His  gracious  and  fatherly  providence  is  ever  towards  them, 
working  for,  and  taking  care  of  them. 

A  little  before  his  death  he  composed  the  following  verses,  breath- 
ing the  most  confident  assurances  of  eternal  life,  through  the  right- 
ousness  that  is  in  Christ  Jesus  : 

Come,  stingless  Death,  have  o'er  !  lo !  here's  my  pass, 
In  blood  character'd  by  his  hand  who  was, 
And  is,  and  shall  be.     Jordan,  cut  thy  stream, — 
Make  channels  dry  !     I  bear  my  Father's  name 
24 


370  SCOTS   WORTHIES, 

Stamped  on  my  brow.     I'm  ravished  with  my  crown 

T  shine  so  bright.     Down  with  all  glory — down — 

That  world  can  give  !     I  see  the  peerless  port, 

The  golden  street,  the  blessed  soul's  resort, 

The  tree  of  life, — floods,  gushing  from  the  throne, 

Call  me  to  joys.     Begone,  short  woes,  begone  J 

I  live  to  die, — but  now  I  die  to  live — 

1  now  enjoy  more  than  I  could  believe. 

The  promise  me  unto  possession  sends, 

Faith  in  fruition  ;  hope  in  vision  ends. 


DAVID   CALDERWOOD. 


This  eminent  historian  of  the  church,  and  sufferer  for  the  cause  of 
Christ,  holds  a  prominent  part  in  the  annals  of  ecclesiastical  bio- 
graphy. Of  his  early  life  and  literary  acquirements,  however,  we 
are  unable  to  say  more  than  that  after  having  qualified  himself  for 
the  ministry,  and  obtained  license,  he  was  appointed  minister  of 
Crailing,  near  Jedburgh.  Here  he  preached  .the  word  of  God  for  a 
considerable  time,  with  great  wisdom,  zeal,  and  diligence  ;  and  as  a 
wise  harvest-man,  brought  in  many  sheaves  into  God's  granary. 
But  it  being  then  a  time  when  prelacy  was  greatly  prevalent  in  the 
church,  and  faithful  ministers  were  everywhere  thrust  out  and 
silenced,  he,  with  others,  gave  in  their  declinature  in  1608,  and 
thereupon  took  instruments  in  the  hands  of  a  notarj'-public,  in 
presence  of  some  of  the  magistrates  and  council  of  the  town.  Upon 
this  information  having  been  sent  to  James  by  the  bishops,  instruc- 
tions were  given  to  the  council,  to  punish  Calderwood  and  another 
minister  with  exemplary  severity.  Through  the  influence  of  the  earl 
of  Lothian  with  the  chancellor,  in  favour  of  Calderwood,  however, 
their  punishment  was  mitigated  to  confinement  within  their  own 
parishes. 

Under  this  sad  restriction  was  Calderwood  detained  a  prisoner 
within  his  own  parish,  but  he  was  afterwards  summoned  to  appear 
before  the  high  commission  court  at  St.  Andrew's,  upon  the  8th  of 
July  following.  After  his  libel  was  read  over  and  answered,  the 
king  said — "But  what  moved  you  to  protest?"  "  A  clause  agreed 
to  by  the  Lords  of  Articles,"  replied  Calderwood.  "  But  what  fault 
had  you  to  it  V  said  the  king — "  It  cutteth  off  our  General  Assem- 
blies," was  Caklerwood's  answer.  The  king, — holding  the  protest  in 
his  hand — then  challenged  him  for  some  words  in  the  last  clause  of 
:t;  to  which  Calderwood  responded, — "  Whatsoever  was  the  phrase 


DAVID    CALDERWOOD.  371 

of  speech,  they  meant  no  other  thing  bnt  to  protest,  that  they  would 
give  passive  obedience  to  his  majesty,  but  could  not  give  active 
obedience  unto  any  unlawful  thing  which  should  flow  from  that 
article."  "  Active  and  passive  obedience  !"  said  the  king.  "  That  is, 
we  will  rather  suffer  than  practice,"  said  Calderwood.  "  I  will  tell 
thee,  man,"  said  the  king,  "  what  is  obdience, — what  the  centurion 
said  to  his  servants,  'To  this  man,  Go,  and  he  goeth,  and  to  that  man, 
Come,  and  he  cometh ;  that  is  obedience !"  Calderwood  replied, 
"  To  suffer,  Sire,  is  also  obedience,  howbeit  not  of  the  same  kind  :  and 
that  obedience  was  not  absolute,  but  limited,  with  exception  of  a 
countermand  from  a  superior  power."  "  I  am  informed,"  said  the 
king,  "  ye  are  a  refractor ;  the  bishop  of  Glasgow  your  ordinary,  and 
bishop  of  Caithness  the  moderator,  and  your  presbytery,  testify 
ye  have  kept  no  order,  ye  have  repaired  to  neither  presbytery  nor 
synod,  and  are  no  way  conform."  To  this  Calderwood  replied,  "  I 
have  been  confined  these  eight  or  nine  years ;  so  my  conformity  or 
non-conformity  in  that  point  could  not  be  well  known."  "  Gude  faith, 
thou  art  a  very  knave,"  said  the  king ;  "  see  these  same  false  puritans, 
they  are  ever  playing  with  equivocations !"  His  majesty  then  asked 
whether  he  would  conform  or  not,  if  he  were  released, — to  which 
Calderwood  made  answer,  "I  am  wronged,  in  that  I  am  forced  to 
answer  such  questions,  which  are  beside  the  libel."  After  this  he 
was  removed. 

When  again  called  in,  it  was  intimated  to  him,  that  if  he  did  not 
repair  to  synods  and  presbyteries  between  this  and  October,  conform 
within  that  time,  and  promise  obedience  in  all  time  coming,  the 
bishop  of  Glasgow  was  to  depose  him.  Calderwood  then  craved 
permission  to  say  a  few  words  to  the  bishops  ;  which  being  granted, 
he  spoke  as  follows:  "  Neither  can  ye  suspend  or  deprive  me  in  this 
court  of  high  commission,  for  ye  have  no  power  in  this  court  but  by 
commission  from  his  majesty ;  his  majesty  cannot  communicate  that 
power  to  you  which  he  claims  not  to  himself."  At  which  the  king 
shook  his  head,  and  said,  "  Are  there  not  bishops  and  fathers  in  the 
church,  persons  clothed  with  power  and  authority  to  suspend,  and 
depose  ?"  "  Not  in  this  court,"  answered  Calderwood.  At  these 
words  there  arose  such  a  clamour  in  the  court,  that  he  was  obliged  to 
raise  his  voice,  in  order  to  be  heard.  At  length  the  king  asked  him 
if  he  would  obey  the  sentence  ?  To  which  he  replied,  "Tour  sen- 
tence is  not  the  sentence  of  the  kirk,  but  a  sentence  null  in  itself, 
and  therefore  I  cannot  obey  it."  Ail  mouths  were  then  opened 
against  him,  reviling  and  calling  him  a  proud  knave  ;  and  some  had 
even  the  audacity  to  shake  him  by  the  shoulders,  in  the  most  insolent 
manner,  until  at  last  he  was  removed  a  second  time. 

Being  again  brought  in,  the  sentence  of  deposition  was  pronounced, 
and  he  was  ordained  to  be  committed  to  close  ward  in  the  tolbooth 
of  St.  Andrew's  till  further  orders  should  be  given  for  his  banish- 
ment ;  upon  which  he  was  upbraided  by  the  bishops,  who  said,  that 
he  deserved  to  be  treated  like  Ogilvy,  the  Jesuit,  who  had  been 
hanged  for  denying  the  king's  power.  When  about  to  reply,  the 
bishop  of  St.  Andrew's  said — "  No  answer  !"  and  the  secretary  cast 
it  in  his  teeth — "  If  ye  will  answer  to  anything,  answer  to  your 


3  72 


SCOTS   WORTHIES. 


libel!''  "I  bare  answered  to  that  long  ago,"  said  Calderwood ; 
whereupon  the  king  in  a  rage,  cried,  "  Away  with  him  !" — and  upon 
this,  lord  Scone  taking  him  by  the  arm,  led  him  out,  where  they 
staid  some  time  waiting  for  the  bailiffs  of  the  town.  In  the  mean- 
time Calderwood  said  to  Scone,  "  My  lord,  this  is  not  the  first  like 
turn  that  hath  fallen  into  your  hands  !"— "  I  must  serve  the  king,'* 
said  Scone.  To  some  ministers  who  were  standing  by,  Calderwood 
said,  "  Brethren,  ye  have  Christ's  cause  in  hand  at  this  meeting  ;  be 
not  terrified  with  this  spectacle  ;  prove  faithful  servants  to  your 
Master !"  As  the  keys  of  the  tolbooth  could  not  be  got  at  the  time, 
Scone  took  him  to  his  own  house,  until  these  could  be  found  ;  andas 
they  were  walking  along,  Scone  was  thus  accosted — "  Whither  with 
the  man,  my  lord  ?" — "  First  to  the  tolbooth,"  said  his  lordship, 
"  and  then  to  the  gallows  I" 

From  the  confusion  and  noise  that  took  place  when  Calderwood 
was  before  the  king,  and  from  the  suggestions  made  to  him  by  some 
of  his  brethren,  he  was  afraid  that  he  had  misunderstood  his  majesty ; 
and  therefore  he  signified  the  same  to  the  king  in  writing,*  stating 
that  he  had  been  so  disturbed  by  those  who  were  standing  round 
him,  that  he  thought  his  majesty  meant  no  more  than  that  he  would 
acknowledge  the  sentence  pronounced  by  the  bishops. 

Calderwood  was  committed  a  close  prisoner,  and  the  same  after- 
noon an  order  was  given  to  transport  him  to  the  tolbooth  of  Edin- 
burgh. Upon  this,  he  was  delivered  to  two  of  the  guard  to  be 
conveyed  thither,  although  several  persons  offered  to  bail  him,  that 
he  might  not  go  out  of  the  country.  But  no  order  of  council  could 
be  had  to  that  effect ;  for  the  king's  intention  was  to  keep  him  in 
close  ward  till  a  ship  was  ready  to  convey  him  first  to  London,  and 
then  to  Virginia.  Providence,  however,  had  ordered  otherwise ;  for 
in  compliance  with  the  prayer  of  several  petitions  in  his  behalf,  he 
was  liberated  from  prison,  upon  lord  Cranstoun  becoming  security 
that  he  should  depart  out  of  the  count ry.f 

After  this,  he  went  with  lord  Cranstoun  to  the  king  at  Carlisle., 
where  the  said  lord  presented  a  petition  in  his  favour,  to  the  effect 
that  he  might  only  be  confined  to  his  parish  ;  but  the  king  inveighed 
against  him  so  much,  that  at  last  he  repulsed  Cranstoun  with  his 
elbow.  Calderwood  again  insisted  for  a  prorogation  of  the  time  of 
his  departure  till  the  end  of  April,  because  of  the  winter-season,  that 
he  might  have  time  to  get  in  his  year's  stipend.  To  this  the  king 
replied,  "  Ilowbeit  he  begged  it  were  no  matter,  he  would  know 

*  When  the  king  read  the  first  part,  he  said,  "  How  could  this  be  ?— The  man  had  all 
his  senses — the  devil  nor  he  had  been  red  wud,  and  by  his  mind,  and  then  I  had  not  been 
so  angrie  at  him."  When  he  read  on,  he  became  more  calm ;  but  the  bishops  incensed  him 
again°  The  king,  then,  after  having  read  over  the  paper,  made  a  mark  on  the  edge  of  it ; 
and  said, "  I  will  kenn  it  by  this  mark  among  a  hundreth,  and  will  advise  upon  it-" — Cald. 

Hist. 

j  At  Glasgow  the  27th  day  of  the  month  of  July,  1607  years— The  whilk  day,  in  pres- 
ence of  the  lords  of  secret  council,  compeared  personally  James  Cranstoun,  sonne  to 
William  lord  Cranstoun,  and  acted  and  obliged  him  and  his  heirs  as  cautioners  and  suretie 
for  Mr.  David  Calderwood,  minister  at  Crailing,  that  the  said  Mr.  David,  betwixt  the  date 
hereof,  and  the  feast  and  terme  of  Michaelmas  next  to  come,  shall  depart  and  passe  forth 
from  his  Majestie's  dominions,  and  not  return  again  within  the  samine,  without  his  Majes- 
tie's  license  first  had  and  obtained  thereto,  under  the  pain  of  five  hundred  merks.— Caldr 
Hist. 


DAVID   CALDERWOOD. 


373 


himself  better  the  next  time ;  and  for  the  season  of  the  year,  if  he 
drowned  in  the  seas,  he  might  thank  God  that  he  had  escaped  a 
worse  death."  Cranstoun,  however,  being  importunate  for  the  pro- 
rogation, the  king  answered,  I  will  advise  with  my  bishops.  In  this 
way  the  time  was  protracted  till  the  year  1619,  that  he  wrote  a  book 
called  Perth  Assembly,  when  he  was  condemned  by  the  council  in 
December  of  that  year  ; — but,  as  he  himself  says,  neither  the  book 
nor  the  author  could  be  found ;  for  in  August  preceding  he  had 
embarked  for  Holland. 

After  the  death  of  James,  Calderwood  returned  to  his  native 
country,  where  he  kept  himself  as  retired  as  possible.  His  principal 
place  of  residence  was  at  Edinburgh,  where  he  exerted  himself 
greatly  in  strengthening  the  hands  of  non-conformists,  until  after 
1658,  when  he  was  admitted  minister  of  Pencaitlaud,  in  East 
Lothian. 

After  that  period  he  contributed  very  much  to  the  carrying  on  of 
the  covenanted  work  in  Scotland  ;  for  first,  he  had  an  active  hand  in 
drawing  up  some  excellent  papers  in  which  were  contained  the 
records  of  church  policy  betwixt  1576  and  1596,  which  were 
presented  and  read  by  Mr.  Johnston,  the  clerk,  to  the  General 
Assembly  at  Glasgow,  in  163S  ;  and  then,  by  recommendation  of  the 
General  Assembly  of  1646,  he  was  required  to  consider  the  order  of 
the  visitation  of  kirks,  and  trials  of  presbyteries,  and  to  make  report 
thereon  to  the  next  Assembly  ;  and  again,  at  the  General  Assembly 
of  1618,  a  further  recommendation  was  given  him,  to  make  a 
draught  of  the  form  of  visitation  of  particular  congregations,  against 
the  next  Assembly.  He  was  also  one  of  those  appointed,  with  Mr. 
Dickson,  to  draw  up  the  form  of  the  Directory  for  the  public 
worship  of  God,  by  the  General  Assembly  of  1613. 

After  having  both  spent  and  been  spent,  with  the  apostle,  for  the 
cause  and  interest  of  Jesus  Christ,  while  the  English  army  lay  at 
Lothian,  during  1651,  he  went  to  Jedburgh,  where  he  was  taken  ill, 
and  died  in  a  good  old  age.  He  was  another  valiant  champion  for 
the  truth,  who,  in  pleading  for  the  crown  and  interest  of  Jesus 
Christ,  knew  not  what  it  was  to  be  intimidated  by  the  face  and 
frowns  of  the  highest  and  most  incensed  adversaries. 

Before  he  went  to  Holland,  he  wrote  the  book  entitled,  Perth 
Assembly.  While  in  Holland,  he  wrote  that  learned  work  called 
Altare  Pamascenmn,  with  other  pieces  in  English,  which  contributed 
not  a  little  to  keep  many  straight  in  that  declining  period.  After  his 
return,  he  wrote  his  well-known  history  of  our  church  as  far  down  as 
the  year  1625,  of  which  the  printed  copy  is  only  a  short  abstract 
of  the  manuscript  ;  which,  both  as  to  style  and  manner  is  far 
preferable. 


gT4  SCOTS  WORTHIES. 


HUGH    BINNING. 


The  subject  of  this  memoir  was  the  eldest  son  of  John  Binning 
of  Dalvennan,  and  Margaret  M'Kell,  daughter  of  Matthew  M'Kell, 
minister  of  Bothwell,  and  sister  to  Hugh  M'Kell,  one  of  the 
ministers  of  Edinburgh.  Binning's  father  was  possessed  of  no 
inconsiderable  estate  in  the  county  of  Ayr,  which  therefore  enabled 
him  to  bestow  upon  his  son  a  liberal  education, — the^  happy  effects 
of  which  became  very  early  conspicuous ;  and  it  is  pleasant  to 
observe,  that  the  magnanimity  and  genius  which  he  then  discovered, 
afforded  his  parents  the  delightful  hope  of  his  becoming,  in  the  end, 
a  useful  and  an  honourable  minister  of  the  gospel.  When  at  the 
grammar-school,  he  made  such  proficieucy  in  the  Latin  language,  and 
acquired  such  a  knowledge  of  the  Roman  authors,  as  to  outstrip  all 
his  class-fellows  ;  nay,  even  those  who  were  by  far  his  seniors.  He 
had  an  aversion  to  all  juvenile  sports  and  amusements  ;  not  from  a 
gloomy  or  morose  disposition  ;  but  from  a  conviction  that  time  was 
too  precious  to  be  trifled  with  ;  and  therefore,  while  the  rest  of  the 
scholars  were  at  play,  he  employed  his  time,  either  in  secret 
communion  with  God,  or  in  conference  with  religious  people. 
Religion  and  religious  exercises  were  his  choice  ;  and  therefore, 
before  others  began  seriously  to  think  of  their  lost  and  undone  state 
by  nature,  he  enjoyed  sweet  familiarity  with  his  Saviour,  and  lived 
in  near  communion  with  him.  When  lie  arrived  at  the  thirteenth  or 
fourteenth  year  of  his  age,  he  had  attained  to  such  experience  in  the 
ways  of  God,  that  the  most  judicious  and  tried  Christians  in  the 
place  confessed  they  were  much  edified,  strengthened,  and  comforted 
by  him  ;  nay  that  he  stimulated  them  to  their  religious  duties,  being 
sensible  that  they  were  far  outrun  by  a  mere  youth. 

Before  he  was  fourteen  years  of  age,  he  entered  upon  the  study  of 
philosophy  in  the  university  of  Glasgow,  in  which  he  made  such 
distinguished  progress  as  to  attract  the  notice  both  of  the  professors 
and  his  fell<>\v-stu< fonts  ;  the  latter  of  whom  he  left  as  far  behind,  as 
lie  had  done  his  more  youthful  aspirants  in  the  study  of  the  classics. 
The  abstruse  depths  of  philosophy,  which  are  the  torture  of  a  slow 
genius  and  weak  capacity,  he  dived  into  without  pain  or  trouble; 
by  which  means  he  was  enabled  to  do  more  in  one  hour,  than  many 
could  do  in  some  days,  by  severe  study  and  close  application. 
Notwithstanding  all  this,  he  was  never  exalted  above  measure,  but 
conducted  himself  with  becoming  humility  and  condescension;  ever 
ready  to  aid  those  who  solicited  his  help. 

Having  completed  his  course  of  philosophy,  he  took  the  degree  of 


HUGH   BINNING.  375 

Master  of  Arts  before  he  was  nineteen  years  of  age  ;  after  which  he 
entered  upon  the  study  of  divinity,  with  a  view  to  serve  God  in  the 
holy  ministry,  with  a  mind  richly  stored  with  the  knowledge  of  the 
liberal  sciences,  and  deeply  impressed  with  the  eternal  importance 
of  religion.  At  this  time  there  happened  to  be  a  vacancy  in  the 
college  of  Glasgow,  by  the  resignation  of  Mr.  James  Dairy  m  pie  of 
Stair,  who  had  for  some  time  been  his  teacher.  Ancl  though 
Binning  had  been  but  lately  his  scholar,  yet  he  was  persuaded,  after 
much  entreaty,  to  stand  candidate  for  the  situation. 

According  to  the  usual  custom,  the  masters  of  the  college  emitted 
a  programme,  and  sent  it  to  all  the  universities  of  the  kingdom  ; 
inviting  such  as  had  a  mind  to  dispute  for  a  profession  of  philosophy, 
to  sist  themselves  before  them,  and  offer  themselves  to  compete  for 
the  preferment ;  giving  assurance  that,  without  partiality,  the  place 
should  be  conferred  upon  him  who  should  be  found  most  eminent  in 
morals  and  learning. 

The  ministers  of  Glasgow,  considering  how  much  it  was  the 
interest  of  the  church  that  well-qualified  persons  should  be  put  into 
the  profession  of  philosophy ;  and  knowing  that  Binning  was 
eminently  pious,  and  of  a  bright  genius,  as  well  as  of  a  solid 
judgment,  had  frequent  conferences  with  him  in  order  to  induce  him 
to  enroll  himself  among  the  competitors.  They  had  much  difficulty 
in  overcoming  his  modesty  ;  but  they  at  last  prevailed  upon  him  to 
declare  his  willingness  to  undertake  the  dispute  before  the  masters. 
Besides  Binning,  there  were  other  two  candidates  ;  one  of  whom  had 
powerful  interest  with  Dr.  Strang,  principal  of  the  college ;  and  the 
other  was  a  scholar  of  great  abilities.  Binning,  however,  so  acquitted 
himself  in  all  parts  of  his  trial,  that  in  the  opinion  of  the  judges,  he 
very  far  eclipsed  his  rivals  ;  and  as  to  the  precise  point  of  literature, 
cut  off  all  shadow  of  a  demur  and  pretence  of  difficulty  as  to  the 
decision.  However,  though  the  Doctor  and  some  of  the  Faculty 
could  not  pretend  that  their  favourite  candidate  had  an  equality, 
much  less  a  superiority  in  the  contest ;  yet  they  argued,  that  the 
person  they  inclined  to  prefer,  being  a  citizen's  son,  having  a 
sufficient  competency  of  learning,  and  being  a  person  of  maturer 
years,  had  greater  experience  than  Binning  could  be  supposed  to 
have,  and  consequently  better  qualified  to  be  a  teacher  of  youth  ; 
besides,  that  Binning  having  been  but  very  recently  a  fellow-student 
with  those  he  was  to  be  appointed  to  teach,  it  was  not  to  be  expected 
that  the  students  would  behave  towards  him  with  that  respect  and 
regard  which  should  be  paid  to  a  teacher.  To  this,  however,  it  was 
replied, — That  Binning  was  such  an  accomplished  scholar,  so  wise 
and  sedate,  as  to  be  above  all  the  follies  and  vanities  of  youth  ;  and 
that  what  was  wanting  in  years  was  made  up  sufficiently  by  his  more 
than  ordinary  and  singular  endowments.  Upon  which  a  member  of 
the  faculty,  perceiving  the  contest  to  be  very  keen,  proposed  a  trial 
between  the  two  candidates  extempore,  on  any  subject  the  judges 
should  be  pleased  to  prescribe.  This  put  an  end  to  the  division 
between  them  ;  and  those  who  had  opposed  Binning,  not  willing  to 
engage  their  friend  with  such  an  able  antagonist  a  second  time, 
withdrew  their  objections. 


376  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

He  was  not  quite  nineteen  years  of  age  when  be  was  appointed 
regent  and  professor  of  philosophy  ;  and  though  he  had  not  time  to 
prepare  any  part  of  his  course  systematically,  having  instantly  to 
begin  his  class;  yet  such  was  the  quickness  and  fertility  of  his 
-cuius,  the  tcnaci'ousness  of  his  memory,  and  the  solidity  of  his 
judgment,  that  his  dictates*  to  the  scholars  had  a  depth  of  learning, 
and  perspicuity  of  expression,  seldom  equalled.  He  was  among  the 
first  in  Scotland  that  began  to  reform  philosophy  from  the  barbarous 
terms  and  unintelligible'jargon  of  the  schoolmen. 

He  continued  in  this  profession  three  years,  and  discharged  his 
trust  so  as  to  gain  the  general  applause  of  the  university.  And  this 
was  the  more  remarkable,  that  having  turned  his  thoughts  towards 
the  ministry,  he  carried  on  his  theological  studies  at  the  same  time, 
and  made  great  improvements  therein ;  for  his  memory  was  so  reten- 
tive, that  he  scarcely  forgot  anything  he  had  read  or  heard.  It  was 
easy  for  him  to  write  out  any  sermon,  after  he  returned  from  hearing 
it,  at  such  length,  that  even  the  intelligent  and  judicious  reader  who 
had  heard  it  preached,  could  scarcely  find  one  sentence  wanting. 

During  this  period,  he  gave  full  proof  of  his  progress  and  know- 
ledge in  divinity  in  a  composition  from  2  Cor.  v.  14  :f  which  he  sent 
to  a  lady  at  Edinburgh  for  her  private  edification :  who,  having  perused 
the  same,  and  supposing  it  to  be  a  sermon  of  some  eminent  minister  in 
the  west  of  Scotland,  put  it  into  the  hands  of  the  then  provost  of  Edin- 
burgh, who  judged  of  it  in  the  same  manner.  But  when  she  returned 
to  Glasgow,  she  found  her  mistake  by  Binning  asking  it  from  her. 
This  was  the  first  discovery  he  had  given  of  his  abilities  in  explain- 
ing the  Scriptures. 

At  the  expiration  of  the  three  years  which  he  had  spent  as 
professor  of  philosophy,  the  parish  of  Govan,  which  lies  adjacent  to 
the  city  of  Glasgow,  and  is  within  the  bounds  of  that  presbytery 
happened  to  be  vacant.  Before  that  time,  the  principal  of  the 
college  of  Glasgow  was  also  minister  of  Govan.;]:  But  this  being 
attended  with  inconveniences,  an  alteration  was  made;  and  the 
presbytery,  having  in  view  to  supply  the  vacancy  with  Binning,  took 
him  upon  trials;  who,  after  having  been  licensed,  preached  there  to 
the  great  satisfaction  of  the  people.  He  was  some  time  after  called 
to  be  the  minister  of  that  parish.  This  call  the  presbytery  sustained, 
and  he  entered  upon  trials  for  ordination,  about  the  twenty-second 
year  "J'  his  age,  which  he  went  through  to  the  unanimous  approba- 
tion of  the  presbytery,  who  gave  their  testimony  to  his  fitness  to  be 
one  of  the  ministers  of  the  city  upon  the  first  vacancy;  intending  at 
the  Bame  time  to  recall  him  to  the  university,  as  soon  as  the  divinity 
chair  should  be  vacant. 

Considering  his  age,  he  was  a  prodigy  of  learning;  for,  before  he 

*  It  was  the  custom  of  the  Regents  to  dictate  to  ihe  students  their  observations  on  such 
of  the  writings  ol  Aristotle,  Porphyry,  and  others  as  were  read  in  their  classes.  This 
was  done  in  Latin,  which  was  the  only  language  allowed  to  be  used  by  the  students,  even 
jii  llii'ir  common  conversation. — Dr.  Lcishmnn. 

f  "  For  th.'  love  of  Christ  constraineth  us,  because  we  thus  judge,  that  if  one  died  for  all 
then  were  all  dead.'"  , 

I  The  office  of  principal  of  the  university  of  Glasgow  was  disjoined  from  the  cure  of  the 
parish  "i  Govan,  in  1621.  Mr.  William  Wilkie  was  Burning's  immediate  predecessor  who 
rtas  deposed  by  the  synod,  on  the  29th  of  April,  1G49. — Dr.  Lelshman. 


HUGH   BINNING.  377 

was  twenty-six,  lie  had  such  a  large  stock  of  useful  knowledge,  as  to 
be  called  "philologist,  philosopher,  and  excellent  divine;"  and  he 
might  well  have  been  an  ornament  to  the  most  famous  and  flourish- 
ing university  in  Europe.  And  this  was  the  more  surprising, 
considering  his  weakness  and  infirmity  of  body,  not  being  able  to 
read  much  at  a  time,  or  to  undergo  the  fatigue  of  continual  study  ; 
insomuch  that  his  knowledge  seemed  rather  to  have  been  born  with 
him,  than  to  have  been  acquired  by  hard  and  labourous  stud}r. 

Though  naturally  studious  and  intent  upon  fulfilling  all  his  ministe- 
rial duties,  he  nevertheless  turned  his  thoughts  to  marriage,  and 
espoused  Barbara  Simpson,  the  excellent  daughter  of  Mr.  James 
Simpson,  a  minister  in  Ireland.  Upon  the  day  on  which  he  was  to  be 
married,  he  went,  accompanied  with  his  friend  and  some  others,  among 
whom  were  several  ministers,  to  a  neighbouring  country-congregation, 
upon  the  day  of  their  weekly  sermon.  The  minister  of  the  parish 
delayed  till  their  arrival,  with  the  intention  of  procuring  the  assist- 
ance of  some  of  the  ministers  whom  he  expected  to  be  present;  but  all 
declining  it,  he  tried  to  prevail  on  the  bridegroom,  with  whom  he 
succeeded.  It  was  no  difficult  task  to  him  to  preach  upon  a  short 
warning.  After  retiring  a  little  to  premeditate,  and  implore  his 
Master's  presence  and  assistance,  (for  he  was  ever  afraid  to  be  alone 
in  this  work,)  he  entered  the  pulpit  immediately  and  preached  from 
1  Pet.  i.  15.  "  But  as  he  which  hath  called  you  is  holy,  so  be  ye 
holy  in  all  manner  of  conversation."  And  at  this  time  he  was  so 
remarkably  helped  that  all  acknowledged  that  God  was  with  him  of 
a  truth. 

When  the  unhappy  differences  betwixt  the  resolutioners  and  pro- 
testors took  place  in  the  church,  Binning  adhered  to  the  latter  of 
these  denominations.  This  distinction,  however,  proved  of  fatal 
consequence.  He  saw  some  of  the  evils  of  it  in  his  own  time,  and 
being  of  a  catholic  and  healing  spirit,  with  a  view  to  the  cementing 
of  differences,  he  wrote  an  excellent  treatise  on  Christian  Love,  which 
contains  many  strong  and  pathetic  passages,  most  apposite  to  this 
subject.  He  was  no  fomenter  of  faction,  but  studious  of  the  public 
tranquillity.  He  was  a  man  of  moderate  principles  and  temperate 
passions,  never  imposing  or  overbearing  upon  others,  but  willingly 
hearkened  to  advice,  and  always  yielded  to  reason. 

Tt  was  on  Saturday,  the  19th  of  April,  1651,  that  Cromwell  came 
to  Glasgow  with  the  principal  part  of  his  army ;  and  the  next  day  he 
was  present  at  sermon  in  the  High  Church,  where  he  heard  Robert 
Ramsay,  John  Carstairs,  and  James  Durham.  Their  plain  dealing, 
however,  and  freedom  of  speech  in  condemning  him  and  his  army 
for  invading  Scotland,  not  being  at  all  to  Cromwell's  taste,  he  sum- 
moned these  three  and  all  the  other  clergymen  of  the  city  to  a  meet- 
ing in  his  own  lodgings,  that  he  might  vindicate  himself  and  his 
confederates  from  the  charges  wmich  had  been  brought  against  them, 
and  at  the  same  time  hear  what  his  accusers  had  to  advance  in  their 
own  defence. 

"  At  this  conference,  which  appears  to  have  been  conducted  with 
good  temper  on  both  sides,"  says  Dr.  Leishman,  "  they  who  spoke 
most  on  the  part  of  the  Scottish  clergy,  were  Mr.  Patrick  Gillespie, 


3TS 


SCOTS  WORTHIES. 


principal  of  the  University  of  Glasgow,  and  Mr.  James  Guthrie, 
minister  of  Stirling,  who  forfeited  his  life  at  Edinburgh,  soon  after 
the  Restoration.  On  the  other  side,  the  principal  speakers  were 
Cromwell  himself,  and  General  Lambert,  who,  like  many  other  of 
the  parliamentary  officers,  was  a  preacher,  as  well  as  a  soldier. 
Some  of  Cromwell's  chaplains  are  also  represented  as  having  taken  a 
share  in  the  discussion,  along  with  the  Rev.  Hugh  Binning.  Crom- 
well it  is  said  was  struck  with  the  fearlessness  and  ability  of  so 
young  a  minister.  '  Who  is  that  learned  and  bold  young  man  V  said 
he.  when  he  was  told  his  name  was  Binning,  he  replied, '  He  has 
bound  well.  But,'  he  added,  putting  his  hand  at  the  same  time  to 
his  sword,  '  this  will  loose  all  again.'  " 

After  he  had  laboured  four  years  in  the  ministry,  serving  God  with 
his  spirit  in  the  gospel  of  his  Son,  whom  he  preached,  warning  every 
man  and  teaching  every  man  in  great  ministerial  wisdom  and  free- 
dom, that  he  might  present  every  man  perfect  in  Christ  Jesus, — 
whereunto  he  laboured,  striving  according  to  his  working,  which 
wrought  in  him  mightily, — he  died  of  a  consumption,  when  entering 
on  the  twenty -sixth  year  of  his  age,  leaving  behind  him  a  sweet 
savour  and  an  epistle  of  commendation  upon  the  hearts  of  his 
hearers.  While  he  lived,  he  was  highly  valued  and  esteemed,  hav- 
ing been  a  successful  instrument  of  saving  himself  and  them  that 
heard  him  ;  of  turning  sinners  unto  righteousness,  and  of  perfecting 
the  saints  ;  and  died  much  lamented  by  all  good  people,  who  had  an 
opportunity  of  knowing  him.  He  was  a  man  of  singular  piety,  of 
an  humble,  meek,  and  peaceful  disposition,  and  a  judicious  and 
lively  preacher.  He  was  justly  accounted  a  prodigy  for  his  natural 
talents,  his  great  proficiency  in  human  learning,  and  an  extensive 
knowledge  of  divinity  ;  but  he  was  too  shining  a  light  to  shine  long, 
burning  so  intensely  that  he  was  soon  extinguished.  Now,  however, 
he  shines  in  the  kingdom  of  his  Father,  in  a  more  conspicuous  and 
refulgent  manner,  even  as  the  u  brightness  of  the  firmament,  and  as 
stars  for  ever  and  ever." 

The  last  sermons  he  preached  were  those  on  Rom.  viii.  11,  15. 
"  For  as  many  as  are  led  by  the  Spirit  of  God,  they  are  the  sons  of 
God.  For  ye  have  not  received  the  spirit  of  bondage  again  to  fear  ; 
but  ye  have  received  the  Spirit  of  adoption,  whereby  we  cry,  Abba, 
Father."  He  concluded  the  last  of  these  discourses  with  a  reflection 
on  these  words,  We  cry,  Abba,  Father." 

He  was  buried  in  the  churchyard  of  Go  van,  where  Mr.  Patrick 
GiU'eapie,  then  principal  of  the  university  of  Glasgow,  at  his  own 
proper  charges,  caused  a  monument  to  be  erected  for  him,  on  which 
there  is  to  this  day  the  following  inscription  in  Latin  : 

IIIC    SITVS   EST   MR.    HVGO   BINNESTGVS  ; 

VI K    1'II/j'ATK,    FACVNDIA,    DOCTRINE 

CLARVS;    PHILOLOGVS,    PHILOSOPHVS, 

THBOL0GV8  P.ESTANS;    PR^CO 

DENHQTB    EVANGELII    FIDELIS 

ET   EXIMIVS.    QVI   B   MEDIO   RERVM    CVRSV 

SVBLATVS,    ANNO   ^TATIS    26,   DOM. 


HUGH   BINNING.  379 

AVTEM    1653.    MVTAVIT   PATRIAM   NON 

SOCIETATEM,    EO  QVOD  VTVVS    CVM 

DEO    AMBVLAVIT.    ET   SI    QVID   VLTRA 

1MQVIRAS,    CiETERA   SILEO ;    CVM   NEC 

TV    NEC    MARMOR   HOC 

CAPIAT.* 

He  left  behind  him  a  disconsotate  widow  and  an  only  son,  called 
John  after  the  grandfather,  to  whom  the  grandfather  at  his  death 
left  the  estate  of  Dalvennan ;  but  John  having  been  engaged  in  the 
insurrection  at  Bothwell-bridge,  anno  1679,  it  was  forfeited,  and  he 
continued  dispossessed  of  it  till  the  year  1G90;  when,  by  the  18th 
act  of  parliament  in  the  said  year,  the  forfeitures  and  fines  past  since 
the  year  1655,  to  the  5th  day  of  November,  1688,  were  rescinded. 
His  widow  was  afterwards  married  to  a  Mr.  James  Gordon,  for  some 
time  a  presbyterian  minister  at  Comber,  in  Ireland.  She  lived  to  a 
great  age,  and  died  in  the  year  1694,  at  Paisley,  in  the  shire  of 
Renfrew,  about  four  or  five  miles  from  Govan:  which,  when  the 
people  of  that  parish  heard,  the  savoury  memory  they  still  had  of 
their  worthy  pastor,  made  them  desire  the  friends  of  the  deceased  to 
allow  them  to  give  her  a  decent  and  honourable  burial,  beside  her 
former  husband,  undertaking  to  defray  all  the  charges  of  the  funeral, 
— which  was  done  accordingly.  And  to  this  day  Binning  is  men- 
tioned among  them  with  particular  veneration. 

The  first  of  his  works  that  were  printed  is  entitled,  "  The  Com- 
mon Principles  of  the  Christian  Religion,  clearly  proved,  and  singu- 
larly improved  ;  or  a  Practical  Catechism,  wherein  some  of  the  most 
concerning  foundations  of  our  faith  are  solidly  laid  down  ;  and  that 
doctrine  which  is  according  to  godliness,  is  sweetly,  yet  pungently 
pressed  home,  and  most  satisfying])'  handled."  In  the  year  1670, 
another  posthumous  work  was  printed  :  it  is  entitled,  "  The  Sinner's 
Sanctuary  ;  being  forty  Sermons  upon  the  Eighth  chapter  of  the 
Epistle  of  John,  Chap.  1st.  and  Chap.  2d,  Verses  1,  2,  3."  The  last 
treatise  that  has  been  printed  is,  "  Heart  Humiliation,  or  Miscellany 
Sermons,  preached  upon  some  choice  texts  at  several  solemn  occa- 
sions." There  is  also  a  valuable  treatise  upon  Christian  Love,  con- 
sisting of  several  sheets  written  in  a  very  small  character, — it  is 
divided  into  chapters ;  besides  several  sermons  upon  very  edifying 
subjects,  useful  and  profitable  for  our  times.  There  is,  likewise,  a 
book  publised  under  his  name  in  4to,  consisting  of  fifty-one  pages, 
with  this  title,  "  An  Useful  Case  of  Conscience,  learnedly  and  accu- 
rately discussed  and  resolved,  concerning  associations  and  confedera- 
cies with  idolaters,  infidels,  heretics,  malignants,  or  any  other  known 
enemies  of  truth  and  godliness."  But  it  is  very  much  questioned  by 
the  most  intelligent,  if  that  book  was  really  Binning's. 

*  "  Here  is  deposited  Mr.  Hugh  Binning,  a  man  distinguished  for  piety,  eloquence  and 
learning;  an  eminent  philologist,  philosopher,  and  theologian, — inline  a  faithful  and  ex- 
cellent preacher  of  the  gospel;  who  was  removed  from  this  lower  world  in  the  2Gth  year 
of  his  age,  and  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  ]  653.  He  changed  his  country,  not  his  society ; 
because  when  on  earth  he  walked  with  God.  If  thou  inquires*  anything  farther,  I  am 
silent  as  to  the  rest ;  since  neither  thou  nor  this  marble  can  receive  it." 


380 


SCOTS   WORTHIES. 


ANDREW  GRAY. 


Is  the -biography  of  this  illustrious  young  divine,  there  is  an  uncer- 
tainty regarding  the  exact  period  of  his  birth  ;  but,  calculating  back 
from  the  date  of  a  letter  addressed  by  him  on  his  deathbed  to  Lord 
Warriston,  on  the  7th  day  of  February,  1656  ;  and  bearing  in  mind 
that  he  became  a  licentiate  before  he  had  completed  his  twentieth 
year,  with  two  years  and  a  half  that  he  was  incumbent  in  his  first 
and  only  charge,  it  appears  that  he  must  have  been  born  in  the  year 
1633.  Having  been  very  early  sent  to  school,  he  made  such  rapid 
progress,  that  in  a  comparatively  short  time  he  was  qualified  for 
entering  the  university — and  there  by  the  sprightliness  of  his  genius, 
he  made  such  proficiency  both  in  scholastic  learning  and  divinity, 
that  before  he  was  twenty  years  of  age  he  was  prepared  to  enter 
upon  the  holy  office  of  the  ministry. 

From  his  very  infancy  he  had  studied  the  Scriptures ;  and  like 
another  young  Samson,  the  Spirit  of  God  began  very  early  to  move 
him  ;  there  being  such  a  delightful  solemnity  in  his  early  conversa- 
tion, that  what  Gregory  Nazianzen  once  said  of  the  great  Bazil  might 
well  be  applied  to  him, — "That  he  held  forth  learning  beyond  his 
age,  and  fixedness  of  manners  beyond  his  learning." 

As  an  earthen  vessel,  being  thus  filled  with  heavenly  treasure,  he 
was  quickly  licensed  to  preach,  and  soon  after  received  a  call  to  be 
minister  of  the  Outer  High  Church  of  Glasgow,  although  he  had 
hardly  arrived  at  the  twentieth  year  of  his  age,  and  therefore  con- 
siderably below  that  appointed  by  the  constitution  of  the  church,  ex- 
cept in  extraordinary  cases. 

No  sooner  had  he  entered  into  his  Master's  vineyard,  than  the 
people  from  all  quarters  flocked  to  hear  his  sermons, — it  being  their 
constant  emulation  who  should  be  most  under  the  refreshing  drops  of 
his  ministry;  insomuch  that  he  and  his  learned  colleague,  Mr.  Dur- 
ham, were  one  time  walking  together  in  the  choir,  Mr.  Durham, 
observing  the  multitude  thronging  into  the  church  where  Gray  was  to 
preach,  and  only  a  few  going  into  his  own,  said  to  him,  "  Brother,  I 
perceive  you  are  to  have  a  throng  church  to  day."— To  which  Gray 
answered,  "Indeed,  Brother,  they  are  fools  to  leave  you  and  come 
to  me." — "Not  so,"  replied  Durham,  "for  none  can  receive  such 
honour  and  success  in  his  ministry,  except  it  be  given  him  from  hea- 
jren.  I  rejoice  that  Christ  is  preached,  and  that  his  kingdom  and 
interest  are  gaining  ground ;  for  I  am  content  to  be  anything,  or 
nothing,  that  Christ  may  be  all  in  all." 


ANDREW   GRAY.  381 

Gray  had  a  remarkably  singular  gift  in  preaching,  having  much 
experience  in  the  most  mysterious  points  of  Christian  practice  and 
profession  ;  indeed,  in  handling  all  his  subjects,  whether  doctrinal, 
or  practical,  being  free  from  youthful  pedantry  and  affectation  of 
human  learning,  though  of  a  truly  classical  genius  and  more  than 
ordinary  abilities,  he  outstripped  many  who  had  entered  the  Lord's 
vineyard  before  him.  His  mode  of  address  was  animated  and  rap- 
turous, and  well  adapted  to  affect  the  hearts  of  his  hearers ;  he  was 
so  helped  to  press  home  God's  threatenings  upon  the  consciences  of 
his  hearers,  that  his  contemporary,  Durham,  observed  "  that  many 
times  he  caused  the  very  hairs  of  their  heads  to  stand  on  end." 

Among  his  other  excellencies  in  preaching,  this  was  none  of  the 
least,  that  he  could  so  handle  any  subject  as  to  make  it  acceptable  to 
every  taste,  and  intelligible  to  the  meanest  capacity.  He  had  so 
learned  Christ,  that  the  great  bent  and  aim  of  his  preaching  was,  to 
make  sinners  acquainted  with  their  dangerous  state  by  nature,  and 
to  persuade  them  to  believe,  and  lay  hold  of  the  great  salvation. 

By  these  singular  gifts  he  was  looked  upon  as  a  burning  and  a 
shining  light  in  the  church  ;  but  he  was  permitted  to  remain  about 
two  years  only, — the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  as  it  were  lighting  up  a  lamp 
into  a  sudden  blaze,  that  was  not  to  remain  long  in  his  church.  In 
reference  to  this,  in  a  preface  to  some  of  his  sermons  it  is  very  perti- 
nently observed, — "  How  awakening,  convincing,  and  reproving,  the 
example  of  this  very  young  minister  might  be  to  many  ministers  of 
the  gospel  who  have  been  long  in  the  vineyard,  but  come  far  short 
of  his  labours  and  progress  !  God  thinks  fit  now  and  then  to  raise  up 
a  child  to  reprove  the  sloth  and  negligence  of  many  thousands  of 
advanced  years  :  and  shows  that  he  can  perfect  his  own  praise  out 
of  the  mouths  of  babes  and  sucklings." 

It  has  been  said  that  Gray  often  longed  for  the  22d  year  of  his 
age,  having  had  a  presentiment  that  he  was  then  to  rest  from  his 
labours,  and  by  a  perpetual  jubilee  enjoy  his  blessed  Lord  and  Mas- 
ter for  ever.  And  certain  it  is,  that  in  his  sermons  we  often  find 
him  ardently  praying  for  the  time  when  he  might  enter  upon  the  pos- 
session of  the  heavenly  inheritance,  prepared  for  him  before  the 
foundation  of  the  world. 

Upon  one  occasion,  when  sailing  to  Dundee  in  company  with  Mr. 
Eobert  Fleming,  minister  of  Cambuslang,  he  had  a  very  narrow 
escape  from  a  watery  grave.  This  remarkable  interference  of  Pro- 
vidence for  his  deliverance  furnished  him  with  a  theme  of  gratitude, 
whioh  he  often  improved  in  his  after  life. 

*  Perhaps  it  may  be  asked, — what  were  Gray's  sentiments  concern- 
ing the  public  resolutions,  seeing  he  entered  the  ministry  about  the 
third  year  after  these  resolutions  took  place  ?  To  this  it  is  answered  : 
—Whatever  his  contendings  in  public  were,  it  is  pretty  well 
authenticated  that  he  warmly  opposed  his  colleague  Durham,  who 
was  suspected  of  looking  favourably  upon  these  defections.  His  re- 
ply to  Durham  when  on  his  deathbed,  when  asked  what  he  now 
thought  of  these  things,  was  conclusive  :  "  I  am  of  the  same  mind 
as  formerly,  and  regret  much  that  I  have  been  so  sparing  in  public 
against  these  resolutions," — speaking  at  the  same  time  so  pathetically 


3S2 


SCOTS   WORTHIES. 


of  their  sinfulness,  and  the  calamities  they  must  induce,  that  Dur- 
ham, contrary  to  his  former  practice,  durst  never  after  speak  in 
defence  of  them. 

But  the  time  was  now  drawing  nigh  when  the  Lord  was  about  to 
accomplish  what  his  soul  had  most  anxiously  longed  for.  Having 
can -ht  fever,  he  was  for  several  days  in  great  bodily  suffering;  but 
It  is  mind  was  in  a  state  of  perfect  quietude  and  serenity.  And  thus, 
in  a  very  short  time  it  was  permitted  to  him  to  pass  by  death  to  the 
Author  of  life, — his  soul  taking  flight  at  the  early  age  of  twenty-two, 
into  the  arms  of  his  Saviour,  whom  he  had  served  so  faithfully  in  his 
day  and  generation. 

lie  was  a  very  singular  and  pious  youth  ;  and  though  he  died 
young,  he  was  old  in  grace,  having  done  much  for  God  in  a  short 
time.  Both  in  public  and  private  life,  he  possessed  a  high  degree 
of  every  domestic  and  social  virtue  that  could  adorn  the  character 
of  a  Christian  and  a  minister ;  being  a  loving  husband,*  an  affable 
friend,  ever  cheerful  and  agreeable  in  conversation,  and  always 
ready  to  exert  himself  for  the  relief  of  those  who  asked  and  stood  in 
need  of  assistance  ;  whilst  his  uncommon  talents  not  only  endeared 
him  to  his  brethren,  but  also  to  many  others  from  the  one  extremity 
of  the  land  to  the  other,  who  regarded  and  esteemed  him  as  one  of  the 
most  able  advocates  for  the  propagation  and  advancement  of  Christ's 
kingdom. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  his  dying  words  were  not  recorded.  In 
the  short  but  excellent  letter,  however,  sent  by  him,  a  little  before 
his  death,  to  lord  Warriston,  he  shows,  that  he  not  only  had  a  more 
clear  discovery  of  the  toleration  then  granted  by  Cromwell,  and  the 
evils  that  would  come  upon  the  country  for  all  these  things,  but  also 
that  he  was  most  sensible  of  his  own  case  and  condition.  This 
more  especially  appears  from  the  conclusion  of  the  letter,  where  he 
addressed  his  lordship  thus  :  "  Now,  not  to  trouble  your  lordship, 
whom  I  highly  reverence  and  my  soul  was  knit  to  you  in  the  Lord, 
but  that  you  will  bespeak  my  case  to  the  great  Master  of  requests^ 
and  lay  my  broken  state  before  him  who  hath  pled  the  desperate 
case  of  many,  according  to  the  sweet  word  in  Lam.  iii.  56,  'Thou 
hast  heard  my  voice  ;  hide  not  thine  ear  at  my  breathing,  at  my  cry.' 
This  is  all  at  this  time  from  one  in  a  very  weak  condition,  in  a  great 
fever,  who,  for  much  of  seven  nights,  hath  sleeped  little  at  all,  with 
many  other  sad  particulars  and  circumstances." 

His  well-known  sermons  are  printed  in  several  tracts.  Those 
called  Gray's  Works  are  published  in  one  volume  octavo.  In  addi- 
tion to  the  eleven  sermons  printed  some  time  ago,  was  lately 
published  a  large  collection,  to  the  number  of  fifty-one,  entitled  his 
Select  Sermons  ;  in  which  only  three  of  those  formerly  published  for 
connexion's  sake,  and  his  letter  to  lord  Warriston,  are  inserted.  By 
this  time,  most,  if  not  all,  of  the  sermons  ever  preached  by  him  are 
in  print.  His  works  praise  him  in  the  gates;  and  though  they  are 
tree  from  the  metaphysical  speculations  of  the  schools,  yet  it  must  be 

•  It  appears  that  he  had  been  for  a  short  time  married  to  a  worthy  young  lady,  who 
at  Irvine  "^  °f  Ge°rge  Hutcheson'  some  lime  minister  of  the  gospel 


JAMES    DUfiHAM. 


granted,  that  the  excellencies  of  the  ancient  fathers  and  schoolmen 
all  concentrate  in  them.  His  doctrine  is  clear  and  perspicuous  ;  his 
reproofs  weighty ;  and  his  exhortations  very  powerful ;  and  though, 
according  to  the  manner  of  the  age  in  wliich  he  lived,  they  may 
seem  deficient  in  connexion  and  correctness  of  style,  yet  these  are 
more  than  counterbalanced  by  the  pleasing  variety  and  excellence  of 
the  truths  they  contain.     Like  the  grateful  odours  of  a  profusion  of 

lowers,  or  the  delightful  harmony  of  concordant  sounds,  they  up™* 

iil  to  impart  happiness  to  the  renewed  soul. 


JAMES  DURHAM. 


This  very  exemplary  reformer  was  the  eldest  son  of  John  Durham, 
Esq.,  of  Easter  Powrie,  and  lineally  descended  from  the  ancient  and 
honourable  family  of  Grange  Durham,  in  the  parish  of  Monyfeith, 
and  shire  of  Angus — an  estate  now  known  by  the  name  of  "Wedder- 
burn.  He  is  said  to  have  been  born  about  the  year  1622  ;  but  all  his 
biographers  are  silent  regarding  his  early  years,  with  the  exception 
of  an  unanimous  assent  to  his  juvenile  industry,  as  having  been  an 
apt  and  successful  scholar. 

It  does  not  appear  that  he  had  any  views  to  the  ministry  during 
his  academical  studies,  as  he  left  the  university  without  graduating, 
aud  went  to  live  as  a  private  gentleman  upon  his  country  estate, 
where  he  married  a  daughter  of  the  laird  of  Dantervie,  who,  with 
her  mother,  are  said  to  have  been  very  pious  women.  Through  the 
prejudice  of  early  education,  he  did  not  at  that  time  look  favourably 
upon  the  presbyterian  form  of  church  government. 

Previous  to  his  union  with  this  excellent  lady,  although  guilty  of 
no  flagrant  and  open  violation  of  the  law  of  God,  yet  he  was  much 
a-stranger  to  vital  religion,  having  merely  a  name  to  live,  while  he 
was  actually  dead  in  trespasses  and  sins.  He  had  an  early  leaning 
towards  Episcopacy  ;  and  therefore  rested  contented  with  an  outward 
form  of  godliness,  while  he  was  destitute  of  the  saving  power 
thereof.  But  he  was  not  to  remain  long  in  this  state— the  Spirit  of 
God  had  marked  him  out  for  gracious  purposes,  and  he  was  destined 
soon  to  take  an  active  part  in  the  cause  of  Presbytery. 

His  conversion,  therefore,  was  effected  by  an  incident  somewhat 
remarkable.  Being  on  a  visit,  along  with  his  wife,  to  his  mother-in- 
law,  in  the  parish  of  Abercorn,  in  the  county  of  Linlithgow,  and  it 


SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

happening  to  be  the  time  of  the  communion,  he  was  through  much 
persuasion,  at  the  entreaty  of  his  wife  and  mother,  prevailed  upon  to 
go  to  church,  upon  the  Saturday.  The  minister  who  officiated  that 
day  caught  Durham's  attention  so  effectually,  that  he  felt  much 
affected.°  No  solicitations,  therefore,  were  necessary  to  induce  him 
to  return  upon  the  Sabbath.  Having  got  up  early  in  the  morning, 
he  repaired  to  church  with  his  friends,  when  a  sermon,  preached  by 
the  liev.  Mr.  Melville,  was  made  instrumental,  in  the  hand  of  the 


upon 

i  >ccaaion,  was  from  1  Pet.  2.  T, — "  Unto  you  therefore  which  believe 
he  is  precious  :  but  unto  them  which  be  disobedient,  the  stone  which 
the  builders  disallowed,  the  same  is  made  the  head  of  the  corner," 
ifec.  From  that  time  Durham  generally  called  Melville  father  when 
he  spoke  of  him.  After  that  he  made  religion  his  daily  business, 
and  cordially  embraced  Christ  and  his  church  as  then  established. 
Reading  and  meditation  became  his  sole  delight :  and  that  he  might 
enjoy  these  without  molestation,  he  caused  a  private  study  to  be 
built  for  himself,  where  he  was  often  so  serious  in  his  application, 
that  he  frequently  forgot  the  hours  of  meals,  and  sometimes  did  not 
even  return  an  answer  to  the  servant  when  sent  to  warn  him. 

By  this  mode  of  seclusion,  he  became  not  only  an  experimental 
Christian,  but  a  very  learned  man ;  ready  in  debate,  and  perfect 
master  of  polemical  divinity.*  Such  was  also  his  reputation  in  the 
country,  that  he  was  frequently  chosen  arbiter  by  the  people  to  settle 
any  disputes  that  arose  among  them  ;  and  to  his  decision  all  bowed 
submissively.  In  this  respect,  the  language  of  Job  might  well  be 
applied  to  him — "  Unto  him  men  gave  ear,  and  waited,  and  kept 
silence  at  his  counsel. 

During  the  civil  wars,  he  took  up  arms,  with  many  others  of  the 
gentlemen,  for.  the  cause  of  religion,  and  was  chosen  captain  of  a 
company.  In  this  situation  he  might  be  esteemed  another  Cornelius, 
being  a  most  devout  man,  and  one  who  not  only  feared  God  with  all 
his  house,  but  even  prayed  with  his  company,  and  seriously  exhorted 
them  regarding  the  interest  of  their  souls. 

The  circumstances  of  his  call  to  the  ministry  was  somewhat  singu- 
lar. "When  the  Scots  army  were  about  to  engage  with  the  English, 
lie  thought  it  proper  to  call  his  company  to  prayer  before  the  engage- 
ment;  and  as  he  began,  Mr.  David  Dickson,  then  professor  &of 
divinity  at  Glasgow,  coming  past  the  army,  and  seeing  the  soldiers 
engaged  in  prayer,  and  hearing  the  voice  of  one  praying,  drew  near, 
alighted  from  his  horse,  and  joined  with  them.  He  was  so  much 
captivated  by  Durham's  prayer,  that  he  immediately  after  waited 

*  At  one  time  when  upon  a  visit  to  Dundee,  he  happened  to  be  in  company  with  one  of 
the  ministers  there,  when  the  conversation  turned  upon  the  Popish  controversy.  Durham 
supported  his  part  of  the  argument  so  dexterously,  that  the  minister  left  the  room  and 
went  to  the  provost,  asking  his  assistance  to  apprehend  a  Jesuit ;  who,  if  permitted  to 
remain  in  the  town,  might  pervert  many  from  the  faith.  When  the  provost  saw  the  gen- 
tleman, he  saluted  him  most  familiarly,  as  laird  of  Easter  Powrie,  and  turning  to&the 
parson,  said,—"  Fy,  Fy  !  Sir,  that  any  country  gentleman  should  be  able  thus  to°put  our 
parson  to  silence  !"     Durham  smiled,  and  asked  pardon. 


JAMES    DURHAM.  355 

upon  him,  and  solemnly  charged  him,  that  as  soon  as  this  should  be 
over,  he  should  devote  himself  to  the  ministry  ;  because  he  judged 
the  Lord  called  him  to  this.  Although  Durham  was  not  at  that  time 
fully  resolved  to  comply  with  Mr.  Dickson's  advice,  yet  two  remark- 
able providences  falling  out  immediately  after,  he  was  very  soon 
induced  to  yield  obedience — The  first  was,  that  in  the  engagement, 
his  horse  was  shot  under  him,  and  he  was  mercifully  preserved ;  the 
second,  that  in  the  heat  of  the  battle,  an  English  soldier,  on  the  point 
of  striking  him  down  with  his  sword,  but  apprehending  him  to  be  a 
minister  by  his  grave  carriage,  black  cloth  and  band,  which  was  then 
in  fashion  with  gentlemen,  asked  him  if  he  was  a  priest  ?  To  which 
Durham  replied,  I  am  one  of  God's  priests ; — and  so  his  life  was 
spared.  Upon  reflecting  how  wonderfully  the  Lord  had  thus  saved 
him,  and  that  his  stating  himself  to  be  a  priest  had  been  the  cause  of 
his  preservation,  he  at  once  resolved,  in  testimony  of  his  grateful 
ssnse  of  the  Lord's  goodness,  thenceforth  to  devote  himself  to  His 
service  in  the  holy  ministry,  if  He  should  see  meet  to  qualify  him 
for  the  same. 

In  pursuance  of  this  resolution,  he  soon  after  went  to  Glasgow, 
studied  divinity  under  his  respected  friend,  and  made  such  proficiency, 
that  he  offered  himself  for  trials  in  1646,  and  was  licensed  by  the 
presbytery  of  Irvine  to  preach  the  gospel.  Next  year,  upon  Mr. 
Dickson's  recommendation,  the  session  of  Glasgow  directed  Mr. 
Ramsay,  one  of  the  ministers,  to  request  Durham  to  come  to  town 
and  preach.  He  accordingly  came,  and  preached  two  sabbaths  and 
one  week-day  ;  and  the  session  being  fully  satisfied  with  his  doctrine, 
and  the  gifts  bestowed  on  him  by  the  Lord  for  serving  Him  in  the 
ministry,  unanimously  called  him  to  Blackfriars'  church,  then  vacant, 
to  which  he  was  ordained  in  November,  1647. 

He  applied  himself  to  the  work  of  the  ministry  with  great 
diligence  ;  but,  considering  that  no  man  that  warreth  entangleth 
himself  with  the  affairs  of  this  life,  he  obtained  leave  to  visit  the 
place  of  his  nativity  to  settle  his  worldly  affairs.  While  there, 
however,  he  preached  every  sabbath.  His  first  appearance  was  at 
Dundee,  where  he  preached  from  Rom.  i.  16, — "  I  am  not  ashamed 
of  the  gospel  of  Christ ;"  the  second,  at  Ferling,  where  he  delivered 
an  eloquent  discourse  from  2  Cor.  v.  20, — "  We  then  are  ambassa- 
dors for  Christ,"  &c. ;  next  sabbath  he  intended  to  preach  at 
Montrose ;  but  receiving  an  express  that  his  wife  was  dangerously 
ill,  he  returned  to  Glasgow,  where  in  a  few  days,  she,  who  had  been 
the  desire  of  his  eyes,  died.  His  Christian  submission  under  this 
afflicting  dispensation  was  very  remarkable.  After  a  short  silence, 
he  said  to  some  about  him,  "  Now,  who  could  persuade  me  that  this 
dispensation  of  God's  providence  was  good  for  me,  if  the  Lord  had 
not  said  it  was  so  ?" — He  was  afterwards  married  to  Margaret  Muir, 
relict  of  Zachariah  Boyd,  minister  of  the  Barony  church  of 
Glasgow. 

In  1650,  Mr.  Dickson,  professor  of  divinity,  being  called  to  the 

same  office  in  the  university  of  Edinburgh,  the  commissioners  of  the 

General  Assembly,  authorized  to  visit  the  university  of  Glasgow, 

unanimously  invited  Durham  to  succeed  him.     But  before  he  was 

25 


nSQ  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

admitted  to  that  charge,  the  General  Assembly,  persuaded  of  his 

eminent  piety,  steadfastness,  prudence,  and  moderation,  after  mature 
deliberation,  selected  him,  though  then  only  twenty-eight  years  of 
,  to  attend  the  king  s  family  as  chaplain.  In  this  situation,  though 
the  times  were  extremely  difficult,  he  acquitted  himself  so  wisely  and 
faithfully  as  to  merit  the  approbation  of  all  who  observed  him. 
Indeed,  during  his  stay  at  court,  such  was  his  high  Christian 
decorum,  that  levity  was  overawed  in  his  presence.  His  great 
ambition  was  to  have  God's  favour  rather  than  that  of  great  men, 
and  lie  studied  more  to  profit  and  edify  their  souls,  than  to  please 
their  fancies. 

He  continued  in  this  office  till  the  King  returned  to  England,  after 
Avhich  he  resumed  his  professional  labours.  Towards  the  end  of 
January  1651,  the  common  session  of  Glasgow  instructed  Mr. 
(iillesp'ieto  write  him,  stating  that  Mr.  Ramsay  was  officiating  as 
professor  of  divinity,  and  urging  his  return  to  his  charge  ;  in 
consequence  of  which  we  find  him  present  at  the  session  in  the 
beginning  of  April  thereafter.  Cromwell,  being  in  Glasgow  with 
his  army  at  the  time,  went,  first  Lord's  day,  to  church  ;  and  Durham, 
without  the  least  intimidation,  openly  inveighed  to  his  face  against 
his  unjustifiable  invasion.  Xext  day  Cromwell  sent  for  him,  and 
said,  he  always  thought  he  had  been  a  wiser  man  than  to  meddle 
with  public  affairs  in  his  sermons. — To  which  Durham  answered, 
that  it  was  not  his  practice,  but  he  judged  it  both  wisdom  and 
prudence  to  speak  his  mind  on  that  head,  seeing  he  had  the  oppor- 
tunity to  do  so  in  his  presence. — Cromwell  dismissed  him  very 
civilly,  but  desired  him  not  to  meddle  with  such  subjects  in  future. 

It  would  appear  that  Durham  had  withdrawn  from  Glasgow  for 
some  time  after  this  ;  and  therefore  a  letter  was  in  August  thereafter 
Bent  to  him  to  come  and  preach  ;  and  in  September,  there  being  a 
vacancy  in  the  Inner  High  Church  by  reason  of  the  death  of  Mr. 
Ramsay,  the  common  session  gave  him  a  unanimous  call,  with  which 
the  town  council  agreed.  Accordingly,  he  was  admitted  minister  of 
that  church, — Mr.  John  Carstairs,  his  brother-in-law,  being  his 
colleague. 

During  the  whole  of  his  ministry  he  was  distinguished  for  humility 
and  self-denial ;  and  being  a  person  of  the  utmost  sedateness  of 
manner,  lie  was  seldom  seen  to  smile — however,  being  once  at 
dinner  in  a  gentleman's  family,  along  with  Mr.  "William  Guthrie, 
who  was  a  very  pleasant  and  cheerful  companion,  he  was  so  far 
rcoine  as  to  laugh  aloud  at  some  of  Mr.  Guthrie's. smart  sayings. 
1:  being  also  the  custom  of  the  family  to  join  in  prayer  after  dinner, 
Mr.  Guthrie  was  asked  to  otter  up  an  address,  which  he  did  with 
such  becoming  solemnity,  as  to  elicit  from  Durham  the  following 
brie  ium,— "  0  William,  you  are  a  happy  man;  if  I  had  been 

as  merry  as  you  have  been,  I  could  not  have  been  in  such  a  serious 
frame  for  prayer,  for  the  space  of  forty-eight  hours  !" 

Though  he  was  very  devout  in  every  part  of  his  ministerial  work, 
lie  was  especially  so  upon  communion  occasions.  At  these  he 
endeavoured,  through  grace,  to  elevate  his  mind  to  such  a  divine 
frame,  as  befits  the  spirituality  and  high  importance  of  the  ordinance 


JAMES   DURHAM  337 

of  the  supper.  Upon  some  of  those  sweet  and  solemn  occasions,  he 
spoke  like  one  who  had  been  in  heaven,  recommending  the  Saviour, 
making  a  glorious  display  of  his  free  grace,  and  bringing  the  offer 
thereof  so  low,  and  pressing  it  so  urgently,  especially  in  a  discourse 
from  Mat.  xxii.  -i.,  that  it  was  a  wonder  to  sinners  themselves  how 
they  could  refuse  to  close  with  them. 

His  pacific  turn  of  mind,  and  great  moderation  of  spirit,  appeared 
remarkably  at  the  period  when  the  church  was  grievously  divided 
betwixt  the  revolutioners  and  protesters ;  and  as  he  would  never  give 
judgment  on  either  side,  he  used  to  say,  "  That  division  was  far 
worse  than  either."  He  was  equally  respected  by  both  parties  ;  for, 
at  the  meeting  of  synod  at  Glasgow,  when  the  different  bodies  met 
separately,  each  made  choice  of  Durham  for  their  moderator ;  but 
he  refused  to  accept,  until  they  would  unite ;  which  they  did 
accordingly. 

So  weighty  was  the  ministerial  charge  upon  his  spirit,  that  he  used 
to  say,  if  he  were  to  live  ten  years  longer,  he  would  choose  to  live 
nine  years  in  study,  for  preaching  the  tenth  ;  and  it  was  believed 
that  his  close  study  and  application  brought  on  the  decay  of  which 
he  died.  During  his  last  sickness,  about  a  month  before  his  death, 
he  named  as  his  successor,  Mr.  Yeitch,  then  minister  of  Govan ;  but 
afterwards,  when  dying,  in  presence  of  the  magistrates,  ministers,  and 
some  others  who  waited  on  him,  he  named  other  three.  This  altera- 
tion led  Mr.  Carstairs  to  inquire  the  reason,  after  the  rest  were  gone  ; 
to  whom  Durham  in  reply,  said,  "  O  brother,  Mr.  Yeitch  is  too  ripe 
for  heaven  to  be  transported  to  any  church  on  earth ;  he  will  be 
there  almost  as  soon  as  I," — and  this  proved  to  be  the  case;  for,  Dur- 
ham having  died  on  the  Friday  following,  Mr.  Yeitch  preached  the 
next  Sabbath  ;  and  though  he  knew  nothing  of  this,  he  told  the 
people  in  the  afternoon,  it  would  be  his  last  sermon  to  them  ;  and 
the  same  night  taking  bed,  he  died  next  Friday  morning  about  three 
o'clock,  as  Dr.  Euttray,  who  was  present  at  both  their  deaths, 
declared. 

"When  on  his  deathbed,  Durham  was  under  considerable  darkness 
about  his  spiritual  state,  and  said  to  Mr.  John  Carstairs — "  Brother, 
for  all  that  I  have  preached  or  written,  there  is  but  one  Scripture  I 
can  remember  or  dare  grip  unto  ;  tell  me  if  I  dare  lay  the  weight  of 
my  salvation  upon  it — "  Whosoever  cometh  unto  me,  I  will  in  no 
wise  cast  out."  Mr.  Carstairs  answered,  "  You  may  depend  upon  it, 
though  you  had  a  thousand  salvations  at  hazard."  When  drawing 
near  his  departure,  and  in  great  conflict  and  agony,  he  cried  out  in  a 
rapture  of  holy  joy,  a  little  before  he  committed  his  soul  to  God, 
"  Is  not  the  Lord  good  ?  Is  he  not  infinitely  good  ?  See  how  he 
smiles  ?  I  do  say  it,  and  I  do  proclaim  it."  Thus  died  that  eminent 
saint,  on  Friday,  the  25th  of  June,  1658,  in  the  thirty-sixth  year  of 
his  age,  whose  labours  had  always  aimed  at  the  advancement  of 
religion,  and  whose  praise  is  throughout  all  the  churches,  both  at 
home  and  abroad.  He  was  a  star  of  the  first  magnitude,  of  whom  it 
may  be  said  without  derogating  from  the  merit  of  any,  that  he  "  had 
a  name  among  the  mighty." 

His  colleague,  Mr.  John  Carstairs,  in  his  funeral  sermon,  from 


3SS 


SCOTS   WORTHIES. 


Isa.  lvii.  1,  "The  righteous  perisheth,  and  no  manlayeth  it  to  heart ; 
and  merciful  men  are  taken  away,  none  considering  that  the  right- 
eous is  taken  away  from  the  evil  to  come,"  gave  him  the  following 
character  : — "  Know  ye  not  that  there  is  a  prince  among  the  pastors 
fallen,  to-day  !  A  faithful  and  wise  steward,  that  knew  well  how  to 
frive  God's  children  their  food  in  due  season ;  a  gentle  and  kind 
nurse ;  a  faithful  admonisher  and  reprover ;  a  skilful  counsellor  in 
all  straits  and  difficulties  ;  in  dark  matters  he  was  eyes  to  the  blind, 
feet  to  the  lame,  a  burning  and  shining  light  in  the  dark  world,  an 
interpreter  of  the  word,  one  among  a  thousand  ;  to  him  men  gave 
ear,  and  after  his  words  no  man  spake  again."  Not  only  in  the  city, 
but  also  in  the  country,  did  his  brethren  in  the  presbytery  allude  to 
his  death  ;  and  in  particular,  Mr.  Yeitch,  whose  death  he  had  fore- 
told, was  forward  amongst  others,  to  pay  a  tribute  to  his  character. 

His  learned  and  pious  works,  in  which  concentrate  all  the  excellen- 
cies of  the  primitive  and  ancient  fathers,  are  a  Commentary  on  the 
Revelation ;  seventy-two  Sermons  on  the  fifty-third  chapter  of  the 
Prophecy  of  Isaiah ;  an  Exposition  of  the  Ten  Commandments ;  an 
Exposition  of  the  Song  of  Solomon  ;  his  Sermons  on  Death;  on  the 
Unsearchable  Kiches  of  Christ ;  his  Communion  Sermons ;  Sermons 
on  Godliness  and  Self-denial ;  a  Sermon  on  a  Good  Conscience. 
There  were  lately  a  great  many  of  his  sermons  in  manuscript  unpub- 
lished, viz.,  Three  Sermons  upon  Resisting  the  Holy  Ghost,  from 
Acts  vii.  51 ;  eight  on  Quenching  the  Spirit ;  five  upon  Grieving  the 
Spirit ;  thirteen  upon  Trusting  and  Delighting  in  God  ;  two  against 
Immoderate  Anxiety ;  eight  upon  the  One  Thing  Needful ;  with  a 
Discourse  upon  Prayer,  and  several  other  sermons  and  discourses. 
There  is  also  a  Treatise  on  Scandal,  and  an  Exposition,  by  way  of 
Lecture,  upon  Job,  said  to  be  his ;  but  whether  these,  either  as  to 
style  or  strain,  cohere  with  the  other  works  of  the  laborious  Durham^ 
must  be  left  to  the  impartial  and  unbiassed  reader,  to  determine. 


SAMUEL   RUTHERFORD.  339 


SAMUEL  RUTHERFORD. 


Considerable  doubt  exists  as  to  the  birthplace  and  parentage  of  this 
celebrated  divine.  The  most  probable  opinion,  however,  is  that 
which  has  been  stated  by  Wodrow,  that  he  was  sprung  of  poor  and 
honest  parents  in  Teviotdale.f  Where  he  received  his  early  educa- 
tion, has  never  been  ascertained  ;  but  he  seems  to  have  given  such 
indications  of  talent,  as  to  have  encouraged  his  parents  in  affording 
him  an  opportunity  of  still  farther  prosecuting  his  studies.  Accord- 
ingly, in  1617,  he  was  sent  to  the  university  of  Edinburgh ;  and  in 
four  years,  he  obtained  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts.  At  college, 
Rutherford  distinguished  himself  among  his  fellow-students  by  his 
attainments,  particularly  in  classical  literature  ;  so  that  in  two  years 
after  he  had  received  his  degree  in  the  arts,  he  was  elected  professor 
of  humanity. 

At  the  time  when  he  was  admitted  a  regent,  the  university, 
though  it  had  only  existed  for  forty  years,  had  attained  no  small 
celebrity,  and  possessed,  among  its  professors,  some  men  of  fame 
and  of  extensive   scholarship.      With  such  associates   Rutherford 

*  Rutherford's  Letters  have  long  been  a  classic  with  those  who  love  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  in  sincerity.  Were  we  asked  to  name  the  book  which  is  of  all  others  in  our  reli- 
gious literature  most  full  of  Christ,  it  would  be  these  letters.  If  there  ever  was  a  soul 
that  could  literally  say  that  it  was  ''  sick  of  love,"  for  the  Saviour,  that  soul  was  Samuel 
Rutherford's.  Nor  was  the  gushing  love  of  his  soul  the  result  of  either  a  shallow  or  un- 
furnished mind.  The  man  whose  fame  for  scholarship  procured  for  him  the  tender  of  a 
professorship  in  two  European  Universities ;  whose  pre-eminent  fitness  designated  him  as 
one  of  the  Scottish  Commissioners  in  the  Westminster  Assembly;  whose  powerful  pen  in 
both  English  and  Latin  treatises  excited  at  once  the  admiration  and  the  dread  of  his  ene- 
mies ;  and  whose  prominence  as  a  Presbyterian  was  such  as  to  make  him  a  mark  for  even 
Milton's  shaft  and  the  deadlier  hate  of  the  Restoration,  was  no  ordinary  man.  But  great 
as  he  was  in  the  pulpit  at  Anwoth,  when  men  listened  to  the  glowing  numbers  of  his  lips 
as  the  song  of  an  angel ;  great  as  he  was  in  cleaving  down  with  his  broad  claymore  the 
gigantic  errors  of  his  day,  in  church  and  state ;  he  never  glows  with  such  a  light,  or  swells 
to  such  a  glory  as  when  a  paroled  prisoner  in  Aberdeen  we  see  him  living  so  high  and  iar 
up  on  the  mount  of  God  and  drawing  strong  hearts  to  him  from  every  part  of  Scotland 
And  we  feel  the  truth  of  the  indignant  response  of  the  noble  Burleigh,  when  the  Parlia- 
ment voted  him  out  of  the  College,  while  he  lay  a  dying  but  yet  a  triumphing  and  exult- 
ing man,  "  ye  cannot  vote  him  out  of  heaven."  These  letters  are  published  in  a  neat 
volume  by  Robert  Carter  &  Brothers. 

t  This  statement  is  in  part  corroborated  by  recent  inquiries  ;  and  it  may  at  length  be 
affirmed,  that  Samuel  Rutherford  was  born  in  the  parish  of  Nisbet,  now  annexed  to  Crail- 
ing,  in  the  presbytery  of  Jedburgh.  Mr.  Brown,  minister  of  Crailing.  states  "  that  he 
was  born  at  Nisbet.  where  the  house  in  which  he  was  born,  or  at  least  a  house  situated  on 
the  same  spot,  is  pointed  out." — Murray's  Life  of  Rutherford. 


390  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

entered  upon  his  important  duties  with  enthusiasm  and  energy  ;  and 
there  is  little  doubt  he  must  have  proved  a  most  able  and  successful 
teacher.  Of  this,  however,  we  have  no  certain  information,  as  his 
connexion  with  the  university  appears  to  have  terminated  in  the 
short  space  of  two  years.  . 

In  1027,  we  find  him  settled  as  parish  minister  of  Anwoth,  m  the 
stewartry  of  Kirkcudbright.*  This  appointment  he  obtained  through 
Gordon  of  Kenmure,  a  gentleman  distinguished  in  those  days  as  the 
assiduous  and  active  promoter  of  true  religion,  as  far  as  his  influence 
extended.  At  the  period  when  Eutherford  became  minister  of 
Anwoth.  prelacy  had  so  far  gained  the  ascendency  over  presbyterian- 
ism,  that  although  many  secretly  adhered  to  the  principles  of  their 
fathers,  the  jurisdiction  of  bishops  in  Scotland  was  openly  recognised 
and  avowed.  No  minister  could  enter  upon  a  charge  without 
declaring  his  submission  to  all  the  conditions  imposed  by  the  bishop 
of  the  diocese  within  which  the  parish  was  situated.  In  the  case  of 
Eutherford,  however,  there  seems  to  have  been  an  exception ;  for, 
according  to  the  statement  of  Mr.  M'Ward,  his  friend  and  pupil, 
corroborated  by  "Wodrow,  he  obtained  full  possession  of  all  his  rights 
and  privileges  as  a  parish  minister,  "  without  giving  an}7-  engagement 
to  the  bishop." 

The  harmony  which  prevailed  in  the  parish  of  Anwoth  on  the 
reception  of  Eutherford  as  their  pastor  was  peculiarly  gratifying  to 
his  mind,  and  afforded  him  the  prospect  of  much  comfort  and 
usefulness :  and  in  this  respect  his  anticipations  were  more  than 
realized.  The  people  loved  and  revered  him ;  they  waited  upon  his 
ministry  with  regularity  and  evident  profit ;  for,  to  use  the  words  of 
his  contemporary,  Livingstone,  "  while  he  was  at  Anwoth,  he  was 
the  instrument  of  much  good  among  a  poor  ignorant  people,  many 
of  whom  he  brought  to  the  knowledge  and  practice  of  religion." 
The  industry  and  zeal  with  winch  Eutherford  discharged  his  import- 
ant functions  as  a  minister,  are  almost  incredible.  He  was  accus- 
tomed to  rise  every  morning  at  three  o'clock  ;  the  early  part  of  the 
day  was  devoted  to  prayer,  meditation,  and  study ;  and  the  rest  to 
his  more  public  duties,  such  as  the  visitation  of  the  sick,  and  the 
catechising  of  the  different  families  of  his  flock.  "  My  witness  is 
above,"  he  says  in  one  of  his  letters  to  his  beloved  people,  "  that 
"your  heaven  would  be  two  heavens  to  me,  and  the  salvation  of  you 
all  as  two  salvations  to  me." 

The  fame  of  Eutherford  was  not  confined  to  his  own  parish,  but 
extended  also  to  the  surrounding  district.  Multitudes  came  from  all 
quarters  to  Anwoth  on  the  Sabbath,  and  more  especially  on  sacra- 
mental occasions,  to  listen  to  the  faithful  ministrations  of  this  devoted 

*  The  Church  of  Anwoth  was  built  for  Rutherford  in  1626.  A  new  parish  church  has 
been  built  lately;  but  the  heritors,  much  to  their  honour,  have  preserved  the  ancient 
venerated  building.  It  is  of  a  barn-like  appearance,  the  length  being  64  feet,  7  inches  •  the 
width,  18  feet,  3  inches;  the  side  walls  only  10  feet,  calculated  to  hold  not  above  250 
ritt.rs,  exclusive  of  small  galleries,  which  are  of  comparatively  recent  erection  The 
pulpit  is  of  oak,  and  is  the  very  one  out  of  which  the  celebrated  subject  of  these  pa^es 
bed  His  Btipend  consisted  of  200  merks  Scots,  about  .£11  sterling  derived  from  the 
tenants  <»f  the  parish,  and  of  a  voluntary  contribution  on  the  part  of  hisliearers  —Murray's 
Life  of  Rutherford, 


SAMUEL   RUTHERFORD.  391 

minister  of  Christ.  For  a  few  years  after  lie  came  to  Galloway,  hia 
life  was  a  scene  of  unclouded  prosperity,  of  unbroken  and  uninter- 
rupted peace.  As  a  follower  of  Him  who  said,  "  In  the  world  ye 
shall  have  tribulation,"  the  pious  Rutherford  could  not,  and  in 
reality  did  not,  expect  that  such  a  state  of  thingB  would  always 
continue.  Many  were  the  trials  which  yet  awaited  "him  in  this  vale 
of  tears  :  and  ere  long  he  began  to  feel  that  suffering  of  one  kind  or 
another  is  the  portion  of  man,  and  more  especially  of  the  man  who 
is  to  be  distinguished  by  high  attainments  in  the  divine  life,  or 
extensive  usefulness  in  the  church  of  God.  lie  was  doomed  to 
experience  severe  family  distress  and  painful  bereavements.  His 
wife,  after  a  tedious  and  protracted  illness  of  thirteen  months,  died 
in  June  1630,  in  less  than  five  years  after  their  marriage.  Her 
children  seem  to  have  been  cut  off  before  her,  so  that  Rutherford  was 
left  alone  to  lament  his  loss.  To  add  to  his  distress,  he  had  been 
seized — previously  to  the  decease  of  his  wife — with  a  fever  which 
continued  for  thirteen  weeks,  leaving  him,  on  his  recovery,  in  such  a 
state  of  debility  as  to  suspend  for  a  time  his  attention  to  his  pastoral 
duties.  Amid  his  accumulated  sorrows,  however,  he  endured  as 
seeing  him  who  is  invisible,  and  knowing  that  in  heaven  he  had  an 
everlasting  portion,  which  no  time,  no  change,  could  destroy.  And 
he  derived  no  small  consolation  from  the  kindness  and  sympathy  of 
lady  Kenmure,  the  pious  wife  of  Gordon  of  Kenmure,  who  had  been 
recently  raised  to  the  peerage. 

The  intimacy  which  subsisted  between  Rutherford  and  the  Ken- 
mure family  had  been  productive  of  much  spiritual  advantage  t>  i 
both  parties ;  and  on  his  death-bed,  lord  Kenmure  appears  to  have 
been  indebted,  under  the  blessing  of  God,  to  this  devoted  minister 
for  the  clear  views  of  divine  truth  which  he  was  enabled  to  entertain, 
and  the  striking  testimony  which  in  his  last  moments  he  was 
privileged  to  bear  to  the  saving  power  and  efficacy  of  the  gospel. 
Rutherford  lamented  the  death  of  his  patron  in  an  elegiac  poem, 
written  in  Latin;  and  in  1649  he  published,  "The  Last  and  Heaven- 
ly Speeches,  and  Glorious  Departure  of  John  Yiscount  Kenmure :" 
a  work  in  which  the  author  gives  a  detailed  account  of  the  confer- 
ences which  he  held  with  that  nobleman  in  reference  to  his  spiritual 
and  everlasting  concerns.  Rutherford  now  took  a  still  greater 
interest  than  ever  in  the  spiritual  welfare  of  Lady  Kenmure  ;  and  he 
continued  to  maintain  a  frequent  correspondence  with  her  on  religious 
subjects  throughout  the  whole  of  his  life.  One  of  the  last  lett 
indeed,  he  ever  wrote,  was  to  this  excellent  lady.  From  the  position 
which  Rutherford  held,  as  the  most  influential  minister  in  the  county 
within  which  he  resided,  his  correspondence  on  public  matters  was 
very  extensive.  The  as;e  in  which  he  lived  was  one  of  melancholy 
interest  to  the  Church  of  Scotland.  The  attempt,  first  of  James  V ! .. 
and  then  of  Charles  I.,  to  impose  upon  the  Scottish  Presbytei 
the  yoke  of  episcopacy,  had  been  uniformly  resisted,  but  with  varied 
success;  and  though  at  the  period  to  which  we  now  refer,  when 
Rutherford  was  located  in  Galloway,  prelacy  was  triumphant  in  the 
country,  yet  he  was  well  known  to  entertain  opinions  decidedly  in 
favour  of  presbytery.     And  these  sentiments,  however  opposite  to 


392 


SCOTS   WORTHIES. 


the  then  ascendant  party,  he  was  far  from  concealing,  but  openly 
avowed  them  whenever  an  opportunity  of  doing  so  occurred.  In 
any  other  individual  than  Rutherford,  probably,  such  conduct  would 
not  have  been  tolerated.  The  high  respect,  however,  in  which  he 
was  held  by  men  of  all  parties,  and  the  tolerant  spirit  of  bishop 
Lamb,  who  "then  presided  over  the  diocese  of  Galloway,  prevented 
him  from  being  subjected  to  the  persecution  which  would  have 
otherwise  fallen  to  his  lot.  While  thus  permitted  calmly  to  prosecute 
his  ministerial  duties,  he  published  a  very  learned  and  elaborate 
work  upon  the  Arminian  controversy.  Rutherford's  sentiments 
were  strictly  Calvinistic,  and  the  ability  and  logical  tact  with  which 
he  supported  his  own  views,  and  refuted  the  arguments  of  his  oppo- 
nents, soon  established  his  fame  as  a  powerful  controversialist  and  a 
sound  divine.  The  estimation  in  which  he  was  held  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  Anwoth  was  truly  gratifying ;  and  as  a  proof  of  it,  we 
may  mention  that  when  Mr.  Glendinning,  minister  of  Kirkcudbright, 
had  become  unfit,  from  age  and  infirmities,  to  discharge  efficiently 
the  duties  of  his  office,  an  application  was  made  to  Rutherford  to 
accept  of  the  situation.  This  offer,  however,  he  conscientiously 
declined.  "  Great  solicitation,"  says  he,  "  is  made  by  the  town  of 
Kirkcudbright,  for  to  have  the  use  of  my  poor  labours  among  them. 
If  the  Lord  shall  call  and  his  people  cry,  Who  am  I  to  resist  ?  But 
without  his  seen  calling,  and  till  the  flock  whom  I  now  oversee,  be 
planted  with  one  to  whom  I  dare  entrust  Christ's  spouse,  gold  nor 
silver,  nor  favour  of  men,  I  hope,  shall  not  loose  me." 

Though  thus  unwilling  to  leave  his  affectionate  flock,  at  Anwoth, 
his  ministry  among  them  was,  in  the  mysterious  arrangement  of 
Providence,  about  to  be  interrupted  for  a  time.  In  consequence  of 
the  death  of  bishop  Lamb,  in  1631,  Thomas  Sydserff,*  bishop  of 
Brechin,  a  man  of  Arminian  principles,  and  of  an  intolerant  char- 
acter, was  translated  to  the  see  of  Galloway.  No  sooner  had  the 
new  diocesan  entered  upon  his  office,  than  he  proceeded  to  adopt  the 
most  arbitrary  and  unpopular  measures.  He  erected  a  High  Com- 
mission Court  within  his  diocese,  composed  exclusively  of  his  own 
dependents  ;  and,  before  this  court  were  forthwith  summoned  all  who 
would  not  conform  in  every  respect  to  the  demands  of  prelacy.  To 
Sydserff,  the  faithful  pastor  of  Anwoth  was  peculiarly  obnoxious  ; 
and  as  soon  as  possible,  therefore,  he  was  accused  of  non-conformity 
before  a  High  Commission  Court,  held  at  Wigtown  in  1636,  and 
deprived  of  his  ministerial  office.  The  bishop  was  anxious  to  have 
this  sentence  confirmed  by  a  court  of  the  same  kind  held  at  Edin- 
burgh, and  there  accordingly  Rutherford  was  cited  to  appear,  when, 
for  three  days,  accusations  of  the  most  extravagant  nature  were  pre- 

*  Thomas  Sydserff  was  in  succession  bishop  of  Brechin,  Galloway,  and  Orkney.  He 
was  son  of  Sydserff  of  Rnchlaw,  an  ancient  family  of  whom  one  is  a  subscriber  to  Rag- 
man's Roll  in  1296.  Sydserfi's  fust  appointment,  as  a  clergyman,  was  to  the  college 
church  in  Edinburgh,  having  for  his  colleague,  Henry  Rollock,  nephew  to  the  Principal; 
but  he  was  deposed  ami  excommunicated,  by  the  Assembly  of  Glasgow,  in  1638,  when 
bishop  ol  Galloway,  for  maintaining  Arminianism,  and  from  asupposed  leaning  to  popery. 
He  then  withdrew  tn  England,  but  was  afterwards  restored  by  the  government,  and  nomi- 
nated to  the  see  of  Orkney.  He  lived  little  more  than  a  year  after  his  translation. — Mur- 
ray's Life  of  Rutkerford. 


SAMUEL   RUTHERFORD.  393 

ferred  against  him.  With  the  undaunted  fortitude  of  conscious 
integrity,  he  replied  to  their  charges  ;  but  although  the  strongest 
influence  was  exerted  in  his  behalf,  and  although  the  evidence  was 
insufficient  to  convince  airy  other  than  prejudiced  minds,  judgment 
was  given  against  him.  He  was  deposed  from  the  pastoral  office, 
and  sentenced  to  be  confined  within  the  town  of  Aberdeen,  during 
the  king's  pleasure. 

The  sentence  passed  upon  this  faithful  servant  of  Christ,  severe 
and  unjust  though  it  was,  did  not  discourage  him.  He  seems,  on  the 
contrary,  to  have  been  able,  like  the  great  apostle  of  the  Gentiles,  to 
"  glory  in  tribulation."  "I  go  to  my  King's  palace  at  Aberdeen," 
said  he ;  "  tongue,  and  pen  and  wit,  cannot  express  my  joy."  A 
short  period  only  being  alloted  him  between  the  passing  of  the  sen- 
tence and  the  commencement  of  his  term  of  imprisonment,  he  had 
no  opportunity  of  returning  to  see  his  friends  in  Galloway.  On  his 
journey  to  "  Christ's  palace  in  Aberdeen,"  as  he  called  it,  he  paid  a 
visit  to  the  Rev.  David  Dickson,  minister  of  Irvine,  a  man  of  great 
piety  and  learning,  who  afterwards  filled,  with  very  high  honour,  the 
chair  of  theology  in  the  college  of  Edinburgh.  On  entering  the 
town  which  was  appointed  to  be  the  place  of  his  imprisonment, 
Rutherford  was  accompanied  by  a  deputation  of  his  people  from 
Anwoth,  who  had  travelled  many  miles  to  testify  their  sincere  regard 
for  their  devoted  pastor,  who  was  now  about  to  enjoy  the  exalted 
privilege  of  being  "  the  Lord's  prisoner."  "  In  the  world  ye  shall 
have  tribulation,  but  in  me  ye  shall  have  peace." 

At  this  period,  Aberdeen  was  the  strong-hold  of  episcopacy  and 
Arminianism.  The  most  influential  men,  both  clerical  and  lay,  were 
violently  opposed  to  Presbytery  ;  and  in  these  circumstances,  Ruth- 
erford could  not  be  expected  to  feel  much  comfort  or  happiness  in 
their  society.  Gradually,  however,  the  inhabitants  began  to  take  an 
interest  in  him  as  a  persecuted  servant  of  God.  Such,  at  length, 
was  the  attention  and  kindness  shown  him  by  many  respectable  citi- 
zens of  the  place,  that  he  was  permitted  to  conduct  religious  services 
in  their  families.  Intelligence  of  this  fact  soon  reached  the  ears  of 
the  professors  of  the  University  and  the  ministers  of  the  city,  who 
thought  it  necessary  to  take  steps  for  the  diminution,  if  possible,  of 
his  influence.  For  this  purpose,  they  denounced,  from  the  pulpit, 
presbyterian  principles,  and  challenged  Rutherford  to  engage  with 
them 'in  public  disputations.  But  all  was  unavailing;  he  became 
more  popular  and  influential  than  ever,  and  his  opinions  spread 
among  the  people  to  an  extent  which,  to  his  enemies,  was  quite 
alarming.  In  this  dilemma,  application  was  made  to  the  legislature 
to  have  him  either  confined  more  strictly,  or  sent  farther  north  than 
Aberdeen,  or  banished  from  the  kingdom  altogether*  The  last 
expedient  was  adopted  by  the  king,  who  despatched  a  warrant  to 
Scotland  for  the  banishment  of  Rutherford.     With  the  greatest  calm- 

*  His  residence  in  Aberdeen  was  marked  by  great  mortification  and  sorrow,  of  which 
his  "dumb  sabbaths"  was  one  of  the  chief  sources.  ''  My  silence  on  the  Lord's  day/'  he 
observes,  "  keeps  me  from  being  exalted  above  measure.  By  reason  of  my  silence,  sorrow, 
sorrow,  hath  filled  me:  my  harp  is  hanged  up  on  the  willow-trees,  because  lam  in  a 
strange  land." — Murray's  Life  of  Rutherjord. 


394  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

iiess  and  composure  lie  looked  forward  to  the  prospect  of  banishment 
"  Whither  I  go,"  said  he,  "I  know  not;  but  I  am  ready  at  the 
Lord's  call."  The  Lord,  however  in  his  providence  interposed,  and, 
bv  a  train  of  unexpected  events,  prevented  the  warrant  from  being 
ever  carried  into  execution. 

While  imprisoned  in  Aberdeen,  Kutherford  felt  deeply  for  his 
attached  flock  at  Anwoth.  Bishop  Sydserff  had  attempted  to  thrust 
in  upon  them  a  minister,  who,  being  both  an  episcopalian  and  an 
Arminian,  was  violently  opposed  by  the  people.  They  still  regarded 
their  former  pastor  as  having  been  unjustly  withdrawn  from  them, 
mid  they  longed  and  prayed,  therefore,  for  his  return.  This  happy 
event,  in  the  course  of  affairs,  was  at  last  accomplished. 

It  was  during  the  struggle  which  presbyterians  successfully  made 
at  this  period  to  resist  the  innovations  of  prelacy,  that  Rutherford 
(putted  his  imprisonment  at  Aberdeen,  and  returned  to  the  pastoral 
charge  of  his  nock  at  Anwoth.*  As  had  been  judged  necessary  on 
former  occasions  of  trouble  in  the  Church,  it  was  now  deemed  suit- 
able by  the  presbyterians  in  different  parts  of  the  country  to  renew 
the  National  Covenant ;  and  wmile  this  solemn  ceremony  was  carry- 
ing forward  at  Glasgow,  Kutherford  preached  in  the  High  Church  of 
that  city,  having  been  requested  by  the  inhabitants  to  preside,  pre- 
paratory to  their  subscribing  that  instrument. 

In  the  General  Assembly  wdiich  was  convened  at  Glasgow  on  the 
21st.  November,  163S,  Kutherford,  along  wTith  others  who  had  in- 
curred the  censures  of  the  High  Commission  Court,  were  called  upon 
to  explain  the  grounds  on  which  they  had  been  accused ;  and,  after 
due  deliberation,  a  decision  was  passed  in  favour  of  the  persecuted 
ministers,  and  they  were  recognized  as  members  of  court.  At  this 
Assembly,  one  of  the  most  memorable  in  the  annals  of  the  Scottish 
Church,  prelacy  was  abolished,  and  the  presbyterian  constitution, 
even  in  its  minutest  details,  fully  re-established.  The  bishops  were 
deprived  of  their  power,  and  the  greater  number  of  them  were  ex 
communicated.  In  all  the  proceedings  of  this  eventful  period, 
Kutherford  took  a  lively  interest,  rejoicing  in  the  triumph  of  those 
principles  which  he  had  so  long  and  so  consistently  advocated,  and 
for  which  he  had  endured  so  many  and  severe  privations. 

Shortly  after  the  meeting  of  the  Glasgow  Assembly,  an  applica- 
tion was  made  by  the  city  of  Edinburgh  to  the  Assembly's  Commis- 
sion, to  have  Kutherford  transferred  from  Anwoth  to  the  metropolis, 
that  he  might  have  the  opportunity  of  exercising  his  talents  in  a 
more  important  and  extensive  sphere.  Another  application,  how- 
ever, was  made  to  have  him  appointed  professor  of  divinity  in  the 
new  college,  St.  Andrew's.  The  Commission  preferred  the  latter 
situation.  Petitions  against  his  removal  were  presented  from  the 
county  of  Galloway,  and  from  the  parishioners  of  Anwoth,  and  he 
himself  urged,  in  a  respectful  petition,  his  "  bodily  weakness  and 
mental  incapacity."     All  was  unavailing;  the  interests  of  the  church 

*  At  what  particular  date  Rutherford  left  Aberdeen,  can  be  known  only  from  inference. 
It  seems  to  have  been  in  the  month  of  February,  163S,  '■  six  quarters  of  ane  yeir,"  from 
the  time  of  his  banishment,  August,  1636,  at  a  period  when  the  episcopal  interest  was 
nearly  annihilated. — Ibid. 


& 


SAMUEL   RUTHERFORD.  395 

demanded  Ins  appointment,  and  the  Commission  therefore  ordained 
that  he  should  occupy  a  chair  for  which  he  was  considered  as  pre- 
eminently qualified.  He  still,  however,  entertained  hopes  that  the 
Assembly,  at  its  next  meeting,  would  refuse  to  confirm  the  decision 
of  the  Commission.  In  this,  however,  he  was  disappointed,  and 
nothing  remained  fur  him  but  to  submit  calmly  to  his  removal  from 
his  beloved  people.  The  office  which  Rutherford  was  now  called  to 
occupy  was  one  of  the  most  useful  and  highly  honourable  to  which 
he  could  have  been  promoted.  He  felt  the  responsibility  connected 
with  its  duties  ;  but  after  the  deep  distress  he  had  experienced  at 
Aberdeen  on  account  of  his  "  silent  Sabbaths,"  he  could  not  bear  the 
thought  of  being  deprived  of  the  privilege  of  publicly  proclaiming 
the  gospel  of  Christ.  On  his  earnest  application,  therefore,  to  the 
Assembly,  they  yielded  to  his  wishes  on  this  point,  and  appointed 
him  colleague  to  Mr.  Robert  Blair,  who  had  been  recently  translated 
from  Ayr,  to  be  one  of  the  ministers  of  the  town  of  St.  Andrew's. 

A  few  months  subsequent  to  his  translation  to  St.  Andrew's, 
Rutherford  entered  a  second  time  into  the  marriage  relation,  after  a 
widowhood  of  nearly  ten  years.  Having  thus  made  provision  for 
his  domestic  comfort,  he  continued  to  discharge  his  public  duties, 
both  in  teaching  and  preaching,  with  unwearied  assiduity  and  con- 
scientiousness. For  some  time  his  situation  was  one  of  peculiar 
happiness  and  tranquillity  ;  and  it  would  have  continued  so,  had  not 
both  he  and  his  colleague  felt  themselves  called  upon  to  join  their 
brethren  in  resisting  the  wishes  of  their  people,  who  were  exceedingly 
desirous  that  Mr.  Andrew  Affleck,  the  minister  of  Largo,  should  be 
chosen  one  of  the  ministers  of  St.  Andrew's.  The  people,  being  dis- 
appointed of  their  object,  began  to  cool  in  their  attachment  both  to 
Rutherford  and  Blair,  who,  feeling  that  their  usefulness  would  be 
injured  by  this  alienation  of  the  affections  of  their  flock,  applied  to 
the  Assembly  for  an  act  of  transportability,  as  it  was  called,  or  the 
privilege  of  accepting  a  call  to  another  charge,  if  such  a  call  should 
be  given  them.  The  request  was  granted,  and  in  a  few  weeks 
Rutherford  was  invited  to  become  minister  of  AYest  Calder,  in  the 
presbytery  of  Linlithgow.  This  call  he  gladly  accepted,  and  his 
acceptance  was  ratified  by  the  supreme  court ;  but  in  consequence  of 
the  resistance  of  the  university  of  St.  Andrew's,  the  matter  was  pro- 
secuted no  further,  and  he  still  remained  both  in  his  professorship 
and  ministerial  charge. 

In  the  public  concerns  of  the  church  and  the  country  Rutherford 
was  deeply  interested.  Himself  a  conscientious  admirer  of  Presby- 
tery, he  rejoiced  in  the  complete  establishment  of  the  system  in 
Scotland,  and  the  increasing  attachment  to  it  which  was  manifested 
in  England.  To  his  principles  he  firmly  adhered  ;  and  such  was  the 
confidence  reposed  in  him  by  his  brethren,  that  he  was  appointed  by 
the  Assembly  one  of  the  Scots  Commissioners  to  the  General  Assem- 
bly of  Divines,  held  at  Westminster.  On  this  important  mission  he 
remained  in  London  four  years,  and  by  his  talents  and  learning 
proved  no  small  acquisition  to  the  venerable  Synod.  In  their  discus- 
sions he  and  his  fellow-commissioners  took  an  ample  share  ;  and  the 
result  of  their  important  deliberations  was  both  gratifying  to  himself 


;yc 


SCOTS   WORTHIES. 


jonally,  and  satisfactory  to  those  over  whose  interests  he  had 
been  demited  to  watch.  In  drawing  up  the  Directory  for  Public 
Worship,  the  Confession  of  Faith,  the  Larger  and  Shorter  Catechisms, 
and  the  Form  of  Church  Government,  Eutherford  was  actively  em- 
ployed along  with  the  other  members  of  the  Synod. 

While  in  London,  however,  he  did  not  limit  his  labours  to  the 
business  of  the  Synod  of  Divines;  he  was  also  engaged  in  the  pre- 
paration of  various  controversial  as  well  as  practical  works,  of  a 
theological  hind,  which  he  published  during  that  period.  The  only 
publication,  not  strictly  in  accordance  with  his  profession  as  a  divine, 
which  he  produced  on  this  occasion,  was  one  entitled  "  Lex,  Hex," — 
The  Law  and  the  King— which  was  intended  as  a  reply  to  a  book 
which  had  been  published  in  support  of  absolute  monarchy.  _  Though 
thus  busily  occupied,  however,  he  longed  to  return  to  his  important 
duties  at  St.  Andrew's,  and  the  more  so  as  his  own  declining  health, 
as  well  as  that  of  his  wife,  seemed  to  call  for  a  removal  to  his  native 
country.  His  distress,  besides,  had  been  still  farther  aggravated  by 
the  death  of  two  of  his  children,  in  addition  to  two  which  he  had 
lost  a  short  time  before  leaving  Scotland.  In  these  circumstances  he 
had  made  frequent  applications  to  be  released  from  his  attendance  in 
London.  But,  for  a  considerable  time,  it  was  not  deemed  expedient 
to  comply  with  his  request, — his  presence  at  the  Westminster  Assem- 
bly being  regarded  as  too  important  to  be  dispensed  with.  At 
length,  however,  the  Assembly  of  1647  permitted  him  to  return 
home. 

The  able  and  efficient  manner  in  which  Rutherford  discharged  the 
high  trust  reposed  in  him,  as  one  of  the  Commissioners  to  the  Synod 
of  Divines  at  Westminster,  raised  him  higher  than  ever  in  the  esti- 
mation of  his  countrymen ;  and  accordingly,  a  few  months  after  he 
had  resumed  his  duties  at  St.  Andrew's,  he  was  appointed  principal 
of  the  New  College.  The  honour  thus  conferred  on  him  brought 
him  very  little,  if  any,  additional  labour  ;  it  was  a  gratifying  proof 
to  him,  however,  that  his  merits,  both  as  an  author  and  a  divine, 
were  duly  appreciated.  In  1649,  an  attempt  was  made  in  the 
General  Assembly  to  procure  his  transference  to  the  Divinity  Chair 
at  Edinburgh  ;  but  this  intention,  as  Baillie  states,  being  "  thought  ab- 
surd," was  laid  aside.  About  the  same  time  a  university  having  been 
established  at  Ilarderwyck,  in  Holland,  he  was  invited  to  occupy  the 
chair  of  Divinity  and  Hebrew  in  that  seminary.  This  invitation,  as 
well  as  a  similar  application  shortly  after  from  Utrecht,  he  respect- 
fully declined, — being  unwilling  to  abandon  the  Church  of  Scotland, 
;:t  a  period  when  his  services  were  so  much  required. 

In  prosecuting  his  laborious  engagements  at  St.  Andrew's,  he  still 
found  time  to  publish  several  important  works.  The  year  after  his 
return  from  London  he  produced  a  controversial  work  against  the 
Antinomians,  and  in  the  year  following,  a  Treatise  in  reply  to  Jeremy 
Taylor's  "  Liberty  of  Prophesying."  In  1651,  appeared  his  large 
w«»rk-  "  ( )n  Providence,"  in  opposition  to  the  Jesuits,  the  Arminians, 
and  the  Socinians. 

At  this  period,  in  consequence  of  the  death  of  Charles  I.,  who 
though  he  had  been  obliged  to  make  concessions,  was  still  at  heart 


SAMUEL   RUTHERFORD.  397 

the  inveterate  enemy  of  Presbytery,  considerable  fears  were  enter- 
tained by  the  Scottish  people,  that  under  the  government  of  his  son, 
who,  itwas  thought,  would  succeed  him,  their  ecclesiastical  privi- 
leges might  be  again  abridged.  Charles  II.  was  crowned  at  Scone  ; 
and  in^  passing  through  Fifeshire,  before  his  coronation,  the  young 
king  visited  St.  Andrew's,  when  Rutherford  delivered  before  h'im  an 
oration  in  Latin,  dwelling  chiefly  upon  the  duty  of  kings.  In  the 
meantime,  however,  the  Independents  had  acquired  the  ascendency, 
and  England  had  become  a  republic.  The  events  which  followed 
during  the  usurpation  of  Cromwell,  and  onward  to  the  Restoration, 
it  is  impossible  in  our  limited  space  minutely  to  detail.  Suffice  it  to 
say  that  in  the  proceedings  of  that  stormy  period  Rutherford  acted  a 
very  conspicuous  part ;  and  from  the  unflinching  tenacity  with 
which  he  maintained  the  opinions  he  had  adopted,  he  was  regarded 
by  many  of  his  brethren,  more  especially  of  the  presbytery  of  St. 
Andrew's  and  the  Synod  of  Fife,  as  actuated  too  strongly  by  party- 
spirit. 

Amid  all  the  commotions,  however,  in  which  he  found  himself 
involved,  he  published  several  valuable  works  on  practical  theology, 
as  well  as  some  productions  of  a  controversial  nature.  The  last 
work,  of  which  he  lived  to  superintend  the  publication,  appeared  in 
1659,  under  the  title  of  "  Influences  of  the  Life  of  Grace."  With  this 
piece  of  practical  theology  terminated  the  literary  labours  of  a  most 
erudite  divine  and  accomplished  scholar. 

Though  the  life  of  Rutherford  was  now  verging  to  its  close,  he 
lived  long  enough  to  see  the  commencement  of  one  of  the  darkest 
periods  in  Scotland's  ecclesiastical,  and  even  her  civil  history.  No 
sooner  had  the  Second  Charles  been  restored  to  his  kingdom,  than 
steps  were  taken  for  the  overthrow  of  Presbytery  in  his  northern 
dominions.  This  design  he  was  not  long  in  finding  means  of  accom- 
plishing, and  that  too  in  a  quarter  where  it  might  have  been  least  of 
all  expected.  The  Scottish  parliament,  which  convened  on  the  1st 
of  January,  1661,  invested  the  king  with  arbitrary  power,  recalled 
the  Covenant,  and  abolished  Presbytery;  and  by  one  deed,  "  the 
Act  Rescissory,"  as  it  was  termed,  they  annulled  the  decrees  of  all 
the  parliaments  which  since  1638  had  sanctioned  the  presbyterian 
system,  or  ratified  the  Solemn  League  and  Covenant. 

In  such  a  state  of  things  Rutherford  could  not  expect  to  escape 
persecution  in  one  shape  or  other.  His  work  which  he  had  pub- 
lished when  in  London,  called  "  Lex,  Rex,"  was  ordered  to  be 
burnt  by  the  hands  of  the  common  hangman ;  he  was  deprived  of 
his  offices  both  in  the  University  and  the  Church  ;  his  stipend  was 
confiscated  ;  he  himself  was  ordered  to  be  confined  to  his  own  house  ; 
and  cited  to  appear  before  the  ensuing  parliament  on  a  charge  of 
treason.  Thus  far  they  were  permitted  to  harass  this  eminent  ser- 
vant of  God  ;  but  their  power  could  extend  no  further.  His  health, 
which  had  been  rapidly  declining,  was  now  such,  that  he  was  quite 
incapable  of  obeying  the  citation  to  appear  before  the  Parliament. 

Knowing  well  that  death  could  not  be  far  distant,  he  proceeded  to 
arrange  all  his  affairs,  that  he  might  leave  nothing  undone  which  his 
friends  or  the  Church  expected  from  him.     In  his  last  sickness  he 


£98  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

bore  ample  testimony  to  the  saving  efficacy  of  that  gospel  which  it 
had  been  always  his  delight  to  preach,  and  on  the  19th  of  March, 
1661,  he  yielded  up  his  breath,  about  five  o'clock  in  the  morning,  as 
he  himself  had  foretold.* 


ARCHIBALD  CAMPBELL,  MARQUIS  OF  ARGYLE. 


From  his  early  years  this  illustrious  nobleman  was  warmly  attached 
to  the  presbyterian  interest,  and,  during  the  whole  of  a  laborious  and 
useful  life  spent  in  the  service  of  both  church  and  state,  he  adhered 
firmly  to  his  principles,  until  by  the  tyranny  and  treachery  of 
Charles  L,  he  was  honoured  with  the  crown  of  martyrdom.  When 
the  excellent  Rutherford  was  brought  before  the  High  Commission 
Court  for  nonconformity,  in  1638,  Argyle  interposed  in  his  behalf  ; 
and  through  his  intercession,  also,  with  the  bishop  of  Galloway,  the 
worthy  Earlston  was  released  from  the  sentence  of  banishment  to 
which  he  had  been  condemned  for  the  same  cause. 

No  sooner  did  the  Reformation,  commonly  called  the  Second 
Reformation,  begin  to  dawn,  in  1637,  than  Argyle,  though  a  privy 
counsellor,  attended  all  the  sittings  of  the  memorable  General 
Assembly  held  at  Glasgow,  in  order  to  hear  the  debates  concerning 
diocesan  episcopacy,  and  the  five  Articles  of  Perth,  and  after  the 
most  patient  attention,  declared  himself  fully  satisfied  with  all  their 
decisions.  From  that  period  this  noble  peer  began  to  distinguish 
himself  by  a  concern  for  the  Redeemer's  cause  and  interest,  to 
which  he  ever  afterward  continued  faithful. 

At  that  Assembly,  his  lordship,  among  other  things,  proposed  an 
explanation  of  the  Confession  and  Covenant,  in  which  he  wished  the 
members  to  proceed  with  great  deliberation,  lest  any  should  be 
brought  under  suspicion  of  perjury,  who  might  have  sworn  in  the 
same  sense  as  he  himself  had  done.  This  motion  was  taken  in  good 
part ;  and,  at  the  breaking  up  of  the  Assembly,  Mr.  Henderson,  the 

*  On  the  2Sth  of  April,  1842,  the  foundation-stone  of  a  colossal  monument,  called  the 
"  Rutherford  Monument,"  was  laid  to  the  memory  of  this  excellent  man.  It  is  erected  on 
the  farm  of  Borelaud,  in  the  parish  of  Anvvoth,  about  half  a  mile  from  where  Rutherford 
used  to  preach,  and  about  the  same  distance  from  the  Bush  of  Bield,  where  his  manse  was 
The  site  is  upon  an  eminence,  about  half  a  mile  from  Gatehouse.  The  monument  is  ol 
granite  ;  height,  from  the  surface  to  the  apex.  60  feet;  square  of  the  pedestal,  7  feet,  with 
three  rows  of  steps. 


MARQUIS   OF   ARGYLE.  399 

Moderator,  observed,  that  the  Assembly  felt  themselves  hi- 
honoured  by  the  countenance  that  had  been  given  to  their  delibera- 
tions by  the  noble  lord,  regretting  that  his  lord-hip  had  not  joined 
them  sooner;  but  expressing  a  hope,  at  the  same  time,  that  God  had 
reserved  him  for  the  best  times,  and  would  honour  him  both  here  and 
hereafter.  Argyle  remarked  in  reply,  that  the  delay  had  not 
proceeded  from  any  want  of  affection  to  the  prosperity  of  religion, 
and  the  welfare  of  the  country,  but  from  a  desire  and' hope  that  by 
staying  with  the  court,  he  might  have  been  able  to  bring  abont  a 
redress  of  grievances.  Seeing,  however,  that  this  could  no  longer  be 
done  without  proving  unfaithful  to  God  and  his  country,  he  had 
resolved  to  do  as  he  had  done,  and  cast  in  his  lot  among  the 
brethren. 

In  1639,  when  the  Covenanters  were  forced  to  take  up  arms  in 
their  own  defence,  and  march  toward  the  borders  of  England,  under 
General  Leslie,  Argyle,  being  sent  to  guard  the  Western  coast, 
contributed  much  by  his  activity  and  prudence  to  preserve  peace  in 
that  quarter.  He  not  only  convened  the  country  gentlemen,  and 
bound  them  under  security  for  that  purpose ;  but  raised  and  main- 
tained, at  his  own  charges,  400  men  in  the  county  of  Argyle.  whom 
he  afterwards  augmented  to  900.  "With  half  of  this  small  band  he 
marched  into  Kintyre  to  watch  the  movements  of  the  marquis  of 
Antrim,  and  despatched  the  remainder  to  the  head  of  Lorn,  to  look 
after  Lochaber,  and  the  Western  isles  ;  from  whence  he  himself  set 
out  for  Arran  with  a  few  pieces  of  artillery,  and  took  possession  of 
the  castle  of  Brodick,  which  surrendered  without  resistance. 

In  the  absence  of  the  covenanting  army,  in  1640,  he  was  again 
appointed  to  the  same  command,  which  he  conducted  no  less 
successfully  ;  taking  prisoners  eight  or  nine  of  the  ringleaders  of  the 
malignant  faction,  whom  he  obliged  to  give  bond  for  their  better 
behaviour,  for  time  to  come.  By  these  proceedings  Argyle  provoked 
the  malice  both  of  his  own  and  the  church's  enemies,  who  trom  that 
time  sought  every  opportunity  to  do  him  injury ;  and  it  was  not  long 
until  the  earl  of  Montrose  took  occasion  to  do  so.  Upon  a  certain 
occurrence,  he  publicly  gave  out  that  Argyle — when  in  company 
with  the  earl  of  Athol,  and  the  other  eight  gentlemen  who  had  been 
made  prisoners  by  him  the  year  before,  for  carrying  arms  against 
their  country — had  said  before  them  all  : — "  That  the  parliament  had 
consulted  lawyers  anent  deposing  the  king,  and  had  received  for 
answer,  that  that  might  be  clone  for  three  reasons  ;  viz.,  des<  rfi<»>  ; 
■invasion  ;  and  vendition  •  and  that  they  once  thought  to  have  done 
it  last  session ;  but  would  certainly  do  it  at  the  next."  Montrose 
found  a  ready  tool  in  James  Stuart,  commissary  of  Dunkeld,  wh 
once  subscribed  to  the  veracity  of  the  report;  but  Argyle  declared 
his  innocence,  and  immediately  raised  an  action  for  falsehood  against 
Stuart  before  the  court  of  Justiciary.  To  avoid  the  sentence  that 
would  have  followed  upon  his  conviction,  Stuart  wrote  to  the  earl, 
acquitting  him  of  the  charge,  and  acknowledging  that  he  had 
fabricated  the  whole  out  of  malice.  Although  Argyle's  innocence 
was  thus  established,  the  court,  nevertheless,  thought  it  proper  to 
proceed  with  the  trial;    and,  the  fact  having  been  clearly  proved 


400  SCOTS  WORTHIES. 

against  Stuart,  sentence  of  death  was  pronounced  against  him; 
which  awful  punishment  he  underwent,  expressing  the  deepest 
penitence  and  remorse  for  what  he  had  done. 

About  the  same  time  Charles,  having  quarrelled  with  his  English 
parliament,  revisited  Scotland.  To  ingratiate  himself  anew  with  the 
nation,  he  attended  the  Scots  parliament,  and  not  only  ratified  all 
their  procedure,  both  in  their  own  defence,  and  in  behalf  of  the 
national  religion,  but  even  elevated  several  of  the  nobles  to  higher 
titles  of  honour.  Argyle  was  made  first  lord  of  the  treasury ;  and, 
after  acknowledging  his  great  public  services,  the  king,  on  the  15th 
.November,  1641,  delivered  a  patent  to  the  lord  Lyon  King  at  Arms, 
who  read  it  aloud,  proclaiming  his  lordship  "  Marquis  of  Argyle, 
Earl  of  Kintyre,  Lord  Lorn,"  &c,  which,  having  been  finished,  it 
was  lfanded  back  to  the  king.  Charles  then  with  his  own  hands 
delivered  it  to  Argyle,  and  was  the  first  to  salute  him  by  his  new 
title  of  Marquis.  Not  deficient  in  court  etiquette,  Argyle,  in  a  very 
handsome  speech,  thanked  his  majesty  for  the  honour  he  had 
conferred  upon  him,  and  assured  his  sovereign  that  he  had  raised 
him  to  a  rank  which  he  neither  expected  nor  merited. 

Ay  hile  parliament  was  still  sitting,  another  plot,  of  a  more  deadly 
nature,  was  laid  against  the  marquises  of  Hamilton  and  Argyle  by 
a  few  of  the  nobility,  who  felt  themselves  piqued  at  the  powTer, 
preferment,  and  influence,  which  these  noblemen  now  had  with  the 
king.  The  chief  actors  in  the  conspiracy  were  the  earl  of  Crawford, 
colonel  Cochran,  and  lieutenant  Alexander  Stuart — nay  it  was 
insinuated  that  Charles  himself  was  an  accessory  before  the  fact — 
and  the  agreement  was  that  Hamilton  and  Argyle  should  be  called 
for  in  the  dead  of  the  night  to  speak  with  the  king.  By  the  way 
they  were  to  be  arrested  as  traitors  and  handed  over  to  earl 
Crawford,  who  was  to  be  in  waiting  with  a  sufficient  body  of  men  : 
and  it  had  been  further  concerted,  that  if  any  resistance  was  offered, 
the  earl  was  to  stab  them  at  once ;  but  if  not,  they  were  to  be 
conveyed  prisoners  of  war  to  a  vessel  in  Leith  Roads,  where  they 
were  to  be  confined  until  they  could  be  conveniently  tried  for 
treason.  The  plot,  however,  having  been  divulged  prematurely,  both 
of  the  noblemen,  by  the  good  providence  of  God,  escaped  the  night 
previous,  to  a  place  of  security  about  twelve  miles  distant.  It  tends 
not  a  little  to  strengthen  the  belief  of  the  king's  concurrence,  that 
the  whole  of  the  conspirators  wTere  pardoned,  merely  upon  their  own 
petition. 

In  1613  and  the  year  following,  the  marquis  was  very  actively 
engaged  in  forwarding  the  work  of  reformation  ;  but  while  he  was 
thus  occupied,  Montrose  and  some  others  of  the  royal  party,  having 
associated  for  the  purpose  of  raising  troops  for  the  king,  thought 
thereby  to  divert  Argyle's  attention  from  the  good  work.  Their  in- 
tention was  to  oblige  him  to  withdraw  the  Scottish  forces  from  Eng- 
land, by  making  predatory  incursions  into  the  county  of  Argyle, 
which  the  earl  of  Antrim  had  undertaken  to  do,  by  sending  over 
from  Ireland  a  body  of  10,000  men,  under  the  command  of  one 
M'Donald,  a  Scotsman.  A  considerable  army  was  accordingly  sent, 
who   committed  many  frightful   ravages.    To   repel   the   invaders, 


MARQUIS   OF    ARGYLE. 


401 


therefore,  the  Committee  of  Estates  ordered  the  marquis  to  raise 
three  regiments  of  foot,  and  march  northward  without  delay,  which 
he  very  soon  effected,  taking  a  number  of  their  principal  chiefs  prison- 
ers, and  dispersing  the  rest.  Montrose,  however,  was  still  on  the 
field,  plundering  and  laying  waste  all  over  Argyleshire,  and  other 
places  belonging  to  the  Covenanters ;  and,  although  he  was  finally 
defeated  by  general  Leslie,  at  Philiphaugh,  yet  M'Donald  and 
Irish  barbarians  returned  in  1646,  and  burned  and  plundered  the 
dwellings  of  the  well-affected,  to  such  an  extent,  that  about  1200  of 
the  ejected  and  houseless  inhabitants  assembled  in  a  body  under 
Acknalase,  who  brought  them  down  to  Monteith  to  live  upon  the 
disaffected  in  that  part  of  the  country.  On  their  way  thither,  how- 
ever, the  men  of  Athol  attacked  them  at  Callender  ;  and,  being  but 
poorly  armed,  a  considerable  number  of  them  were  slain.  The  rest 
made  the  best  of  their  way  to  Stirling,  where  they  were  met  by 
Argyle,  who,  commiserating  their  deplorable  condition,  led  them 
into  Dumbartonshire  to  live  upon  lord  Napier,  and  others  of  the  dis- 
affected, till  they  should  be  better  provided  for.  In  the  mean  time 
he  himself  went  over  to  Ireland,  and,  bringing  home  the  remainder 
of  the  Scots  forces,  landed  them  in  Argyleshire.  M'Donald  betook 
himself  to  the  Isles,  and  from  thence  to  Ireland,  which  put  an  end 
to  hostilities  in  that  part  of  the  country. 

In  1648,  when  the  state  became  divided  into  two  factions,  the  ma- 
lignants  were  headed  by  the  marquis  of  Hamilton,  and  the  Cove- 
nanters were  under  the  direction  of  Argyle.  It  may  therefore  be 
with  safety  concluded,  that  from  the  year  1643,  the  marquis  was 
actively  employed  in  promoting  the  civil  and  religious  liberties  of 
his  country ;  and  it  is  well  known  from  what  took  place  in  1649, — 
from  the  influence  he  had  acquired  in  parliament,  and  from  the  suc- 
cessful measures  he  had  used  in  restoring  Charles  II.  to  his  throne 
and  regal  authority,  that  the  affairs  of  the  nation  went  on  pretty 
smoothly,  so  long  as  the  king  continued  to  act  upon  his  advice.  No 
sooner,  however,  did  the  wreak  monarch  transfer  his  favours  to  the 
opposite  party,  and  install  their  nobles  into  places  of  power  and 
trust,  than  the  country  became  again  one  vast  scene  of  confusion 
and  bloodshed,  which  preyed  heavily  upon  the  mind  of  the  worthy 
Argyle.  Charles  at  the  same  time  pretended  a  great  deal  of  regard 
for  the  marquis  ;  but  how  he  performed  the  promises  contained  in 
the  following  letter,  may  be  judged  from  the  resentment  he  in- 
dulged ever  after  the  marquis  had  the  Christian  magnanimity  b 
reprove  him  for  his  immoralities. 

This  masterpiece  of  duplicitv  appears  to  have  been  written  from 
St.  Johnston  (Perth),  September  24th,  1650,  and  is  as  follows  :— 
"  Having  taken  into  my  consideration  the  faithful  endeavours  of  the 
marquis  of  Argyle  for  restoring  me  to  my  just  rights,  I  am  desirous 
to  let  the  world  see  how  sensible  I  am  of  his  real  respect  to  me, 
some  particular  favour  to  him.  And  particularly  I  do  promise  that. 
I  shall  make  him  Duke  of  Argyle,  a  knight  of  the  garter,  and  one 
of  the  gentlemen  of  my  bedchamber,  and  this  to  be  performed  when 
he  shall  think  fit.  I  do  further  promise  to  hearken  to  his  counsel, 
whenever  it  shall  please  God  to  restore  me  to  my  just  rights  in  hng- 
26 


4  o  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

land.     I  shall  see  him  paid  the  40,000  pounds  sterling  which  are 
due  to  him.     All  which  I  do  promise  to  make  good  upon  the  word 

of  a  king." 

"  C.  K." 

Charles  was  crowned  at  Scone  on  the  1st  January,  1651,  and  the 
crown  was  placed  on  his  head  by  the  marquis.  After  prayer  by 
Mr.  Douglas,  he  was  installed  into  the  royal  throne  by  the  marquis 
also.  For  a  time,  too,  the  Usurper's  forces  were  victorious  in 
several  engagements,  and  the  king  could  no  longer  continue  in  Scot- 
land with  safety.  He  was,  therefore,  after  Cromwell's  success  at 
Dunbar,  obliged  to  return  to  England,  leaving  the  marquis  at  Stir- 
ling. On  the  3d  of  September  following,  his  army  having  been 
completely  routed  at  Worcester,  the  English  overran  the  whole 
country  ;  and  the  national  representatives  were  forced  either  to  suc- 
cumb to  Cromwell,  or  run  the  risk  of  enduring  severe  hardships. 
This  submission  Argyle  had  refused  at  Dumbarton,  and  therefore  the 
Usurper's  army  marched  into  Argyleshire  and  other  parts  of  the 
Highlands.  Whilst  Argyle  was  confined  at  Inverary  by  indisposi- 
tion, one  of  Cromwell's  officers — major  Dean — wTalked  into  the  room 
and  presented  a  paper,  informing  the  marquis  that  if  he  did  not 
subscribe  the  same  before  the  following  day,  he  would  be  carried  off 
prisoner.  For  several  reasons,  but  particularly  for  his  own  and  his 
tenants'  safety,  Argyle  most  reluctantly  adhibited  his  signature. 
From  the  date  of  this  circumstance  may  be  traced  the  commence- 
ment of  those  sufferings  which  brought  the  marquis  to  the  scaffold. 

In  the  year  1060,  soon  after  the  king's  restoration,  Argyle  set  out 
for  London,  whither  he  arrived  on  the  8th  of  July,  and  without  delay 
proceeded  to  Whitehall,  anxious  to  pay  his  respects  to  a  prince  on 
whose  head  he  had  placed  the  crown,  and  in  whose  presence  he 
might  vindicate  himself  from  many  foul  aspersions  which  had  been 
very  industriously  conveyed  to  the  royal  ear.  No  sooner  had  Charles 
heard  of  Argyle's  arrival,  than,  forgetting  all  his  debts  of  gratitude, 
and  former  fair  promises,  he  caused  his  lordship  to  be  apprehended 
and  conveyed  to  the  Tower,  where  he  was  detained  till  the  month  of 
December,  and  then  sent  down  to  Scotland,  in  a  ship  of  war,  to  abide 
his  trial  before  parliament.  On  the  20th,  the  vessel  arrived  at  Leith  ; 
and,  next  day,  the  marquis  was  marched  along  the  streets  of  Edin- 
burgh betwixt  two  of  the  town  bailies,  and  lodged  in  the  castle. 

On  the  13th  of  February  following,  Argyle  was  brought  down  from 
the  castle  in  a  coach,  attended  by  three  of  the  magistrates,  and  the 
town  guard,  and  presented  at  the  bar  of  the  house;  when  Sir  John 
Fletcher,  the  king's  advocate,  accused  him  in  common  form,  of  high 
treason,  producing  an  indictment,  and  craving  that  it  might  be  read. 
Before  this  should  be  done,  Argyle  asked  permission  to  speak;  but 
was  refused.  The  indictment  contained  fourteen  counts;  the  princi- 
pal of  which  were: — "  his  entering  into  the  Solemn  League  and 
Covenant  with  England  ;  and  his  submission  to  Oliver  Cromwell." 
After  it  had  been  read  over,  however,  he  was  permitted  to  address 
the  house,  which  he  did  with  great  effect,  declaring  that  he  had,  con- 
sistently with  his  solemn  oath  and  covenant,  served  his  God,  his 


MARQUIS   OF    ARGYLE. 


403 


•ting,  and  his  country  ;  and  that  not  one  of  the  accusations  brought 
against  him  could  be  proved.  It  was  to  no  purpose  that  lie  thus 
pleaded,  because  the  parliament  were  determined  to  bring  him  in 
guilty;  and  therefore  he  was  ordered  to  enter  upon  his  defence  on 
the  27th  of  the  same  month.  At  his  special  request,  however,  it  was 
deferred  until  the  5th  of  March.  On  that  day  he  delivered  a  most 
affecting  speech  before  the  lords  of  articles,  and  gave  in  a  petition, 
recommending  himself  to  the  king's  mercy,  and  entreating  the  par- 
liament to  intercede  for  him. 

He  was  again  brought  before  the  parliament  upon  the  16th ;  but 
all  that  either  he  or  his  counsel  could  say  had  no  weight  with  the 
members.  In  the  beginning  of  May,  witnesses  were  examined 
against  him ;  and  on  the  25th  he  was  brought  to  the  bar  of  the  house 
to  receive  sentence  from  his  judges,  which  was  to  the  following 
effect : — "  That  he  was  found  guilty  of  high  treason,  and  adjudged 
to  be  executed  as  a  traitor — his  head  to  be  severed  from  his  body  at 
the  cross  of  Edinburgh,  upon  Monday  the  27th,  and  affixed  on  the 
same  place  where  the  marquis  of  Montrose's  head  had  formerly  been, 
and  his  arms  torn  before  the  parliament  at  the  cross."  At  this  awful 
crisis  Argyle  offered  to  speak  ;  but  the  trumpets  beginning  to  sound, 
he  waited  till  they  had  finished,  and  then  said, — "1  had  the  honour 
to  place  the  crown  on  the  king's  head ;  and  now  he  hastens  me  to  a 
better  crown  than  his  own !"  After  which,  addressing  himself  to 
the  speaker  and  members,  he  said  : — You  have  the  indemnity  of  an 
earthly  king  among  your  hands,  and  have  denied  me  a  share  in  that ; 
but  you  cannot  hinder  me  from  the  indemnity  of  the  King  of  kings; 
and  shortly  you  must  be  before  his  tribunal.  I  pray  he  mete  not  out 
such  measure  to  you  as  you  have  done  to  me,  when  you  are  called  t< » 
an  account  for  all  your  actings,  and  this  amongst  the  rest !" 

After  sentence  he  was  conveyed  to  the  common  prison,  where  his 
lady  was  waiting  for  him, — upon  seeing  whom  he  said, — "  They 
have  given  me  till  Monday  to  be  with  you,  my  dear,  therefore  let  us 
make  for  it."  The  marchioness  wept  bitterly,  and  said  twice, — "The 
Lord  will  require  it,"  which  drew  tears  from  all  present.  "  Forbear," 
said  the  marquis,  "  forbear!  I  pity  them,  they  know  not  what  they 
are  doing, — they  may  shut  me  in  where  they  please ;  but  they 
cannot  shut  God  out  from  me.  I  am  as  content  to  be  here,  as  in  the 
castle,  and  as  content  there  as  in  the  Tower  of  London,  and  as 
content  in  the  Tower  as  when  at  liberty," — and  added,  that  he 
remembered  a  passage  of  Scripture  quoted  by  an  honest  minister  to 
him  while  in  the  castle,  which  he  intended  to  put  in  practice, — 
"When  Ziklag  was  taken  and  burnt,  the  people  spake  of  stoning 
David  ;  but  he'encouraged  himself  in  the  Lord." 

During  the  short  interval  between  his  sentence  and  execution,  he 
maintained  the  greatest  serenity  and  cheerfulness,  conversing  plea- 
santly  with  several  ministers  who  were  permitted  to  visit  him.  The 
night  before  his  execution  he  slept  calmly;  and  on  Monday  morning, 
though  much  engaged  in  settling  his  affairs  in  the  midst  of  company, 
he  had  at  intervals  much  spiritual  conversation,  and  was  so  over- 
powered by  a  sensible  effusion  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  that  on  one 
occasion  he  broke  out  into  a  rapturous  exclamation : — "  I  thought  to 


404  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

have  concealed  the  Lord's  goodness,  but  it  will  not  do.  I  am  now 
ordering  my  affairs,  and  God  is  sealing  my  charter  to  a  better 
inheritance,  and  just  now  saying  to  me, — '  Son,  be  of  good  cheer,  thy 
sins  are  forgiven  thee.' " 

Before  going  to  the  place  of  execution,  he  dined  precisely  at  noon 
with  a  number  of  his  friends,  displaying  great  cheerfulness ;  after 
which  he  retired  for  a  little.  Upon  his  return,  he  said  the  Lord  had 
again  confirmed  his  promise,  and  said  to  him  from  heaven, — "  Thy 
sins  be  forgiven  thee !"  Every  countenance  was  suffused  with  tears 
but  his  own ;  but  being  at  length  overcome,  they  began  to  flow  very 
copiously,  when  he  said  to  Mr.  George  Hutcheson, — "  I  think  His 
kindness  overcomes  me;  but  God  is  good,  that  he  does  not  let  out  too 
much  of  it  here,  for  I  could  not  bear  it.  Get  me  my  cloak  and  let 
us  go." — Being  told  that  the  clock  was  kept  back  till  one,  till  the 
bailies  should  come,  he  said,  "  They  are  far  wrong,"  and  immediately 
kneeled  down  and  prayed  before  all  present,  in  a  very  moving  and 
heavenly  strain.  Scarcely  had  he  finished,  when  the  bailies  sent  for 
him.  Calling  for  a  glass  of  wine  before  he  went,  he  continued 
standing  in  the  same  frame  of  mind,  and  having  asked  a  blessing 
upon  it,  he  said,  "  Now  let  us  go,  and  God  be  with  us !"  Having 
taken  leave  of  all  who  were  not  to  accompany  him,  he  said  when 
going,  — "  I  could  die  like  a  Roman,  but  choose  rather  to  die  like  a 
Christian  !"  As  he  went  down  stairs,  he  called  Mr.  Guthrie  to  him, 
and.  after  embracing  him  most  tenderly,  bade  him  farewell.  "  My 
Lord,"  said  Mr.  Guthrie,  "  God  hath  been  with  you  of  a  truth  ;  He  is 
with  you,  and  will  be  with  you.  Such  is  my  respect  for  your 
lordship,  that  if  I  were  not  under  sentence  of  death  myself,  I  would 
cheerfully  die  for  your  lordship !"  Thus  parted  these  two  martyrs 
on  earth,  to  meet  in  heaven  on  the  Friday  following. 

Argyle  ascended  the  scaffold  with  an  air  of  perfect  serenity,  and 
saluted  all  who  were  present.  Mr.  Hutcheson  prayed,  after  which 
the  Marquis  addressed  the  spectators.  When  he  had  finished,  Mr. 
Hamilton  prayed,  followed  by  Argyle  himself;  after  which  he 
prepared  for  the  closing  scene.  To  the  executioner,  he  gave  a  napkin 
containing  some  money ;  to  his  sons-in-law,  Caithness  and  Ker,  his 
watch  and  some  other  things;  to  the  earl  of  Loudon  his  silver 
pencase;  and  to  Lothian  a  double  ducat,  and  then  threw  off  his  coat. 
When  going  to  the  "  Maiden,"*  Mr.  Hutcheson  desired  him  to  hold 
his  "grip  sicker,"  to  which  he  replied,  "I  am  not  afraid  to  be 
surprised  with  fear !"  The  laird  of  Skelmorlie  took  hold  of  his  hand, 
and  found  it  perfectly  steady.  Then  kneeling  down  with  a  sweet 
and  solemn  composure,  after  having  prayed  for  a  few  moments,  he 

*  The  Maiden,  the  instrument  used  at  the  execution  of  the  Marquis  of  Argyle,  is  very 
similar  to  the  guillotine;  and,  as  we  learn  from  Hume  of  Godscroft,  was  made  at  the 
instance  of  James,  Earl  of  Morton,  "  after  the  pattern  of  one  he  had  seen  in  Halifax," — a 
description  of  which,  with  an  engraving  of  the  ''  Halifax  gibbet,"  may  be  found  in  Hone's 
Every  Day  Book,  vol.  i.  col.  145.  It  is  also  said  by  Pennicuik,  in  his  description  of 
Tweeddale,  that,  "  this  fatal  instrument,  at  least  the  pattern  thereof,  the  cruel  regent 
| Morton]  had  brought  from  abroad  to  behead  the  laird  of  Pennecuik  of  that  ilk,  who 
notwithstanding  died  in  his  bed ;  and  the  unfortunate  earl  was  the  first  that  handselled  that 
merciless  Maiden,  who  proved,  so  soon  after,  his  own  executioner,"  June  1581.  This 
circumstance  may  have  given  rise  to  the  proverb  preserved  in  Kelley's  Collection,  p.  140. 
"  He  that  invented  the  Maiden,  first  handselled  it." 


JAMES   GUTHRIE. 


405 


gave  the  signal  by  lifting  up  one  of  Lis  hands,  and  the  Maiden 
instantly  severed  his  head  from  his  body.  His  head  was  afterwards 
fixed  on  the  west  end  of  the  tolbooth,  as  a  monument  of  the  parlia- 
ment's injustice,  the  king's  infidelity,  and  Scotland's  misery.  The 
body  was  afterwards  deposited  in  the  family  vault  at  Kilmun. 

Thus  died  the  marquis  of  Argyle,  the  first  martyr  to  presbyterian- 
ism  since  the  reformation  from  popery.  All  his  biographers  agree 
that  he  was  a  man  of  extraordinary  piety,  remarkable  wisdom  and 
prudence,  and  singular  usefulness.  In  the  great  work  of  the  Refor- 
mation he  was  the  prime  agent ;  and  when  a  large  portion  of  the  na- 
tion yielded  to  the  emergency,  he  stood  almost  alone,  and  never 
deserted  the  cause  until  he  moistened  with  his  blood  the  tree  which 
his  own  hands  had  planted.  In  a  word,  says  a  learned  writer,  "  He 
had  piety  for  a  Christian  ;  sense  for  a  counsellor,  carriage  for  a 
martyr,  and  soul  for  a  king."  If  ever  any  was,  Argyle  may,  with 
strict  propriety,  be  denominated  a  true  Scottish  Presbyterian. 


JAMES  GUTHRIE. 


The  name  of  this  revered  martyr  will  be  held  dear  by  Scottish  pres- 
byterians  as  long  as  a  regard  for  pure  and  undefiled  religion  exists  in 
the  land.  He  is  said  to  have  been  descended  from  the  ancient 
family  of  Guthrie,  and  to  have  given  very  early  proofs  of  his  abilities 
as  a  scholar.  "When  but  a  very  young  man  he  was  appointed  to 
teach  philosophy  in  the  University  of  St.  Andrew's,  where,  by  an 
unprecedented  placidity  of  temper,  he  attracted  the  admiration  of  all 
who  knew  him.  Having  been  educated  in  the  profession  of  episco- 
pacy, he  for  a  time  held  out  firmly  against  the  simple  forms  of  Pres- 
bytery, until,  by  his  associating  with  Mr.  Samuel  Eutherford  and 
others,  and  taking  part  in  their  weekly  meetings  for  prayer  and  con- 
ference, he  was  so  effectually  weaned  from  his  early  predilections^  as 
to  be  looked  upon  as  a  star  of  the  first  magnitude  in  the  presbyterian 
church. 

Having  passed  his  trials  in  1638,  he  was  ordained  minister  of 
Loudon,  where  he  remained  for  several  years.  In  1046,  he  was  one 
of  the  ministers  appointed  to  attend  king  Charles  at  Newcastle  ;  and 
also,  during  the  intervals  betwixt  the  General  Assemblies,  he  waa 
nominated  in  the  commission  to  watch  over  the  public  .affairs  of  the 
church.     About  three  years  after,  he  was  removed  to  Stirling,  where 


406  SCOTS  WORTHIES. 

lie  continued  till  the  Eestoration,  a  faithful  watchman  upon  Zion's 
walls, — "  showing  Israel  their  iniquities,  and  the  house  of  Jacob 
their  sins." 

When  the  unhappy  differences  broke  out  between  the  resolutioners 
and  protesters,  he  warmly  espoused  the  cause  of  the  latter ;  and, 
aided  by  his  colleague,  Mr.  Bennet,  preached  openly  against  the 
abetters"of  the  "  Articles  of  Perth,"  as  involving  the  land  in  con- 
junction with  the  malignant  party.  This  was  too  much  for  the 
times  ;  and  they  were  consequently  summoned  to  repair  to  Perth,  on 
the  li)th  of  February,  1651,  to  answer  before  the  king  and  the  Com- 
mittee of  Estates, — one  of  them,  however,  being  indisposed,  it  was 
put  off  till  the  22d,  when  both  appeared,  and  lodged  a  protest, — bear- 
ing, that  although  they  acknowledged  the  civil  authority  of  the  king, 
yet  Guthrie  had  been  accused  by  his  majesty  and  his  council  for  a 
point  of  doctrine  maintained  and  discussed  in  a  sermon,  of  which 
they  were  not  the  competent  judges  ;  and  therefore  he  declined  their 
jurisdiction,  and  appealed  to  the  church.  In  consequence  of  the 
king's  absence,  however,  judgment  was  deferred,  and  they  were,  in 
the  mean  time,  confined  to  Perth  and  Dundee.  On  the  2Sth  of 
February  they  lodged  another  protest,  similar  to  the  former,  but 
couched  in  stronger  language,  and  supported  by  many  powerful 
arguments.  Farther  procedure  was  sisted  against  them  for  the 
present ;  but  Guthrie's  declining  the  king's  authority  at  this  time  was 
made  the  principal  charge  against  him  some  years  after. 

The  king's  affairs  being  now  hopeless,  an  army  was  raised  under 
the  command  of  Middleton,  into  which  Charles  was  to  throw  him- 
self for  protection.  But  his  last  defence  lay  in  the  Committee  of 
Estates.  The  king  had  written  to  the  protesters  to  lay  down  their 
arms,  and  the  Committee  had  offered  indemnity  to  all  who  would 
submit  to  his  authority,  while  at  the  same  time  the  Commission  of 
Assembly  were  not  wanting  in  energetic  measures  against  those  who 
had  thus  the  hardihood  to  disturb  the  public  peace.  Guthrie,  con- 
ceiving Middleton  to  have  laid  himself  open  to  the  highest  ecclesias- 
tical censure,  is  said  to  have  proposed  summary  excommunication, 
and  to  have  been  supported  by  a  majority  of  the  Commission,  as  a 
solatium  due  to  the  church  at  such  a  critical  juncture,  when  nothing 
but  firm  adherence  to  the  principles  of  Presbytery  could  maintain 
her  independence.  He  himself,  therefore,  was  nominated  as  the  fit- 
test person  to  put  in  execution  the  sentence  of  the  Commission, 
which  lie  did  from  his  own  pulpit  at  Stirling.  For  certain  reasons, 
however,  which  seemed  sufficiently  valid  to  the  Commission,  they 
afterwards  released  Middleton  from  the  censure;  but  he  never  for- 
gave Guthrie. 

About  this  time  he  wrote  several  papers  in  favour  of  the  protest- 
ers, for  which  and  his  former  fidelity  he  was  one  of  the  three  who 
were  deposed  by  the  pretended  Assembly  at  St.  Andrew's,  in  165T. 
Such,  indeed,  had  been  the  malice  of  the  resolutioners,  that  they 
actually  stoned  him  u^on  one  occasion;  because,  upon  the  death  of 
his  colleague,  Mr.  Bennet,  he  would  not  accept  one  of  their  party. 
But  he  was  no  less  opposed  to  Cromwell  and  his  faction  than  he  was 
to  the  malignants  ;  for,  at  the  time  when  the  marquis  of  Argyle  pro- 


JAMES    GUTHRIE.  407 

cured  an  equal  hearing  between  the  resolutioners  and  protesters,  at 
London,  in  165G,  he  so  maintained  the  king's  right,  in  opposition  to 
the  usurper's  chaplain,  as  to  excite  the  indignation  of  the  Inde- 
pendents. 

Not  long  after  the  Restoration,  while  Guthrie  and  a  few  of  the 
faithful  brethren  who  had  met  at  Edinburgh  were  drawing  up  a  peti- 
tion to  his  majesty,  they  were  all  apprehended,  and  imprisoned  in 
Edinburgh  castle,  with  the  exception  of  one  who  made  his  escape. 
Guthrie,  however,  was  not  suffered  to  remain  there  ;  but  was 
conveyed  to  the  castle  of  Stirling,  where  he  was  kept  in  close 
confinement  until  a  short  time  before  his  trial,  which  took  place  on 
the  20th  of  February,  1661.  When  brought  before  the  court,  the 
chancellor  informed  him,  that  he  was  to  be  tried  for  high  treason,  as 
had  already  been  certified  in  the  copy  of  an  indictment  which  had 
been  served  upon  him,  and  which  would  now  be  read  in  his  hearing. 
The  counts  in  this  indictment  were  : — "  His  contriving,  consenting 
to.  and  exhibiting  before  the  Committee  of  Estates,  a  paper  called 
the  Western  Remonstrance.  2.  His  contriving,  writing,  and  pub- 
lishing, that  abominable  pamphlet,  called — The  Causes  of  the  Lord's 
Wrath.  3.  His  contriving,  writing,  and  subscribing  the  paper 
called  the  Humble  Petition  of  the  twenty-third  of  August  last. 
4.  His  convocating  of  the  king's  lieges,  &c.  5.  His  declaring  his 
majesty  incapable  to  be  judge  over  him,  according  to  the  protests 
and  appeals  presented  by  him  to  that  effect  at  Perth.  6.  Some  trea- 
sonable expressions  he  was  alleged  to  have  uttered,  at  a  meeting  in 
1650,  or  1651.  In  refutation  of  all  these  charges,  he  delivered  an 
admirable  defence  before  the  Parliament,  not  only  in  vindication  of 
himself,  but  also  laudatory  of  the  noble  cause  for  which  he  was  suf- 
fering ;  after  which  he  was  ordered  to  remove. 

Before  retiring,  however,  he  requested  to  be  allowed  a  short  time 
for  consulting  with  his  counsel,  which  was  granted  ;  and  the  26th  of 
the  same  month  was  appointed  for  entering  upon  his  defence.  It  is 
said  that  in  drawing  up  this  document  he  very  much  surprised  his 
counsel  by  the  accurate  knowledge  of  Scots  law  which  he  discovered, 
and  by  suggesting  several  things  which  would  have  escaped  their 
notice. 

Upon  the  11th  of  April,  the  process  against  him  was  read  in  the 
house,  upon  which  occasion  also  he  delivered  an  affecting  speech, 
which  he  concluded  with  the  following  moving  appeal : — "  My  lords, 
in  the  last  place,  I  humbly  beg  that — having  brought  so  clear  evi- 
dence from  the  word  of  God,  so  much  divine  reason  and  human  laws, 
and  so  much  of  the  common  practice  of  the  kirk  and  kingdom,  in 
my  defence  ;  and  being  already  cast  out  of  my  ministry,  out  of  my 
dwelling  and  maintenance,  myself  and  my  family  put  to  live  on  the 
charity  of  others,  having  now  suffered  eight  months'  imprisonment — 
your  lordships  would  put  no  other  burden  upon  me.  I  shall  con- 
clude with  the  words  of  the  prophet  Jeremiah, — '  Behold,  I  am  in 
your  hands,  do  to  me  what  seemeth  good  to  you  :  I  know,  for  certain, 
that  the  Lord  hath  commanded  me  to  speak  all  these  things  ;  and 
that  if  you  put  me  to  death,  you  shall  bring  innocent  blood  upon  your- 
selves, and  upon  the  inhabitants  of  this  city.' — My  conscience   I 


408  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

cannot  submit,  my  lords ;  but  this  old  crazy  body  and  mortal  flesh,  I 
do  Bubmit,  to  do  with  it  whatever  ye  will,  whether  by  death  or  by 
banishment,  or  imprisonment,  or  anything  else,  only  I  beseech  you 
to  ponder  well  what  profit  there  is  in  my  blood.  It  is  not  the  execu- 
tion of  me,  or  many  others,  that  will  extinguish  the  covenant  and 
work  of  reformation  since  the  year  1638, — my  blood,  bondage,  or 
banishment,  will  contribute  more  for  the  propagation  of  these  things, 
than  my  life  or  liberty  could  do,  though  I  should  live  many  years." 

Although  this  speech  had  not  the  effect  that  might  have  "been  ex- 
pected, it  nevertheless  made  such  a  powerful  impression  upon  not  a 
lew  of  the  members,  that  they  withdrew  from  the  house,  declaring 
that  they  would  have  nothing  to  do  with  the  blood  of  such  a  righteous 
man.  The  earl  of  Tweeddale  was  the  only  person  that  spoke  against 
putting  him  to  death, — saying  that  banishment  had  been  the  severest 
censure  laid  upon  preachers  for  their  opinions,  and  yet  Mr.  Guthrie 
had  been  condemned  to  die."  The  day  of  his  execution  was  not  named 
till  the  8th  of  May,  when  the  parliament  ordered  him  and  William 
Gowan  to  be  hanged  at  the  Cross  of  Edinburgh,  on  the  first  of  June, 
and  Guthrie's  head  to  be  fixed  on  the  Nether  Bow,  his  estate  to  be 
confiscated,  and  his  arms  torn.  Govan's  head  was  to  be  placed  upon 
the  West  Port.  After  he  had  received  his  sentence,  he  accosted  the 
parliament  thus  :  "  My  lords,  let  this  sentence  never  affect  you  more 
than  it  does  me,  and  let  my  blood  never  be  required  of  the  king's 
family !" 

Between  his  sentence  and  execution,  Guthrie  enjoyed  perfect  com- 
posure and  serenity  of  mind,  and  wrote  a  great  many  letters  to  his 
friends  and  acquaintances.  His  farewell  letter  to  his  wife,  being 
written  with  the  most  dignified  submission,  and  breathing  the  most 
ardent  affection  and  cheerful  resignation,  we  give  entire  : 

"  My  heart, — Being  within  a  few  hours  to  lay  down  my  life  for 
the  testimony  of  Jesus  Christ,  I  do  send  these  few  lines  as  the  last 
obedience  of  unfeigned  and  spotless  affection  which  I  bear  unto  you, 
not  only  as  one  flesh,  but  as  a  member  with  me  of  that  blessed  mys- 
tical body  of  the  Lord  ;  for  I  trust  you  are,  and  that  God,  who  hath 
begun  his  good  work  in  you,  will  also  perfect  it,  and  bring  it  to  an 
end;  and  give  you  life  and  salvation.  Whatever  may  be  your  infir- 
mities and  weakness,  yet  the  grace  of  God  shall  be  sufficient  for  you, 
and  his  strength  shall  be  perfected  in  your  weakness.  To  me  you 
have  been  a  very  kind  and  faithful  yoke  fellow,  and  not  a  hinderer 
hut  a  helper  in  the  work  of  the  Lord.  I  do  bear  you  this  testimony 
as  all  the  recompense  I  can  now  leave  you  with : — In  all  the  trials  I 
have  met  with  in  the  work  of  the  ministry,  these  twenty  years  past, 
which  have  not  been  few,  and  those  from  aggressors  of  many  sorts, 
upon  the  right  hand  and  upon  the  left,  you  were  never  a  tempter  of 
me  to  dissent  away  from  the  living  God,  and  from  the  way  of  my 
duty,  to  comply  with  an  evil  cause,  or  to  hearken  to  the  counsels  of 
flesh  and  blood,  for  avoiding  the  cross,  and  for  gaining  the  profit  and 
preferment  of  a  present  world.  You  have  wrought  much  with  your 
hands  for  furnishing  bread  for  me  and  my  children,  and  were  always 
willing  that  r  should  show  hospitality,  especially  to  those  that  bore 
the  image  of  God.     These  things  I  mention,  not  to  puff  you  up,  but 


JAMES   GUTHRIE.  409 

to  encourage  you  under  your  present  affliction  and  distress,  being 
persuaded  that  God  will  Lave  regard  to  you  and  to  the  children  of 
my  body,  whom  I  leave  to  your  care,  that  they  may  be  brought  up 
in  the  knowledge  of  the  Lord.  Let  not  your  wants  and  weakm 
discourage  you;  there  are  power,  riches,  and  abundance  with  G 
both  as  to  the  things  of  the  body  and  those  of  the  soul ;  and  he  will 
supply  all  your  wants,  and  carry  you  through.  It  is  like  to  be  a 
very  trying  time  ;  but  cleave  you  to  God,  and  keep  his  way,  without 
casting  off  your  confidence.  Fear  not  to  be  drowned  in  the  de] 
of  the  troubles  that  may  attend  this  land,  God  will  hide  you  under 
his  shadow,  and  keep  you  in  the  hollow  of  his  hand.  Be  sober  and 
of  a  meek  spirit ;  strive  not  against  Providence  ;  but  be  subject  to 
him  who  is  the  Father  of  spirits.  Decline  not  the  cross,  but  era- 
brace  it  as  your  own  ;  love  all  that  love  the  Lord,  and  delight  in 
their  fellowship.  Give  yourself  to  prayer,  and  be  diligent  in  read- 
ing the  holy  scriptures.  "Wait  on  the  ordinances,  and  hold  them  in 
great  esteem  as  the  appointed  means  of  God,  for  your  salvation. 
Join  together  the  exercise  of  piety  and  repentance,  and  manifest 
your  faith  in  the  fruits  of  sincere  obedience  and  of  a  gospel  conver- 
sation. Yalue  your  conscience  above  your  skin.  Be  not  solicitous, 
although  }tou  know  not  wherewith  to  clothe  you  and  your  children, 
or  wherewith  to  dine ;  God's  providence  and  promises  are  a  true, 
rich,  and  never  failing  portion.  Jesus  Christ  be  all  your  salvation 
and  all  your  desire  !  You  I  recommend  to  Him,  and  Him  to  you. 
My  heart !  I  recommend  you  to  the  eternal  love  of  Jesus  Christ.  I 
am  helped  of  God,  and  I  hope  I  shall  be  helped  to  the  end.  Pray 
for  me,  while  I  am  here,  and  praise  with  me  hereafter.  God  be  with 
you  !     I  am  yours. 

Edinburgh  Tolbooth, )  u  t  n  » 

t        i  <.  1^1  Y  ''James  Guthrie." 

June  1st,  lobl.       J 

On  the  same  day,  it  having  been  reported  that  he  was  to  purchase 
his  life  by  retracting  something  he  had  formerly  said  and  done,  he 
wrote  and  subscribed  the  following  declaration  : — 

"  These  are  to  declare,  that  I  do  own  the  '  Causes  of  God's  Wrath,' 
the  '  Supplication  at  Edinburgh,'  last  August,  and  the  accession  I 
had  to  the  '  Remonstrances,'  and  if  any  do  think,  or  have  reported, 
that  I  was  willing  to  recede  from  these,  they  have  wronged  me,  as 
never  having  any  ground  from  me  to  think  or  report  so.  This  I 
attest,  under  my  hand,  at  Edinburgh,  about  eleven  o'clock,  forenoon, 
before  these  witnesses  : 

Arthur  Forbes,  John  Guthrie. 

Hugh  "Walker,  James  Cowie. 

(Signed)        James  Guthrie." 

Having  settled  all  his  worldly  concerns,  he  dined  with  his  friends 
with  great  cheerfulness,  and  called  for  cheese — of  which  he  had 
been  particularly  fond,  but  had  been  dissuaded  from  the  use  of  it, 
in  consequence  of  being  subject  to  the  gravel — remarking  that  he 
was  now  beyond  the  hazard  of  that  disease.  After  dinner  was  over, 
he  retired  by  himself  for  some  time ;  and  returning  with  the  most 


410  SCOTS   WORTHIES 

perfect  composure  and  fortitude,  lie  was  immediately  after  conveyed, 
under  a  guard,  from  the  tolbootb  to  the  scaffold,  which  was  erected  at 
the  cross.  And  here,  so  far  from  betraying  any  symptoms  of  fear, 
he  rather  expressed  an  anxiety  for  death,  lie  spoke  about  an  hour 
to  the  multitude  with  the  same  composure  as  if  he  had  been  deliver- 
ing an  ordinary  discourse,  concluding  with  the  words  of  Simeon  of 
old,  "  Now  let  thy  servant  depart  in  peace,  for  mine  eyes  have  seen 
thy  salvation !" 

Of  his  last  speech  and  testimony  he  gave  a  copy  to  a  friend,  to  be 
preserved  for  his  son,  and  delivered  to  him  when  he  came  of  age,  as 
he  was  then  only  a  child.  Immediately  before  being  turned  over, 
he  raised  the  napkin  from  his  eyes,  and  cried  aloud, — "  The  Cove- 
nants, the  Covenants,  shall  yet  be  Scotland's  reviving!" 

In  a  few  weeks  after  his  execution,  as  Middleton's  coach  was  com- 
ing down  the  Netherbow  Port,  several  drops  of  blood  fell  upon  it 
from  the  martyr's  head,  which  all  the  art  of  man  could  not  wash 
out.     It  was  therefore  found  necessary  to  substitute  a  new  cover. 

Guthrie  was  the  first  minister  who  suffered  death,  at  that  period, 
for  asserting  the  kingly  prerogative  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  in  opposition 
to  Erastian*  supremacy.  He  was  a  man  honoured  by  God  to  be 
singularly  zealous  and  faithful  in  carrying  on  the  work  of  reforma- 
tion, in  which  he  conducted  himself  with  the  most  unswerving 
fidelity,  under  all  changes  and  revolutions.  His  assiduity  in  promot- 
ing the  king's  interest  in  Scotland  was  uniform  ;  and  of  this  Charles 
himself  was  sensible ;  as  may  be  learned  from  an  expression  he 
made  use  of,  when  informed  of  his  death.  "  And  what  have  you 
done  with  Patrick  Gillespie?"  inquired  the  king. — "  He  had  so  many 
friends  in  the  house,"  was  the  reply,  "  that  his  life  could  not  be 
taken!" — "  Well,  said  his  Majesty, — "if  I  had  known  you  would 
have  spared  Gillespie,  I  would  have  spared  Guthrie."  In  a  word, 
Guthrie  was  a  man  adorned  with  almost  every  qualification,  neces- 
sary to  complete  either  the  man  or  the  Christian. 

1  besides  the  writings  already  noticed,  he  wrote  a  pamphlet  against 
Cromwell,  for  which  he  suffered  several  hardships  during  the 
usurper's  supremacy.  The  last  sermon  he  preached  at  Stirling,  from 
Mat.  14.  22,  entitled  "  A  cry  from  the  dead,"  with  his  Ten  Considera- 
tions  anent  the  Decay  of  Religon,  were  first  published  by  himself, 
in  1000  ;  and  an  authentic  paper  written  and  subscribed  by  himself 
ii] "in  the  occasion  of  his  being  stoned  by  the  resolution  party,  in 
1656,  for  his  accession  to  the  call  of  Mr.  Robert  Rule  to  be  his  col- 
league, after  the  death  of  Mr.  Bennet.  He  also  wrote  a  treatise  on 
Ruling  Elders  and  Deacons,  affixed  to  the  last  edition  of  his  cousin 
Mr.  William  Guthrie's  "Trial  of  a  Saving  Interest  in  Christ." 

*  So  named  from  Erastus,  a  physician  of  the  sixteenth  century,  who  taught  that  the 
power  of  the  sovereign  was  supreme  in  all  matters,  both  temporal  and  spiritual  ■  and  that 
if  a  church  assumed   powers  of  government  and  discipline,  it  unwarrantably  encroached 

on  the  authority  of  the  magistrate.     In  opposing  this  doctrine,  the  church  of  Scotland at 

the  time  of  which  we  write— engaged  in  one  of  her  most  perilous  struggles  and  shed  not 
a  little  ol  her  best  blood.  ' 


WILLIAM    GO  VAN.  41 1 


WILLIAM  GOV  AN. 


Biography  seems  to  be  silent  concerning  the  birth  and  life  of  this 
worthy  man,  who  suffered  along  with  Mr.  Guthrie.  All  that  is  known 
of  him  is,  that  in  some  writings  he  is  styled  Captain  Govan,  from 
which  it  has  been  concluded,  that  he  was  a  soldier.  The  principal 
offence  with  which  he  was  charged  was,  that  of  having  deserted  the 
king's  standard  at  Hamilton,  along  with  many  others,  at  a  time  when 
the  repeated  victories  obtained  by  Cromwell  rendered  all  hope  of 
further  resistance  unavailing.  It  was  farther  alleged  against  him,  that 
he  was  on  the  scaffold  when  Charles  I.  was  beheaded  ;  but  this  he 
satisfactorily  disproved  by  establishing  an  alibi. 

Upon  the  scaffold  he  took  a  ring  from  his  finger,  and  gave  it  to  a 
friend,  desiring  him  to  carry  it  to  his  wife,  and  say  to  her_  that  "  he 
died  in  humble  confidence,  and  found  the  cross  of  Christ  sweet." 
He  declared  that  "  Christ  had  done  all  for  him,  and  that  it  was  by 
him  alone  he  had  been  justified."  Being  desired  to  look  up  to  Christ, 
he  answered, — "He  looketh  down  and  smileth  upon  we."  After 
which,  having  ascended  the  ladder,  he  said, — "  Dear  friends,  ] .ledge 
this  cup  of  suffering  as  I  have  done,  before  you  sin ;  for  sin  and  suf- 
fering have  been  presented  to  me,  and  I  have  chosen  the  suffering 
part."  After  the  rope  had  been  put  round  his  neck,  and  adjusted,  he 
said  :— "  Now  I  am  near  my  last,  and  I  desire  to  reflect  upon  no  man. 
I  would  only  mention  one  thing.  The  Commissioner  and  I  went  out 
to  the  battle-field  together  for  the  same  cause,— I  have  now  the  cord 
about  my  neck ;  and  he  is  promoted  to  be  his  majesty's  commissioner ; 
yet  for  a  thousand  worlds  I  would  not  exchange  lots  with  him. 
Praise  and  glory  be  to  Christ  for  ever!" 

After  a  short  pause,  and  having  prayed  for  a  little,  he  gave  the 
signal,  and  in  a  few  moments  was  in  possession  of  his  crown.  He 
was  accounted  a  pious  and  good  man,  and  was  evidently  a  firm  adhe- 
rent to  the  presbyterian  cause.  His  head  was  afterwards  placed 
above  the  West  Port,  in  the  city  of  Edinburgh. 


412  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 


JOHN  CAMPBELL,  EARL  OF  LOUDON. 


Tins  distinguished  nobleman  was  heir  to  Sir  James  Campbell  of 
Lawers,  and  husband  of  Margaret,  countess  of  Loudon.  At  the  coro- 
nation of  Charles  I.,  he  was  raised  to  the  peerage,  under  the  title  of 
the  earl  of  Loudon,  along  with  several  others  of  the  Scottish  nobility. 

From  his  youth  he  was  well  affected  to  the  presbyterian  cause ; 
and,  about  the  year  1637,  when  the  second  Reformation  began  to 
dawn,  he  not  only  joined  the  Covenanters,  but,  when  the  General 
Assembly  met  at  Glasgow,  in  November,  1638,  he  gave  regular  at- 
tendance, and  was  found  to  be  of  great  service,  both  by  his  excellent 
advice,  and  the  many  eloquent  speeches  he  delivered.  When  the 
dispute  arose  between  the  marquis  of  Hamilton,  the  king's  commis- 
sioner, and  some  of  the  members,  regarding  the  election  of  an  Assem- 
bly clerk,  Loudon,  in  name  of  the  commissioners  to  the  Assembly, 
gave  in  reasons  of  a  very  high  and  independent  strain,  why  the  lord- 
commisssioner  and  his  assessors  ought  to  have  but  one  vote  in  the 
house,  in  opposition  to  the  marquis,  who  insisted  upon  the  contrary. 
These  reasons  were  drawn  out  in  such  a  masterly  manner,  that  the 
earl  of  Traquair  craved  a  copy,  promising  to  answer  them ;  but  the 
reply  never  made  its  appearance.  About  the  same  time,  too,  he  told 
the  king's  commissioner  ; — "  That  he  knew  of  no  other  bond  betwixt 
a  king  and  his  subjects,  than  religion  and  the  laws ;  and,  if  these 
were  violated,  men's  lives  were  not  dear  to  them ;  that  such  fears  were 
past  with  his  party." 

Galled  to  the  heart  to  see  that  Presbytery  was  almost  restored,  and 
prelacy  well  nigh  abolished,  the  king,  with  the  advice  of  his  bishops, 
immediately  put  himself  at  the  head  of  an  army,  in  order  to  reduce 
the  Scots.  They,  however,  having  heard  of  his  hostile  intentions, 
were  not  a  whit  behind.  Both  armies  marched  towards  the  border ; 
but,  upon  the  approach  of  the  Scots,  the  English  became  intimidated, 
and  a  truce  was  agreed  upon.  Commissioners  having  been  appointed 
to  treat  on  both  sides,  the  Scottish  army  deputed  Lord  Loudon,  who, 
<>ii  his  knees,  informed  the  king,  "That  their  demand  was  only  to 
enjoy  their  religion  and  liberties,  according  to  the  ecclesiastical  and 
civil  laws  of  the  kingdom."  To  this  Charles  replied : — "  That  if  that 
was  all  they  desired,  peace  would  soon  be  made  ;" — promising  at  the 
same  time  "  that  all  ecclesiastical  matters  be  decided  by  an  Assem- 
bly ;  and  civil  matters  by  the  parliament ;  which  Assembly  should 
be  held  once  a  year  ;  and  that  on  the  6th  of  August  there  should  be 
a  free  General  Assembly,  when  he  himself  would  be  present,  and  pass 


EARL   OF   LOUDON.  413 

an  Act  of  oblivion,  to  that  effect."  These  preliminaries  were  sub- 
scribed by  the  commissioners  on  both  sides,  in  the  sight  of  both 
armies,  at  Kirks,  near  Berwick,  on  the  18th  day  of  June,  1G39. 

The  treaty,  however,  was  but  of  short  duration  ;  for,  at  the  instiga- 
tion of  the  bishops,  the  king  soon  after  caused  the  articles  of  peace  to 
be  burnt  by  the  hangman,  charging  the  Scots,  at  the  same  time,  with 
violating  the  terms  of  agreement,  although  Loudon  satisfactorily 
proved  the  contrary.  Charles  was  far  from  being  pleased  at  the  free- 
dom of  speech  which  Loudon  had  used ;  but  he  was  permitted  to 
return  home  for  the  time. 

In  the  meantime  the  General  Assembly  met  at  Edinburgh,  on  the 
12th  of  August,  and  Mr.  David  Dickson  was  chosen  moderator. 
Among  other  matters  Henderson  and  Ramsay  moved,  that  episcopacy 
was  of  human  origin,  and  altogether  an  institution  of  man,  when  the 
earl  of  Traquair  interrupted  the  discussion,  and  declared  that  he  did 
not  wish  them  to  go  into  any  dispute  upon  the  subject ;  but  merely 
to  show  how  far  episcopacy  was  contrary  to  the  constitution  of  the 
Scottish  church.  Loudon  most  satisfactorily  explained  the  Act  of 
Assembly,  1580,  which  condemned  the  office  of  bishops,  prior  to  the 
subscribing  of  the  National  Covenant,  and  observed  that, — Episco- 
pacy, having  no  warrant  in  the  word  of  God,  and  Presbytery  having 
that  warrant,  had  been  accordingly  sworn  in  the  National  Covenant. 

The  parliament  met  on  the  same  day  on  which  the  Assembly  was 
prorogued  ;  but  entering  upon  business  to  which  the  king  was  alto- 
gether averse,  Traquair  managed  matters  so  as  to  put  a  stop  to  all 
their  proceedings.  In  this  unpleasant  state  of  affairs,  Dunfermline  and 
Loudon  were  sent  to  implore  his  majesty  to  allow  them  to  proceed  ; 
but  before  these  two  noblemen  reached  the  palace,  orders  were  sent, 
discharging  them  in  the  king's  name,  from  coming  within  a  mile  of 
the  court,  upon  pretence  that  they  had  no  warrant  from  his  majesty's 
commissioner. 

In  the  mean  time  the  king  prorogued  the  parliament  till  the  second 
of  June,  1640 ;  and  in  that  state  the  affairs  of  the  nation  lay  over 
until  January,  1641,  when  the  parliamentary  committee,  having  ob- 
tained leave  to  send  up  deputies  to  represent  their  grievances,  pitched 
upon  Dunfermline  and  Loudon,  with  Douglas  of  Cavers,  and  Mr. 
Barclay,  provost  of  Irvine,  for  that  purpose.  His  majesty  received 
them  with  apparent  courtesy,  and  even  permitted  them  to  kiss 
hands ;  but  as  they  understood  they  were  not  to  be  honoured  with  a 
private  audience,"  they  craved  a  copy  of  Traquair's  information  to 
the  English  council ;  but  were  refused.  On  the  3d  of  March,  how- 
ever, this  honour  was  granted  them,  when  Loudon  took  occasion  to 
inform  the  king,  that  his  ancient  and  native  kingdom  was  indepen- 
dent of  any  other  judicatory,  and  solicited  his  majesty's  protection  in 
defence  of  religion,  liberty",  and  the  cause  of  the  churchy  Concern- 
ing those  who  had  misrepresented  the  Scots  to  Charles,  his  lordship 
said  : — "  If  it  please  God  for  our  sins  to  make  our  condition  so  de- 
plorable as  that  our  enemies  may  get  the  shadow  of  your  majesty's 
authority  to  palliate  their  ends — as  we  hope  in  God  they  will  not — 
then,  as  those  who  are  sworn  to  defend  our  religion,  our  recourse 
must  be  to  the  God  of  Jacob  for  our  refuge,  who  is  the  Lord  of  lords, 


414  SCOTS  WORTHIES. 

and  King  of  kings,  by  whom  kings  reign  and  princes  decree  justice. 
And  if,  in  speaking  thus — out  of  zeal  for  our  religion,  the  duty  we 
owe  to  our  country,  and  in  vindication  of  the  heavy  charge  brought 
against  us — we  have  said  anything  unadvisedly  in  the  warmth  of  our 
attachment  to  the  cause,  we  fall  down  at  your  majesty's  feet,  craving 
pardon,  in  all  humility,  for  our  freedom.  But,  in  the  present  state  of 
affairs,  it  is  necessary  that  we  distinguish  between  church  and  state, 
— between  the  ecclesiastical  and  civil  power ;  both  being  materially 
one,  and  yet,  formally,  distinct  in  power,  in  jurisdiction,  in  laws,  in 
bodies,  in  ends,  in  offices,  and  officers.  For  although  the  church  and 
her  ecclesiastic  assemblies  be  formally  different  and  distinct  from 
parliament  and  civil  judicatories  ;  yet  there  is  so  strict  and  necessary 
a  conjunction  betwixt  ecclesiastic  and  civil  jurisdiction,  betwixt  reli- 
gion and  justice,  that  the  one  cannot  properly  exist  and  be  preserved 
without  the  other, — and  therefore  they  must  stand  and  fall,  live  and 
die  together."  After  having  enlarged  at  considerable  length  upon 
the  privileges  of  both,  he  concluded  thus  : — "  That  your  majesty  may 
be  graciously  pleased  to  command  that  the  parliament  proceed  freely 
to  determine  upon  the  articles  given  in  to  them ;  and,  whatsoever 
exceptions,  objections,  or  informations,  are  made  against  any  of  the 
particular  overtures,  &c,  we  are  most  willing  to  receive  the  same  in 
writing  ;  and  shall,  in  the  same  way,  return  our  answers  and  humble 
desires."* 

The  Scots  commissioners  having  appeared  on  the  11th  of  March, 
and  produced  their  instructions,  a  good  deal  of  conversation  followed 
between  the  king  and  them  ;  in  course  of  which,  archbishop  Laud, 
who  sat  to  the  right  of  his  majesty,  was  observed  to  treat  them  con- 
temptuously, by  instigating  the  king  to  tease  them  with  questions 
altogether  foreign  from  the  nature  of  their  commission.  Upon  this 
occasion,  it  seemed  evident  that  nothing  else  had  been  intended  by 
Traquair  than  to  intrap  the  commissioners  by  his  questions  ;  but  he 
was  met  at  every  point  by  arguments  which  he  found  impossible  to 
overturn.  Recourse  was  therefore  had  to  the  strong  arm  of  despotic 
law,  and  the  whole  of  the  commissioners  were  taken  into  custody. 
The  earl  of  Loudon  was  sent  to  the  Tower  for  a  letter  alleged  to  have 
been  written  by  him,  and  sent  by  the  Scots  to  the  French  king,  of 
the  following  tenor  : — 

"  Sire, 

"  Your  majesty  being  the  refuge  and  sanctuary  of  afflicted 
princes  and  states,  we  have  found  it  necessary  to  send  this  gentleman, 
.Mr.  ( lolville,  to  represent  to  your  majesty  the  candour  and  ingenuity 
as  well  of  our  actions  and  proceedings,  as  of  our  inventions,  which 
we  desire  to  be  engraven  and  written  m  the  whole  world,  with  a  beam 
m!  the  sun,  as  well  as  to  your  majesty.  We  therefore  beseech  you, 
Sire,  to  give  faith  and  credit  to  him,  and  to  all  that  he  shall  say  on 
our  part,  touching  us  and  our  affairs.  Being  much  assured,  Sire,  of 
an  assistance  equal  to  your  wonted  clemency  heretofore,  and  so  often 

*  History  of  the  Stuarts,  vol  I. 


EARL   OF   LOUDON.  41 5 

showed  to  the  nation,  which  will  not  yield  the  glory  of  any  other 
whatsoever,  to  be  eternally," 

Sire, 
"Your  majesty's  most  humble,  most  obedient,  and 
most  affectionate  servant." 

For  information  upon  this  important  point,  we  are  indebted  to  the 
author  of  "History  of  the  Stuarts,"  who  maintains  that  the  letter 
was  composed  by  Montrose,  when  the  king  was  inarching  with  a 
powerful  army  against  Scotland  ;  and  that  it  was  copied  by  London, 
and  subscribed  by  himself,  Montrose,  Eothes,  Marr,  Montgomery, 
Forrester,  and  General  Leslie;  but  that  it  never  was  sent.  The  copy 
was  without  elate,  and  without  address;  and  having  been  judged  in- 
elegant French,  the  idea  had  been  dropped.  But  it  was  enough  for 
Traquair's  sinistrous  purposes,  who,  b}r  some  means  or  other  had  got 
possession  of  it ;  and  the  king's  imbecile  mind  was  not  very  difficult 
to  rouse.  The  earl  having  been  called  before  the  council  to  answer 
to  the  charge,  at  once  acknowledged  the  manuscript  and  signature  to 
be  his  own;  but  stated  at  the  same  time,  in  defence,  that  all  this  had 
been  done  when  his  majesty  was  marching  with  a  hostile  army 
against  his  native  country ;  and  that,  in  these  circumstances,  they 
could  think  of  one  better  qualified  to  act  as  their  intercessor,  and  to 
whom  the  king  would  be  more  disposed  to  listen,  than  the  French 
king, — being  his  majesty's  own  near  relation  :  but  that  having  been 
judged  too  late,  the  letter  had  never  been  so  much  as  addressed,  and 
therefore  had  not  been  sent,  as  both  that  and  the  want  of  a  date 
would  testify. 

All  was  of  no  avail,  and  the  earl  was  remanded  to  prison.     Charles 
was  determined  that  his  life  should  be  sacrificed,  and  that,  too,  in  the 
most  cowardly  manner,  without  trial  or  conviction,  and,  by  the  hand 
of  an  assassin.     Burnet,  in  his  "  Memoirs  of  the  Duke  of  Hamilton," 
acknowledges  that  the  king  was  advised  to  proceed  capitally  against 
Loudon  ;  but  Kusworth,  an  English  historian,  affirms  that  about  three 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  the  king  sent  his  own  letter  to  William 
Balfour,  lieutenant  of  the  Tower,  commanding  him  to  see  the  lord 
Loudon's   head   struck  off,  within  the  Tower,  before  nine  the  next 
morning.      That   his   lordship    might   prepare    for   death,    the  lieu- 
tenant gave  him  immediate  notice  of  this  command.     Confident  in 
the  justice  of  his  cause,  the  earl  received  the  intimation  with  aston- 
ishing serenity  and  composure  of  mind.     The  lieutenant,  at  the  same 
time,  informed  the  marquis  of  Hamilton,  and  both   immediately  Bet 
off  to  the  king,  whom  they  found  in  bed.     Scarcely  had  the  warrant 
been   named,   when   the  'king,   suspecting   their   business,   stopped 
them,  and  in  a  rage  exclaimed,— "  by  Q— d,  it  shall  be  executed  . 
The  marquis,  however,  remonstrated  with  him  upon  the  perndiousi 
of  his  design,  and  laid  before  him  theiatal  consequences  that  migh 
sue,  by  alienating  from  him  the  nobility,  from  whom  his  own  lite  might 
bein'danger;  and  that  Scotland,  to  a  man,  would  immediately  arm 
against  him.     Like  a  pettish  babe  foiled  in  its  intention,  the  po<  >r  king- 
demanded  the  warrant,  and  tore  it  in  pieces,— dismissing  the  marquis 
and  lieutenant  somewhat  unceremoniously.     About  the  28th  ot  June, 


416 


SCOTS   WORTHIES. 


by  the  good  providence  of  God,  the  noble  lord  obtained  his  liberty, 
after  having  been  instructed  to  conceal  his  harsh  treatment  from  his 
countrymen,  and  to  use  all  his  endeavours  to  dispose  them  to  peace, — 
but  another  crisis  was  at  hand.  The  Scots  were  resolute,  and  Charles 
evinced  no  disposition  to  give  way.  A  new  war,  therefore,  broke  out, 
and  the  king  put  himseff  at  the  head  of  the  army  to  suppress  the 
Scots.  They,  however,  were  not  tardy  in  their  preparations,  and 
accordingly  pushed  their  way  as  far  as  Durham,  with  marked  success. 
In  all  this  Loudon  acted  no  inconspicuous  part.  Through  his  endea- 
vours the  citizens  of  Edinburgh  and  other  places  cheerfully  contributed 
money  and  other  necessaries  to  carry  on  the  war.  The  king's  troops 
were  defeated  at  JSTewburn,  and  he  found  himself  reduced  to  the 
necessity  of  appointing  commissioners  to  treat  with  the  Scots.  The 
meeting  took  place  at  Eippon,  on  the  1st  of  October,  1640,  and  the 
earls  of  Dunfermline,  Bothes,  and  Loudon,  with  Messrs.  Henderson 
and  Johnston,  were  appointed  commissioners  on  the  side  of  the  Scots. 
After  agreeing  to  a  truce  for  three  months,  the  treaty  was  transferred 
to  London,  in  addition  to  the  former  commissioners  were  now  added 
Messrs  Eobert  Blair,  Eobert  Baillie,  and  George  Gillespie,  three  of 
the  brightest  ornaments  of  the  church,  as  chaplains  to  the  three 
noblemen  formerly  nominated.  Great  hopes  were  entertained  by 
the  friends  of  the  church  in  England,  that  something  would  now  be 
done  to  restore  peace  to  the  suffering  presbyterians,  and  they  were 
not  altogether  disappointed. 

In  the  following  year,  the  king  made  another  tour  to  Scotland  to  be 
present  at  a  meeting  of  parliament,  before  which  Traquair,  Montrose, 
and  some  other  violent  nobles  had  been  cited  to  appear,  for  stirring 
up  strife  between  the  king  and  his  subjects,  and  for  tampering  with 
the  Covenanters.  Loudon,  mindful  of  the  recommendation  given  him 
by  his  sovereign  the  year  before,  interceded  so  warmly  in  behalf  of 
some  of  the  accused,  that,  for  a  time,  suspicion  went  abroad  that  he 
had  changed  sides.  Nothing,  however,  was  farther  from  his  heart. 
After  the  strictest  scrutiny  into  his  conduct  and  motives  for  such  un- 
precedented liberality,  the  house  declared  that  he  had  conducted  him- 
ilf  faithfully  and  prudently  in  all  his  public  appointments,  and  that 
lie  not  only  merited  an  act  of  approbation,  but  deserved  besides  to  be 
rewardedby  the  Estates.  With  none  of  the  Scots  commissioners  did 
the  English  act  so  generously  as  with  the  earl,  and  none  of  them, 
ar  any  time,  acted  towards  the  king  with  such  candour  as  he  did. 
( )nce  more,  therefore,  he  was  appointed  to  go  to  London  with  the 
newly  revised  treaty,  subscribed  by  the  lord-president  and  others. 
Soon  after  this,  by  the  king's  special  will,  the  noble  earl  was  appointed 
chancellor,  much  against  his  own  inclination,  and  the  solicitation  of 
his  friends,  who  would  have  had  him  nominated  to  the  office  of  lord- 
treasurer._  Accordingly,  on  the  2d  October,  1642,  his  lordship  was 
installed  into  office,  when  the  great  seal,  which  had  been  kept  by  the 
marquis  of  Hamilton  for  two  years,  was,  with  the  mace,  delivered  to 
him  out  of  his  majesty's  own  hand,  after  having  taken  the  oath  of 
allegiance,  and*  de  fideli  administratione  officii.    As  soon  as  this 

*  Faithful  discharge  of  duty. 


EARL  OF  LOUDON. 


417 


ceremony  was  over,  he  was  placed  in  a  seat  at  li is  majesty's  feet,  on 
the  right  of  the  lord-president,  from  which  he  immediately  rose,  and, 
falling  upon  his  knee  before  the  king,  said : — "  Promotion  cometh 
neither  from  the  east  nor  from  the  west,  but  from  God  alone.  I 
acknowledge  that  I  have  received  this  from  your  majesty,  as  God's 
viceregent  upon  earth,  and  the  fountain  of  all  earthly' honour  in  this 
kingdom,  and  I  will  endeavour  to  answer  the  expectation  your  majesty 
looks  for,  and  to  deserve  the  good  will  of  this  honourable  house,  in 
faithfully  discharging  what  you  both,  without  any  merit  on  my  part, 
have  imposed  upon  me." — How  altered  the  scene'! — Only  a  few  short 
months  previous  he  had  received  from  the  sovereign  the  sentence  of 
death,  for  the  cause  of  Christ  and  his  church  ;  and  now,  by  the  same 
authority,  he  is  intrusted  with  the  helm  of  the  highest  affairs  in  the 
kingdom.  True  it  is, — "  The  fear  of  the  Lord  is  the  beginning  of 
wisdom,  and  before  honour  is  humility." 

Loudon  began  now  to  exert  himself  for  the  welfare  of  the  church 
and  nation  ;  and,  as  the  most  expedient  way  to  bring  about  a  firm  and 
lasting  peace  between  the  two  kingdoms,  he  earnestly  importuned 
Charles  to  call  together  his  English  parliament.  In  1645,  he  was  un- 
remitting in  his  endeavours  to  establish  that  happy  uniformity  in 
doctrine,  discipline  and  church  government,  which  then  took  place  ; 
and,  in  the  following  year,  he  accosted  the  king  in  the  following 
terms: — "  The  difference  between  your  majesty  and  the  parliament 
is  grown  to  such  a  height,  that,  after  many  bloody  battles  they  have 
your  majesty,  with  all  your  garrisons  and  strongholds  in  their  hands. 
They  are  in  a  capacity  now  to  do  what  they  will,  in  church  and 
state ;  and  some  are  afraid,  and  others  unwilling  to  proceed  to 
extremities,  till  they  know  your  majesty's  final  resolution.  ISTow. 
Sire,  if  your  majesty  refuse  to  assent  to  what  is  proposed,  you  will 
lose  all  your  friends  in  the  house  and  in  the  city,  and  all  England  will 
unite  against  you  as  one  man — they  will  depose  you,  and  establish 
another  government — they  will  compel  us  to  deliver  up  your  majesty 
to  them,  and  remove  our  arms  out  of  England ;  and,  upon  your 
refusal,  we  shall  be  obliged  to  settle  religion,  and  make  peace  without 
you,  which  will  ruin  your  majesty  and  your  posterity.  We  confess 
that  the  proposals  are,  in  some  points,  not  to  our  mind  ;  but  the  only 
method  for  your  majesty  to  adopt  is,  to  consent  to  them  at  present. 
Your  majesty  may  recover,  in  time  of  peace,  all  that  you  have  lost 
in  a  time  of  tempest  and  trouble." 

In  1648,  he  was  again  employed  on  a  similar  errand,  but  with  no 
better  success  ;  and  in  the  same  year,  in  the  month  of  June,  lie  was 
attacked  by  the  troops  under  the  command  of  Calender  and  Middle- 
ton,  when  at  a  communion  on  Mauchline  moor,  with  a  handful  of 
Covenanters,  after  these  gentlemen  had  given  him  their  promise  t<  • 
the  contrary. 

A  new  scene  of  affairs  began  to  appear  in  1650,  and  darker 
than  ever  seemed  to  await  the  suffering  church.  Charles  I.  had  been 
put  to  death — the  Scots  had  recalled  his  son  Charles  II.— the  ma- 
lignants  had  got  into  place  and  power — and,  under  all  these  circum- 
stances, Loudon  felt  it  necessary  to  resign  his  offices,  being  unable  to 
breathe  in  such  a  pestilential  atmosphere.  lie  had  preside  1  in  parlia- 
27 


418  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

ment  for  nearly  ten  years,  and,  under  God,  had  been  instrumental  in 
establishing,  both  in  church  and  state,  the  purest  reformation  that  had 
been  ever  wrought  in  any  country  under  the  New  Testament  dispen- 
sation. How  he  had  been  employed  during  Cromwell's  usurpation 
we  are  not  accurately  informed  ;  but  it  is  probable,  that  like  most  of 
the  gentlemen  of  the  day,  he  lived  in  a  state  of  comparative  seclusion. 

No  sooner  was  the  king  restored  to  his  paternal  dominions,  than 
persecution  of  the  most  violent  nature  began  to  rage ;  and  it  is 
therefore  impossible  to  express  the  grief  which  this  godly  nobleman 
experienced,  when  he  beheld  not  only  the  carved  work  of  the  sanc- 
tuary broken  down,  which  he  had  had  such  an  eminent  hand  in 
directing  and  building  up ;  but  when  he  found  himself  at  the  mercy 
of  his  sovereign  for  the  part  he  had  taken.  He  was  well  aware  that 
next  to  the  marquis  of  Argyle,  he  was  the  butt  of  the  enemy's 
malice  ;  for  he  had  repeatedly  applied  for  his  majesty's  good  graces, 
and  had  been  as  often  refused.  Life  began  now  to  be  a  burden  to 
him,  and  he  longed  to  depart.  He  often  exhorted  his  excellent  lady 
to  pray  last,  that  he  might  not  see  the  next  session  of  parliament,  else 
he  might  follow  his  dear  friend,  the  marquis  of  Argyle,  and  the  Lord 
was  pleased  to  grant  his  request ;  for  he  died  at  Edinburgh,  on  the 
loth  of  March,  1652,  before  the  convocation  of  parliament. 

The  merits  of  this  excellent  nobleman,  renowned  patriot,  and 
faithful  servant  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  far  exceed  human  eulogy. 
"With  the  exception  of  an  error  into  which  he  was  led  through  the 
influence  of  the  earl  of  Lanark,  his  reputation  was  without  blemish. 
But  no  sooner  was  his  mistake  pointed  out  to  him,  than  he  repented 
sincerely,  and  in  the  true  spirit  of  Christian  contrition  subscribed  an 
admonition  to  more  diligent  watchfulness,  to  which  he  ever  after  most 
religiously  adhered.  In  the  senate  he  was  a  consummate  orator  ;  in 
political,  social,  and  domestic  life,  he  was  a  safe  pattern  of  imitation ; 
and,  as  a  member  of  the  church  of  Christ,  the  honour  of  his  divine 
Master  was  his  chief  aim  and  end.  To  the  support  of  our  ancient 
and  admirable  constitution,  both  in  church  and  state,  he  invariably 
applied  his  excellent  endowments,  with  such  unwearied  zeal,  that  he 
might  not  improperly  be  called  the  chief  advocate,  both  for  the  civil 
and  religious  liberties  of  the  people.  What  was  wanting  in  the  full 
measure  of  his  own  sufferings,  was  meted  out  for  his  son,  James  earl 
.,('  Loudon,  who  died  in  exile  at  Leyden,  for  his  attachment  to  the 
same  glorious  cause.  And  it  is  pleasant  to  remark  here,  that  there 
arc  instances,  not  of  an  ancient  date,  of  the  same  noble  and  inde- 
pendent spirit  for  civil  and  religious  liberty,  in  that  family  of  which 
John,  earl  of  Loudon  was  such  a  distinguished  ornament. 


ROBERT   BAILLIE.  419 


ROBERT  BAILLIE. 


The  subject  of  this  brief  but  interesting  memoir  was  a  native  of 
Glasgow.  He  was  born  in  the  year  1599,  and  was  a  lineal  descend- 
ant of  the  Baillies  of  Jerviston,  a  member  of  the  house  of  Carphin, 
and  a  branch  of  the  ancient  family  of  Lamington,  all  in  the  county 
of  Lanark.  By  the  mother's  side  he  was  descended  from  the  well- 
known  Gibsons  of  Durie.  At  the  university  of  Glasgow,  where  he 
received  his  education,  he  is  said  to  have  been  so  remarkably  stu- 
dious, as  to  have  acquired  a  knowledge  of  twelve  or  thirteen  lan- 
guages, and  to  have  been  capable  of  writing  Latin  with  such  classical 
purity  and  elegance,  as  would  not  have  disgraced  the  age  of 
Augustus. 

After  having  completed  the  study  of  divinity,  he  received  license 
from  Archbishop  Law,  and  soon  after  was  presented  to  the  living  of 
Kilwinning  by  the  earl  of  Eglinton.  At  the  commencement  of  the 
Beformation,  in  1637,  he  laboured  under  considerable  doubts  in 
regard  to  what  party  he  should  attach  himself;  but  at  length,  after 
much  meditation,  reading,  and  prayer,  he  cordially  embraced  the 
doctrine  and  discipline  of  the  Covenanters — and,  being  a  man  of  a 
sound  judgment,  he  was  much  employed  in  the  business  of  the 
church.  In  1638,  he  was  chosen  to  represent  the  presbytery  of 
Irvine  in  the  memorable  Assembly  of  that  year,  at  Glasgow,  where 
he  conducted  himself  with  great  wisdom  and  moderation.  lie  was 
also  one  of  those  who  accompanied  the  army  as  chaplains,  in  1639 
and  1640,  and  was  present  during  the  whole  time  of  the  treaty  begun 
at  Bippon,  and  concluded  at  London.  What  mental  enjoyment  he 
experienced  at  that  time  may  be  best  described  in  his  own  language  : 
— w'  As  for  myself,  I  never  felt  my  mind  in  a  better  temper  than  it 
was  all  that  time,  from  my  outset  until  my  head  was  again  home- 
ward. I  was  one  who  had  taken  leave  of  the  world,  and  had  resolved 
to  die  in  that  service.  I  found  the  favour  of  God  shining  on  me, 
and  a  sweet,  meek,  and  humble,  yet  strong  and  vehement  spirit, 
leading  me  along."  In  the  year  following  he  was  sent  to  London  to 
frame  an  accusation  against  archbishop  Laud,  for  the  innovations  he 
had  attempted  to  obtrude  upon  the  church. 

From  Kilwinning  he  was  translated  to  the  chair  of  divinity  in  the 
college  of  Glasgow,  about  the  year  1650.  He,  too,  was  one  of  the 
commissioners  sent  to  "Westminster  to  assist  in  framing  the  church 
standards  ;  and  so  highly  estimated  were  his  services,  that  when  that 
Assembly  rose,  the  English  parliament  presented  him  with  a  testi- 


420 


SCOTS   WORTHIES. 


monial  of  silver  plate,  with  a  suitable  inscription,  in  consideration  of 
his  talents  and  integrity.  This  testimonial  is  said  to  be  in  posses- 
sion of  the  family  of  Carnbroe. 

By  his  first  wife,  Baillie  had  one  son  and  four  daughters ;  and  by 
his  second,  one  daughter,  who  was  married  to  Walkinshaw  of 
Barrowfield. 

He  lived  upon  the  most  friendly  terms  with  the  marquis  of 
Argyle ;  the  earls  of  Cassilis,  Eglinton,  Lauderdale,  and  Loudon  ; 
lord  Balmerino,  lord  Warriston,  and  the  chief  men  among  the  cove- 
nanting party  ;  by  which  intercourse  he  obtained  the  most  accurate 
knowledge  oi*  all  public  transactions.  Through  the  interest  of  lord 
Lauderdale  he  succeeded  to  the  principality  of  the  college  of  Glas- 
gow, upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Patrick  Gillespie ;  and,  it  is  said,  he 
was  offered  a  bishopric  about  the  same  time.  This,  however,  he 
refused,  continuing  firm  in  his  adherence  to  Presbytery  till  the  end 
of  his  life.  In  the  biography  prefixed  to  his  Letters,  the  writer 
insinuates  that  his  rejection  of  the  offer  arose  chiefly  from  an  aver- 
sion to  differ  from  those  with  whom  he  had  formerly  lived  in  habits 
of  intimacy ;  but  a  few  extracts  from  one  of  his  letters  to  lord  Lau- 
derdale, a  short  time  before  his  death,  will  exhibit  the  matter  in  its 
true  light  : — "  Having  the  occasion  of  this  bearer,  I  tell  you  my 
heart  is  broken  with  grief,  and  I  find  the  burden  of  the  public 
weighty,  and  hastening  me  to  my  grave.  What  need  you  do  that 
disservice  to  the  king  which  all  oi'  you  cannot  recompense,  to  grieve 
the  hearts  of  all  your  godly  friends  in  Scotland,  with  pulling  down 
all  our  laws  at  once,  which  concerned  our  church  since  1633?  Was 
this  good  advice,  or  will  it  thrive  ?  Is  it  wise  to  bring  back  upon  us 
the  Canterburian  times,  the  same  designs,  the  same  practices  ?  Will 
they  not  bring  on  the  same  effects,  whatever  fools  may  dream  ? — My 
lord,  you  are  the  nobleman  in  all  the  world  I  love  best,  I  esteem 
most.  I  think  I  may  say  I  write  to  you  what  I  please.  If  you  have 
gone  with  your  heart  to  forsake  your  covenant — to  countenance  the 
reintroduction  of  bishops  and  books,  and  strengthen  the  king  by  your 
advice  in  these  things,  I  think  you  a  prime  transgressor,  and  liable 
among  the  first  to  answer  for  that  great  sin,"  &c.  As  a  further  refu- 
tation of  such  an  insinuation,  when  the  archbishop  came  to  visit 
Baillie  upon  his  deathbed,  he  would  not  even  address  him  by  the 
title  of  "  My  lord."  ISTay,  so  very  seriously  did  he  lay  to  heart  the 
introduction  of  prelacy,  that  only  a  very  few  weeks  before  his  death — 
May  1st,  1662 — in  a  letter  to  a  near  relative,  he  says: — "The  guise 
is  now,  the  bishops  will  trouble  no  man  ;  but  the  states  will  punish 
seditious  ministers.  This  poor  church  is  in  the  most  hard  taking  that 
over  we  have  seen.  This  is  my  daily  grief;  this  hath  brought  all 
my  bodily  trouble  on  me,  and  is  like  to  do  me  more  harm."  In  the 
month  of  July  following,  he  departed  this  life,  aged  63  years. 

For  his  profound  and  general  learning,  accurate  and  solid  judg- 
ment, Baillie  may  very  justly  be  reckoned  one  of  the  great  men  of 
his  time  ;  but,  alas  !  great  and  good  as  he  certainly  was,  he  showed 
himself  not  to  be  altogether  capable  of  resisting  the  prejudice  of 
human  passion.  To  some  of  those  worthy  men  to  whom  he  ascribes 
the  highest  praise  for  their  instrumentality  in  carrying  on  the  work 


DAVID   DICKSON.  40  ^ 

of  reformation,  betwixt  the  years  1G38  and  1649,  lie  afterwards 
imputes  the  most  unworthy  motives,  when  they  became  remon- 
strants ;  taking  all  the  divisions  and  calamities  that  befell  the  church, 
the  state,  and  the  army,  to  proceed  from  the  protesters  not  concur- 
ring with  the  party  with  whom  he  acted  ;  whereas,  to  every  reflect- 
ing mind  it  will  appear  to  be  exactly  the  reverse.  The  last  ten 
years  of  his  otherwise  excellent  history,  published  under  the  title  of 
"  Baillie's  Letters,"  must  therefore  be  received  with  extreme  caution. 
Bailie  was  of  the  party  called  resolutioners,  and  is  even  said  to  have 
composed  some  of  the  papers  belonging  to  that  body,  in  16G1 :  and, 
therefore,  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at,  that  the  protesters  could  not 
bind  their  consciences  to  the  arbitrary  dictates  of  the  opposite  party. 
They  could  not  lightly  violate  their  solemnly  sworn  covenant  by 
approving  of  the  admission  of  such  characters  as  Charles  II.,  and  his 
wicked  faction,  into  the  bosom  of  the  church, — in  defence  of  which 
covenant  many  of  them  faced  the  gibbet,  suffered  banishment,  and 
endured  imprisonment  with  all  its  attendant  horrors  ;  while  it  is 
well  known  that  several  hundreds  of  the  resolutioners  afterwards 
apostatized  most  shamefully,  and  even  became  violent  persecutors 
of  those  who,  for  conscience'  sake,  were  faithful  unto  the  death. 

In  erudition,  Baillie  may,  nevertheless,  be  very  justly  esteemed  an 
honour  to  his  country.  Among  his  multitudinous  writings  may  be 
mentioned  his  Scripture  Chronology,  written  in  Latin  ;  his  Canter- 
burian  Self-Conviction  ;  his  Parallel,  or  Comparison  of  the  Liturgy 
with  the  Mass-Book  ;  his  Dissuasion  against  the  Errors  of  the  Times, 
besides  his  Historical  Papers  and  Letters,  lit:  also  wrote  Lauden- 
sium,  an  article  against  Arminianism  ;  a  Reply  to  the  Modest 
Inquirer,  with  other  Tracts,  and  several  Sermons  on  other  occasions. 


DAYID  DICKSON. 


This  intrepid  servant  of  God  was  the  only  son  of  Mr.  John  Dickson, 
merchant  in  Glasgow,  who  was  a  feuar  of  some  lands  in  the  bar 
of  Fintry,  called  the  Kirk  of  the  Moor,  in  the  parish  of  St.  »  inn 
He  is  said  to  have  been  born  about  the  year  1583.  His  parents 
were  several  years  married  before  his  birth;  and,  being  ardently 
devoted  to  religion,  the  subject  of  this  memoir  was  early  set  apart  tor 
the  ministry.  It  would  appear  that  they  had,  afterwards,  in  a  great 
measure,  fallen  from  this  resolution,  until  Providence  visited  their 


422  SCOTS  WORTHIES. 

son  with  a  severe  fever,  and  brought  to  their  remembrance  the  vow 
which  they  had  formerly  made.  Upon  his  recovery,  therefore,  he 
was  sent  to  resume  his  studies  at  the  college  of  Glasgow.        > 

After  taking  his  degree  of  Master  of  Arts,  he  was  appointed  to 
teach  philosophy  in  the  University;  at  which  time  he,  principal 
Boyd  of  Trochrigg,  and  Mr.  Blair,  were  singularly  felicitous  m  reviv- 
ing piety  among  the  youth,  which,  from  the  time  that  prelacy  had 
been  imposed  upon  the  church,  had  fallen  sadly  into  decay.  In  1618, 
Dickson  was  ordained  minister  of  Irvine,  where  he  laboured  with 
great  fidelity  for  about  twenty-three  years. 

Upon  his  first  entrance  to  the  ministry  he  had  no  great  aversion 
to  episcopacy ;  but  after  the  "  Five  Articles  of  Perth"  were  passed, 
and  he  began  to  turn  his  mind  seriously  to  the  subject,  the  more  he 
studied  them,  he  was  satisfied  of  their  papistical  origin.  At  length, 
after  recovering  from  a  dangerous  illness,  he  gave  open  testimony  to 
their  sinfulness. 

No  sooner  was  archbishop  Law  informed  of  this,  than  he  sum- 
moned Dickson  to  compear  before  the  High  Commission  Court  on 
the  ninth  of  January,  1622.  The  archbishop  told  him  that  he  had 
been  ordered  by  the  king  to  take  cognizance  why  he  had  not  obeyed 
the  Perth  Articles,  and  why  he  had  been  so  active  in  endeavouring 
to  prevent  the  legislature  from  enforcing  the  observance  of  these 
Articles.  Dickson  said,  the  chief  reason  why  he  did  not  obey  them 
was,  because  he  saw  no  reason  wherefore  they  should  be  com- 
manded ;  that  in  all  matters  which  concern  the  worship  of  God, 
there  must  be  a  sufficient  scriptural  reason  for  the  injunction  of 
these  ;  but,  if  not,  a  man  might  lawfully  refuse  to  give  obedience  ; — 
that  he  found  he  could  not  with  a  safe  conscience  yield  compliance, 
and  therefore  he  was  ready,  by  the  grace  of  God,  to  suffer  whatever 
flesh  and  blood  could  do  to  him.  After  submitting  with  exemplary 
patience  to  a  great  many  scurrilous  taunts  from  the  bishops,  and 
being  asked  whether  he  would  obey  the  king  or  not,  he  replied, — "  I 
will  obey  the  king  in  all  things  in  the  Lord !"  "  I  told  you  so," 
said  Law,  "  I  knew  he  would  answer  with  a  limitation."  Spottis- 
wood,  contemptuously  staring  him  in  the  face,  said, — "  These  men 
will  talk  of  humility  and  meekness,  and  of  the  Spirit  of  God ;  but 
they  arc  led  by  the  spirit  of  the  devil — there  is  more  pride  in  you, 
than  in  all  the  bishops  of  Scotland.  I  hanged  a  Jesuit  in  Glasgow 
for  the  like  fault." — Dickson  very  coolly  replied, — "  I  am  not  a 
rebel ;  I  stand  here  as  the  king's  subject ;  all  I  demand  is  the  benefit 
of  the  law,  and  the  right  of  a  subject ;  I  crave  no  more  !"  After  all 
they  could  advance,  he  continued  inflexible;  whereupon  sentence  of 
deposition  was  pronounced  against  him,  and  he  was  ordered  to  enter 
himself  in  ward,  at  Tureff,  in  the  north,  within  twenty  days.  Dick- 
son heard  his  sentence  unmoved,  and  calmly  replied — "  The  will  of 
the  Lord  be  done! — though  you  cast  me  off,  the  Lord  will  take  me 
up, — send  me  whither  ye  will,  I  hope  my  Master  will  go  with  me  ; 
and  as  lie  has  been  with  me,  hitherto,  he  will  be  with  his  own  weak 
servant  still  ?" 

He  continued  to  preach,  nevertheless,  till  the  twenty  days  were 
expired  ;  after  which  he  began  to  prepare  for  his  journey.     But  the 


DAVID    DICKSON.  493 

Earl  of  Eglinton  Lad  prevailed  upon  the  bishop  of  Glasgow  to  allow 
him  to  come  and  preach  at  Eglinton.  In  consequence,  however,  of 
the  vast  crowds  that  flocked  to  hear  him  from  all  quarters,  he 
enjoyed  that  liberty  onby  two  months,  when  the  bishop  sent  him 
another  charge,  and  ordered  him  to  repair  without  delay  to  his  place 
of  confinement. 

After  he  had  been  for  a  considerable  time  in  Turcff,  where  he  was 
much  employed  in  preaching  the  word,  his  friends  prevailed  upon 
the  bishop  of  Glasgow  to  restore  him  to  his  fiock,  upon  condition  he 
would  recall  his  declinature ;  and  upon  being  invited,  he  accordingly 
came  to  Glasgow.  To  persuade  him  to  compliance,  however,  was 
found  impossible ;  although  the  conditions  were  so  modified,  as  to 
require  him  merely  to  go  to  the  bishop's  house,  and  either  lift  the 
paper,  or  permit  a  friend  to  take  it  off  the  table,  without  even  seeing 
the  bishop ;  and  thus,  by  so  doing,  he  would  be  at  liberty  to  return 
to  Irvine.  His  honest  soul  spurned  the  idea,  and  he  chose  rather  to 
go  back  to  his  confinement.  And  such  was  the  testimony  of  the 
Spirit  to  his  honourable  conduct,  that  he  had  not  proceeded  above  a 
mile  out  of  town,  when  he  experienced  great  joy,  and  a  sense  of  the 
divine  approbation,  at  the  manner  in  which  he  had  conducted 
himself. 

Some  time  after,  however,  through  the  unwearied  intercession  of 
the  earl  of  Eglinton,  and  the  parishioners  of  Irvine,  he  was  permit- 
ted to  return  and  exercise  his  ministry  until  the  king  himself  should 
challenge  him.     This  took  place  about  the  end  of  July,  1G23. 

His  labours  in  that  parish  were  singularly  blessed,  and  many,  by 
his  instrumentality,  were  brought  to  a  knowledge  of  the  truth  as  it  is 
in  Jesus.  Besides  his  own  parishioners,  many  attended  his  ministry 
from  other  quarters,  especially  those  who  were  under  the  tuition  of 
the  Spirit,  and  were  labouring  under  concern  about  their  spiritual  and 
eternal  welfare.  The  communions  at  Irvine,  in  Dickson's  day,  were 
seasons  of  great  refreshing  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord  ;  yet,  in 
the  exercise  of  genuine  humility,  he  remarked, — "  that  the  vintage 
of  Irvine  was  not  equal  to  the  gleanings  of  Ayr  in  Mr.  Welch's 
time.  In  addition  to  his  public  stated  labours  on  Sabbaths,  the 
evenings  of  that  day  were  generally  taken  up  in  conversing  with 
serious  persons ;  in  administering  consolation  to  those  who  were 
labouring  under  doubt ;  and  in  affording  direction  to  those  who  were 
seeking  the  way  to  Zion,  with  their  faces  thitherward.  He  had 
o-enerally  sermon  on  Monday  too,  which,  being  the  weekly  market, 
was  numerously  attended.  It  is  remarkable,  that  although  episco- 
pacy was  very  prevalent  at  that  time,  serious  practical  religion  nou- 
rished greatly  among  the  presbyterians  all  over  the  west  of 
Scotland. 

From  1630  till  1637,  Dicksons  manse  was  a  house  of  reiV 
many  of  his  poor  persecuted  brethren  in  the  ministry  ;  but  especially 
to  those  unhappy  men  in  Ireland,  who,  during  that  period,  had  been 
deposed,  ejected,  and  bunted  clown  like  beasts  of  prey,  by  the  Irish 
bishops. 

In  1637,  Dickson  prevailed  upon  the  presbytery  of  Irvine  to  peti- 
tion for  the  suppression  of  the  Service-Book,  who,  being  joined  by 


424  SCOTS  WORTHIES. 

other  three  deputations  from  different  quarters,  laid  the  foundation 
of  that  happy  change  of  affairs  which  soon  afterwards  took  place ; 
and,  it  is  worthy  of  observation,  that  these  four  different  bodies,  un- 
known to  each  other,  all  met  at  the  Council  house  door,  upon  the 
same  errand.  Dickson  was  one  of  the  party  sent  to  Aberdeen,  to 
persuade  that  town  and  county  to  join  in  renewing  the  covenant — 
and  there  he  came  in  contact  with  the  learned  doctors  Forbes, 
Barrow,  and  Sibbald,  the  result  of  whose  debates  is  well  known.  In 
the  General  Assembly,  too,  at  Glasgow,  in  November,  1638,  he 
signalized  himself  very  remarkably,  by  a  seasonable  and  judicious 
speech,  when  his  majesty's  commissioner  threatened  to  leave  the 
Assembly;  and  also  by  a  most  learned  discourse  against  Arminianism 
at  the  eleventh  sederunt,  on  the  15th  of  December.* 

By  this  time  the  fame  of  his  ministry,  and  his  singular  prudence, 
learning,  and  holy  zeal,  had  spread  so  much  among  his  brethren, 
that  he  was  chosen,  almost  unanimously,  moderator  of  the  next 
Assembly,  in  1639 ;  on  the  tenth  sederunt  of  which,  a  call  from  the 
city  of  Glasgow  was  presented  to  him  ;  but  partly,  in  consequence 
of  his  own  unwillingness  to  accept,  and  the  strenuous  opposition  of 
the  earl  of  Eglinton  and  his  own  parishioners,  and  especially  on 
account  of  his  usefulness  in  that  quarter,  the  Assembly  thought  it 
advisable  to  continue  him  in  his  charge.  Not  long  after,  however, 
lie  was  removed  to  the  divinity  chair  in  that  university,  where  he  was 
particularly  successful  in  training  young  men  for  the  church;  and 
where,  for  some  time,  he  enjoyed  the  collegiate  assistance  of  Mr. 
Patrick  Gillespie,  as  minister  of  the  High  Church. 

In  1613,  the  General  Assembly  nominated  Dickson,  Calderwood, 
and  Henderson,  as  a  triumvirate,  to  draw  out  a  Directory  for  Public 
Worship — and  four  years  after,  when  a  deadly  epidemic  pervaded 
Glasgow,  he  found  it  necessary  to  remove,  with  the  young  people 
under  his  charge,  to  Irvine,  which  was  uninfected.  It  was  there  the 
learned  Durham  passed  his  trials,  and  was  earnestly  recommended  by 
the  professor  to  the  presbytery  and  magistrates  of  Glasgow  ;  and  by 
these  two  celebrated  divines  was  composed  "  The  Sum  of  Saving 
Knowledge,"  a  small  treatise  which  is  generally  bound  up  along  with 
the  Confession  of  Faith,  &c. 

About  this  time  he  was  removed  to  the  theological  chair  in  the 
university  of  Edinburgh,  where  he  soon  after  published  his  "  Prrelec- 
tiones  in  Confessionem  Fidei,"f  which  he  delivered  to  the  students 
in  Latin  ;  but  which  is  now  translated  into  English.  His  assiduity 
in  the  metropolitan  college  was  no  less  conspicuous  that  at  Glasgow ; 
and  it  is  even  said,  that  either  here  or  in  the  Western  University,  he 
had  under  his  tuition  the  greater  part  of  the  presbyterian  clergymen, 
afterwards  settled  in  the  west,  south,  and  east  parts  of  Scotland,  from 
1610.  He  had  also  a  principal  share  in  the  printed  pamphlets 
betwixt  the  resolutioners  and  protesters,  about  the  years  1650,  and 
1651.     His  own  sentiments  coincided  with  those  of  the  resolutioners. 

Dickrfnn  continued  at  Edinburgh,  discharging  his  duties  with  great 
diligence  and  fidelity,  until  the  unhappy  reintroduction  of  episcopacy, 

*  See  the  first  in  Stevenson's  History,  p.  562;  and  the  last  in  the  Assembly  Journal, 
t  Lectures  on  the  Confession  of  Faith. 


DAVID    DICKSON. 


425 


upon  the  restoration  of  Charles  II.,  when,  for  refusing  the  oath  of 
supremacy,  he  and  many  others  were  turned  out  01  their  livings. 
From  that  period  his  constitution  began  to  give  way  rapidly,  induced 
by  a  depression  of  spirits,  on  account  of  the  sufferings  which  he  saw- 
were  preparing  for  the  church. 

Dickson  was  now  encumbered  with  the  cares  of  a  family.  He  had 
married  Margaret  Eobertson,  daughter  to  Archibald  Robertson  of 
Stonehall,  in  the  county  of  Lanark,  by  whom  he  had  three  sons ; 
John,  clerk  to  the  exchequer  court  of  Scotland  ;  Alexander,  professor 
of  Hebrew,  in  the  college  of  Edinburgh  ;  and  Archibald,  who  lived 
with  his  family  afterwards  in  the  parish  of  Irvine.  In  the  month  of 
December,  1662,  when  on  his  death-bed,  he  was  visited  by  Mr.  Living- 
stone, on  his  way  to  his  place  of  exile,  to  win  mi  he  said,  in  answer  to 
an  interrogatory  upon  the  state  of  affairs  : — "  That  he  was  sure  Jesus 
Christ  would  not  put  up  with  the  indignities  done  to  his  work  and 
people," — and  added,  "  I  have  taken  all  my  good  deeds  and  all  my 
bad  deeds,  and  have  cast  them  together  in  a  heap  before  the  Lord, 
and  have  fled  from  both  to  Jesus  Christ,  and  in  him  I  have  sweet 
peace !" — Having  been  very  low  for  some  days,  he  called  all  his 
family  together,  and  addressed  each  of  them  individually ;  after 
which,  having  pronounced  the  apostolic  blessing  with  great  earnest- 
ness and  solemnity,  he  lifted  up  his  hands,  closed  his  own  eyes,  and, 
without  any  struggle,  or  apparent  pain,  immediately  expired  in  the 
arms  of  one  of  his  sons.  Like  Jacob  of  old,  he  was  gathered  to  his 
people  in  a  good  old  age,  being  then  upwards  of  72  years. 

Many  memorable  things  are  recorded  of  this  excellent  man,  who 
was  ever  on  the  alert  to  promote  his  Masters  work,  whether  "  in 
season  or  out  of  season," — one  or  two  of  which  we  may  perhaps  be 
excused  for  mentioning  in  this  narrative. 

Biding,  upon  one  occasion,  between  Glasgow  and  Edinburgh,  he 
was  attacked  by  robbers,  when,  instead  of  giving  place  to  fear  for  his 
personal  safety,  he,  with  the  greatest  self-command,  addressed  them 
regarding  their  immortal  souls  ;  and,  it  is  said,  was,  under  God,  the 
happy  instrument  of  their  conversion. — Mr.  James  Mitchell,  a  very 
serious  Christian,  near  Irvine,  also,  when  speaking^  of  the  eminent 
gift  which  Dickson  possessed  for  spiritual  conversation,  says  of  him : 
— "  I  happened  once  to  travel  from  Glasgow  to  Falkirk,  in  company 
with  Mr.  Dickson  ;  and  having  taken  occasion,  from  the  brightness 
of  the  day,  to  speak  of  the  glories  of  heaven,  he,  after  relating  his 
own  experiences,  proceeded  to  show  how  men's  own  righteousness  is 
often  a  bar  in  their  way  of  believing  the  gospel  of  Christ,  and  to 
prove,  from  the  first  part  of  the  epistle  to  the  Eomans,  that  nothing 
but  justification,  through  the  righteousness  of  Christ,  was  suited  to 
our  sinful  and  miserable  state  by  nature,— that  it  was  the  only  way 
to  pacify  our  consciences  and  reconcile  us  to  God,  fill  us  with  joy, 
promote  our  true  santification  of  nature  and  life,  and  mala;  us  triumph 
over  the  accusations  of  Satan  and  the  fears  of  death— 0  how  hifl  dis- 
course, especially  as  I  caused  him  repeat  it,  penetrated  into  my 
heart !" 

His  sermons  were  always  replete  with  solid  and  edifying  matter, 
very   scriptural,   and   in   a  plain,   homely  style;  bearing  a  strong 


426  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

resemblance  to  those  of  the  celebrated  Rutherford.  It  was  said, 
that  no  minister  of  that  day  was  so  popular,  except  Mr.  William 
Guthrie,  of  Fen  wick,  who  at  least  equalled  Dickson,  if  he  did  not  go 
beyond  him. 

His  works  are  numerous.  The  chief  of  these  are,  A  Commentary 
on  the  Epistle  to  the  Hebrews ;  on  the  Gospel  of  Matthew ;  on  the 
Psalms  of  David  ;  on  the  Epistles,  in  Latin  and  English  ;  Prcelec- 
tiones  in  Confessionem  Fidei,  or  Truth's  Victory  over  Error  ;  TJiera- 
pmi/ica  Sacra,  or  Cases  of  Conscience  resolved,  in  Latin  ;  and  a 
Treatise  on  the  Promises.  He  wrote  also  some  short  poems  on  pious 
subjects,  viz.,  The  Christian  Sacrifice,  and  True  Christian  Love, 
intended  as  an  addition  to  the  Psalmody.  Besides  these  he  left 
several  other  works  in  manuscript : — Tyrones  concionaturi  /  Sum- 
marium  libri  Tsaiw  /  Letters  on  the  Resolutioners  ;  Replies  to 
Messrs.  Gillespie  and  Guthrie  ;  Non-separation  from  the  well  affected 
in  the  Army  ;  Sermons  at  Irvine  upon  1  Tim.  i.  5  ;  Precepts  for  the 
Daily  Direction  of  a  Christian,  by  way  of  Catechism ;  with  a 
Compend  of  his  Sermons  upon  Jeremiah  and  the  Lamentations  ;  and 
the  first  nine  chapters  to  the  Eomans. 


SIR  ARCHIBALD  JOHNSTON,  LORD  WARRISTON. 


Comparatively  little  is  known  of  the  early  history  of  very  many 
of  our  most  distinguished  reformers,  until  the  strife  of  the  times 
brought  them  into  the  arena  of  public  contest ;  and  so  it  is  with  the 
distinguished  nobleman  whose  name  we  now  introduce.  The  active 
part  he  took  commenced  about  the  beginning  of  the  second  Reforma- 
tion, in  1G38,  when  he  and  lord  Balmerino  were  commissioned  by 
the  Covenanters,  to  present  to  the  king  a  petition  which  they  them- 
selves had  drawn,  in  opposition  to  the  hostile  measures  which  the 
earl  of  Traquair  was  persuading  his  majesty  to  adopt.  The  prayer 
of  the  petition  having  been  refused,  Charles  caused  Traquair  to 
publish  a  proclamation  at  Edinburgh  and  Stirling,  against  all  their 
requisitions;  when  Johnston — afterwards  lord  Warriston — protested 
against  their  proceedings,  in  his  own  name,  and  in  those  of  sixteen 
noblemen,  with  a  number  of  barons,  private  gentlemen,  burgesses, 
and  ministers.  In  the  same  year,  the  marquis  of  Hamilton  published 
another  declaration  in  the  king's  name,  which  was  followed  by 
another  protest  in  the  same  place,  which  Johnston  handed  to  his 


LORD    WARRISTON. 


427 


majesty's  herald  at  the  Cross  of  Edinburgh.     Upon  this  occasion  the 

earl  _  of  Cassilis  stood  forward  in  name  of  the  nobility;  Gibson  of 
Durie  in  that  of  the  barons;  Fletcher  provost  of  Dundee,  appeared 
for  the  burgesses;  and  Kerr,  minister  of  Preston,  for  the  church. 
Johnston,  to  make  the  matter  as  secure  and  public  as  po£  jible,  took 
instruments  in  the  hands  of  three  notaries. 

At  the  General  Assembly,  in  the  month  of  November  of  the  same 
year,  Johnston  was  unanimously  elected  clerk,  in  consideration  oi 
former  gratuitous  services,  when  having  taken  the  oath  dt  fideli*  ho 
was  admitted  to  all  the  rights,  profits,  and  privileges,  which  that  office 
had  previously  enjoyed.  Having  been  thus  installed,  the  moderator 
requested  that  all  who  had  any  Acts  or  books  of  former  Assemblies, 
would  put  them  into  his  hands  ;  upon  which  the  former  clerk  handed 
in  two,  containing  Acts  from  1592  to  that  of  Aberdeen,  in  1618  ;  and 
Johnston  produced  five,  containing  documents  sufficient  for  drawing 
up  a  history  of  the  church  from  the  beginning  of  the  Reformation, — 
a  circumstance  which  was  at  that  time  greatly  valued  by  tho  Assembly 
and  which  has  been  the  means  of  transmitting  to  posterity  a  faithful 
record  of  the  tyrannous  proceedings  of  the  government  of  the  day. 
In  the  same  Assembly  he  was  appointed  procurator  for  the  church. 
To  him  was  intrusted  the  framing  of  all  treaties  and  papers  that 
concerned  the  church  ;  and  all  printers  were  prohibited  from 
publishing  the  same,  without  a  license  under  his  hand. 

Enraged  at  these  and  other  proceeding  of  the  Assemby,  the  king 
advanced  with  an  army  towards  the  borders ;  and  the  Covenanters, 
not  to  be  behind  hand,  did  the  same.  The  result  of  this  meeting  has 
been  already  detailed  in  the  life  of  the  earl  of  Loudon.  To  make 
amends  for  a  slight,  Johnston  was  raised  to  knighthood,  in  the 
parliament  of  1611,  at  the  time  when  Argyle  was  appointed  to  the 
treasury,  and  Loudon  to  the  office  of  chancellor.  At  the  same 
time  he  was  nominated  one  of  the  lords  of  session,  with  an  annual 
pension  of  £200. 

During  this  and  the  following  year,  lord  "Warriston  was  appointed 
to  several  important  offices.  He  was  one  of  those  selected  to  watch 
over  the  articles  of  peace  between  the  two  kingdoms,  until  the  meeting 
of  parliament ;  besides  being  one  of  the  commissioners  sent  to  London 
to  negotiate  with  the  English  parliament,  for  sending  assistance  from 
Scotland  to  Ireland,  immediately  after  the  unhappy  rebellion,  in  that 
country,  which  had  shared  in  the  general  agitation. 

In  i613,  the  General  Assembly  having  met  at  Edinburgh,  they, 
upon  the  motion  of  lord  Warriston,  emitted  the  following  declaration, 
joining  with  the  English  parliament :— "  1.  They  apprehended  that 
the  war  was  on  account  of  religion.  2.  That  the  protestanl  faith  was 
in  clanger.  3.  That  gratitude  for  assistance,  during  the  former 
Reformation,  required  a  suitable  return.  1.  Because  thechun 
Scotland  and  England  being  embarked  in  one  cause,— if  one  Bhould 
be  worsted,  the  other  could  not  prosper.  5.  That  the  prospect  oi 
uniformity  between  the  two  kingdoms,  in  discipline  ami  worship, 
would  strengthen  the  protestant  interest,  both  at  home  and  abroad. 
6.  That  the  present  parliament  had  been  friendly  to  the  Scots,  and 
might  be  so  a^ain.     7.  That  though  the  king  had  so  lately  established 


42S 


SCOTS   WORTHIES. 


religion  among  them,  according  to  their  desire,  yet  they  could  not 
conlde  in  his  royal  declaration,  having  so  often  found  his  promises 
and  performances  completely  at  variance."  These  declarations  the 
estates  held  in  good  part,  and  suggested  others  as  they  saw  it  to 
Le  expedient. 

In  pursuance  of  this,  upon  the  arrival  of  commissioners  from  the 
parliament  and  Assembly  at  Westminster,  the  General  Assembly,  by 
an  Act  of  sederunt,  commissioned  five  ministers,  and  three  ruling 
elders,  to  repair  to  the  kingdom  of  England,  among  whom  was  lord 
Warriston.  His  lordship  not  only  used  all  diligence  as  a  member  of 
the  Westminster  Assembly,  for  bringing  about  uniformity  of  religion, 
in  worship,  discipline,  and  government;  but  also  sat,  for  some  time, 
as  a  member  of  the  English  parliament,  concerting  such  measures  as 
might  tend  to  establish  a  firm  and  lasting  peace  between  the  two 
kingdoms.  This,  however,  was  aftewards  brought  against  him  as  an 
act  of  high  treason. 

In  1640,  he  was  appointed  lord-advocate  of  Scotland,  with  the 
direction  of  the  committee  of  London  and  Newcastle,  and  of  the 
general  officers  in  the  army.  He  had  been  clerk  to  the  General 
Assembly  since  1638 ;  but  in  1650,  when  the  Act  of  classes  was  re- 
pealed, and  the  malignants  once  more  got  into  places  of  power  and 
trust,  lord  Warriston  took  part  with  the  protesters,  and  had  a  prin- 
cipal hand  in  managing  their  affairs.  All  his  movements  were  now 
sedulously  watched,  and  spies  were  set  upon  his  actions  wherever  he 
went.  A  letter  which  he  had  written  to  an  Assembly  held  at  St. 
Andrew's,  on  the  18th  of  July,  1651,  was  suppressed  ;  and  though  it 
was  ascertained  to  have  been  delivered  into  the  hands  of  the  moder- 
ator, and  by  him  opened  in  order  to  its  being  read,  yet  it  could  never 
afterwards  be  obtained,  though  called  for  upon  several  occasions,  and 
at  several  diets. 

For  upwards  of  five  years  lord  "Warriston  had  now  acted  for  the 
king's  interest,  and  had  both  spoken  and  wTritten  against  his  country- 
men taking  office  under  the  Usurper  ;  yet,  from  a  want  of  self-com- 
mand, he  himself  was  induced  to  accept  the  office  of  clerk-register, 
under  Cromwell, — a  step,  however,  which  he  continued  to  regret  till 
the  day  of  his  death.  Wodrow  relates,  that  at  the  meeting  held  in 
Edinburgh,  which  sent  him  to  London,  he  opposed  it  with  all  his 
eloquence,  acquainting  them  with  what  was  his  weak  side  ;  and  that, 
through  the  easiness  of  his  temper,  he  might  not  be  able  to  resist 
importunity — yet,  after  all,  he  was  peremptorily  named. 

To  account  for  his  compliance,  it  may  be  observed : — His  family 
was  numerous  ;  considerable  sums  of  money  were  owing  him,  which 
he  had  advanced  for  the  public  service,  besides  several  years'  salary ; 
and  thus,  no  other  door  Being  open  for  his  relief,  he  might  be  the 
more  easily  flattered  into  acquiescence.  It  was  remarked,  however, 
that  he  was  generally  sad  and  melancholy  afterward,  and  that  his 
worldly  affairs  did  not  flourish  so  well  as  before. 

In  1060,  Charles  having  been  restored  to  his  dominions  while  the 
marquis  of  Argyle  was  in  prison,  a  royal  mandate  came  down  to 
apprehend  Sir  James  Stuart,  provost  of  Edinburgh,  Sir  Archibald 
Johnston  of  Warriston,  and  Sir  John  Chiesly  of  Carswell.     Lord 


LORD   WARRISTON.  409 

Warriston,  however,  escaped  for  a  time,  and  therefore  was  sum- 
moned, by  sound  of  trumpet,  to  surrender  himself;  and  a  proclama- 
tion was  issued,  offering  £100  Scots  for  his  person,  discharging  and 
prohibiting,  at  the  same  time,  all  persons  from  harbouring  or  con- 
cealing him,  upon  pain  of  treason.  On  the  10th  of  October  follow- 
ing, he  was  declared  a  fugitive  by  the  council,  and  on  the  1st  of 
February  thereafter,  an  indictment  was  read  against  him,  William 
Dundas,  and  John  Hume  in  their  absence.  Warriston's  estate  was 
therefore  declared  to  be  forfeited,  and  public  proclamation  of  the 
same  was  made  at  the  Cross  of  Edinburgh.  The  principal  counts  in 
his  indictments  were  : — "  His  pleading  against  Newton  Gordon, 
when  he  had  the  king's  express  orders  to  plead  for  him, — assisting  in 
the  Act  of  the  West  Kirk, — drawing  out,  contriving,  or  consenting 
to,  the  paper  called  the  Western  Remonstrance,  and  the  book  called 
Causes  of  God's  Wrath, — sitting  in  parliament  as  a  peer  in  England, 
contrary  to  his  oath, — accepting  the  office  of  clerk-register  from  the 
Usurper, — and,  being  president  of  the  committee  of  safety  when 
Richard  Cromwell  was  laid  aside." 

"  None  of  all  these,  however,"  says  Wodrow,  "  were  the  real 
causes  of  this  good  man's  sufferings.  A  personal  prejudice  and 
pique  were  at  the  bottom  of  all  these  bitter  proceedings ;  for,  the 
goodly  freedom  he  took,  in  reproving  vice,  was  what  could  never  be 
forgotten  or  forgiven.  I  have  an  account  of  the  holy  freedom  lord 
Warriston  used,  from  a  reverend  minister  who  was  his  chaplain  at 
that  time,  and  took  liberty  to  advise  Warriston  not  to  adventure  upon 
it :  yet  this  excellent  person,  having  the  glory  of  God  and  the  honour 
of  religion  more  in  his  eyes  than  his  own  safety,  went  on  in  his  de- 
signed'reproof,  and  could  not,  for  a  compliment,  quit  the  peace  he 
expected  in  his  own  conscience,  be  the  event  what  it  would,  by  dis- 
burdening himself.  He  got  a  great  many  fair  words,  and  it  was 
pretended  to  be  taken  well  from  my  lord  register ;  but,  as  he  was 
told  by  his  well-wishers,  it  was  never  forgot." 

In  the  matter  of  compliance  with  Cromwell,  lord  Warriston  was 
not  alone, — the  greater  part  of  the  nation  being  involved  as  well  as 
himself.  Many  who  had  held  office  under  Cromwell  had  been  dis- 
charged by  the  court ;  but  it  was  reserved  for  him  and  the  marquis 
of  Argyle, — stem  reprovers  of  vice,  and  uncompromising  friends  of 
Presbytery, — to  seal  the  testimony  of  Jesus  with  their  blood. 

After  sentence  of  forfeiture  and  death  had  been  passed  against 
him,  he  went  abroad,  to  escape  the  persecution  of  his  enemies  ;  but 
their  malice  pursued  him;  for,  having  been  taken  ill  at  Hamburgh, 
it  was  said  that  Dr.  Bates,  one  of  king  Charles'  physicians,  adminis- 
tered poison  to  him,  and  took  from  him  about  sixty  ounces  of  blood, 
with  the  intention  of  finishing  his  existence.  The  excellence  ol  his 
constitution,  however,  triumphed  over  the  murderous  attempt;  but 
his  memory  was  ever  after  so  much  impaired,  that  he  could  nut  re- 
member what  he  had  either  said  or  done,  above  the  short  space  01  a 
quarter  of  an  hour. 

His  recovery,  however,  only  whetted  the  appetite  of  his  blood- 
thirsty enemies  ;  for  they  caught  him  soon  after,  at  Roannc,  in  I  ranee, 
whither  he  had  gone  unadvisedly.    He  was  taken  when  engaged  in 


430  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

prayer,  by  a  person  called  Murray,  whom  the  government  had  de- 
spatched in  quest  of  him.  In  January,  1663,  he  was  brought  over 
prisoner,  and  committed  to  the  Tower  of  London,  where  he  was  de- 
tained till  the  month  of  June,  when  he  was  sent  down  to  Edinburgh 
to  be  executed.  During  his  passage,  his  conduct  was  truly  Christian  ; 
but  his  nephew,  bishop  Burnet,  says,  "  He  was  so  disordered  both 
in  body  and  mind,  that  it  was  a  reproach  to  any  government  to  pro- 
ceed against  him."  The  vessel  arrived  at  Leith  on  the  8th  of  that 
month,  and  he  was  brought,  from  the  tolbooth  of  Edinburgh,  before 
the  parliament,  on  the  8th  of  July. 

While  at  the  bar  of  the  house,  he  discovered  such  weakness  of 
memory  and  judgment,  that  all  pitied  him,  with  the  exception  of 
Sharp  and  the  other  bishops.  Many  of  the  members  would  have 
spared  his  life ;  but  Lauderdale  stirred  up  the  house  to  get  rid  of 
him,  by  delivering  a  vehement  speech,  urging  his  speedy  execution. 
Sentence  was  accordingly  pronounced : — "  That  he  be  hanged  at  the 
Cross  of  Edinburgh,  on  the  22d  of  July,  and  his  head  placed  on  the 
Nether  Bow,  beside  that  of  Guthrie."  "Warriston  heard  his  sentence 
with  meekness  and  composure  ;  and,  in  return  for  the  cruelty  of  his 
enemies,  prayed  that,  whatever  might  befall  himself,  his  best  bless- 
ings might  be  on  church  and  state,  and  on  his  majesty — and  that 
God  would  give  him  honest  and  faithful  counsellors. 

During  the  whole  of  his  imprisonment,  his  mind  was  in  a  tender 
and  spiritual  frame  ;  and  the  nearer  his  death  approached,  his  com- 
posure became  the  more  conspicuous.  The  night  previous  to  his  exe- 
cution he  slept  soundly,  and  in  the  morning  he  was  full  of  consola- 
tion, expressing  his  assurance  of  being  clothed  in  a  long  white  robe, 
and  of  having  put  into  his  mouth  a  new  song  in  praise  of  God  and 
of  the  Lamb.  Before  noon  he  dined  cheerfully,  enraptured  at  the 
thought  of  being  so  near  the  end  of  his  journey. 

After  having  spent  some  time  in  secret  prayer,  he  was  taken  from 
prison  about  two  o'clock,  attended  by  several  of  his  friends  in  mourn- 
ing, although  he  himself  was  full  of  holy  cheerfulness  and  courage, 
and  in  perfect  serenity  of  mind.  As  he  drew  near  the  scaffold,  he 
called  repeatedly  to  the  people,  "  Your  prayers,  your  prayers  !"  and 
having  set  loot  on  it,  he  said: — "I  entreat  you,  quiet  yourselves  a 
little,  till  this  dying  man  deliver  his  last  speech  among  you  !"  He 
then  begged  of  them  not  to  be  offended  at  his  reading  what  he  had  to 
say ;  for  his  memory  had  almost  entirely  failed,  in  consequence  of 
long  sickness,  and  bad  treatment  from  his  physicians ;  after  which 
he  read  his  speech,  first  on  one  side  of  the  scaffold,  and  then  on  the 
other;  premising,  that  what  he  had  intended  to  speak  was  not  now 
in  his  power,  as  it  had  been  taken  from  him ;  but  hoping  that  the 
Lord  would  preserve  it  to  be  his  Testimony. 

After  he  had  finished  his  solemn  and  affecting  address,  he  prayed 
with  great  fervour  and  enlargement  of  soul ;  and,  being  as  it  were  in 
an  ecstasy,  he  began  thus  :— "  Abba,  Father  !  Accept  this  thy  poor 
sinful  servant,  coming  unto  thee  through  the  merits  of  Jesus  Christ!" 
Having  taken  leave  of  his  friends,  he  prayed  again  ;  after  which  he 
was  assisted  in  ascending  the  ladder ;  calling  aloud  at  the  same  time: 
— "  1  our  prayers,  your  prayers  !     Your  prayers  I  desire  in  the  name 


LORD    VVARRISTON.  431 

of  the  Lord  !"  After  lie  had  reached  the  top  of  the  steps,  he  cried 
again  in  a  loud  voice: — "I  beseech  you  all  who  are  the  people  of 
God,  not  to  scare  at  suffering  for  the  interest  of  Christ,  or  stumble  at 
anything  of  this  kind  tailing  out  in  these  days,  but  be  encouraged  to 
suffer  for  him  ;  for,  I  assure  you,  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  he  will 
bear  your  charges."  "While  the  executioner  was  adjusting  the  rope 
upon  his  neck,  he  repeated  the  same  words,  adding  : — "  The  Lord  hath 
graciously  comforted  me!"  and  when  the  same  functionary  asked  his 
forgiveness,  he  said  : — "The  Lord  forgive  thee,  poor  man!"  and  at 
the  same  time  gave  him  some  money,  desiriug  him  to  do  his  duty,  if 
he  was  ready  ;  crying  out : — "  O  pray,  pray  !  jPraise,  praise,  praise  !" 
"With  these  words  he  was  thrown  off,  and  died  almost  without  a 
struggle,  with  his  hands  upraised  towards  heaven  whither  his  soul 
ascended,  to  enjoy  the  beatific  presence  of  his  Lord  and  Saviour 
Jesus  Christ. 

After  having  hung  for  a  little,  he  was  taken  down,  and  his  head 
having  been  struck  off,  it  was  placed  beside  that  of  his  dear  friend 
and  fellow-martyr,  Mr.  James  Guthrie.  Soon  after,  however,  through 
the  intercession  of  lieutenant-general  Drummond,  his  son-in-law,  it 
was  taken  down  and  interred  with  his  body. 

Thus  lived  and  died  the  eminently  pious  and  learned  Lord  War- 
riston,  whose  talents  as  an  orator,  both  in  the  senate  and  on  the  bench, 
are  too  well  known  to  require  any  encomium  here.  Prayer  was  his 
delight ;  and  in  that  exercise  he  enjoyed  sweet  fellowship  and  com- 
munion with  his  God  and  Saviour.  It  was  a  frequent  saying  of  his  : 
— "  I  dare  never  question  my  salvation, — I  have  so  often  seen  God's 
face  in  the  house  of  prayer  !"  One  of  his  biographers  says  concern- 
ing him  : — "  Although  his  memory  and  talents  were  for  some  time 
impaired  ;  yet,  like  the  sun  at  his  setting,  after  having  been  for  a 
while  under  a  cloud,  he  shone  forth  most  brightly  and  surprisingly, 
and  so,  in  some  measure,  the  more  sweetly  ;  for,  on  the  morning  of 
his  martyrdom,  he  was  under  an  effusion  of  the  Spirit,  as  great,  per- 
haps, as  many  since  the  day's  of  the  Apostles." 

He  was  in  the  habit  of  keeping  a  regular  diary,  which  is  said  to  be 
still  in  the  possession  of  his  relations,  in  which  is  contained  a  valuable 
treasure,  not  only  of  Christian  experience,  but  also  of  the  political 
transactions  of  the  times.  In  it  he  records  his  sure  hope,  that  the 
church  of  Scotland  would,  after  a  series  of  sharp  visitations,  be  at 
length  delivered  from  all  her  sufferings. 


432  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 


JAMES   WOOD. 


TirEEE  seems  to  be  nothing  on  record  concerning  this  bright  star  of 
Presbytery,  previous  to  the  year  1651  ;  soon  after  which,  however, 
we  find  that  he  was  made  principal  of  the  college  of  St.  Salvador  and 
St.  Leonard,  at  St.  Andrew's,  and  also  one  of  the  ministers  of  the  city. 
As  Wood  favoured  the  views  of  the  resolutioners,  there  was  unfortu- 
nately some  difference  between  him  and  Mr.  Samuel  Rutherford,  at 
that  time  professor  of  theology  in  the  new  college  ;  yet  the  latter  had 
a  very  high  esteem  for  him,  as  appears  from  a  message  he  sent  to 
"Wood,  when  on  his  deathbed  :  "  Tell  Mr.  James  Wood  from  me,  ] 
heartily  forgive  him  all  the  wrongs  he  hath  done,  and  desire  him  from 
me  to  declare  himself  the  man  he  still  is  for  the  church  of  Scotland." 
"Rutherford  was  not  disappointed  in  him  ;  for  nothing  could  ever  pre- 
vail upon  him  to  comply  with  the  tenets  of  episcopacy.  On  the  con- 
trary, he  was  grieved  to  the  heart  when  he  saw  the  apostasy  and 
treachery  of  some  of  his  acquaintances,  with  whom  he  had  formerly 
taken  sweet  counsel ;  particularly  that  of  the  notorious  Sharp,  whom 
he  styled  Judas,  Demas,  and  Gehazi. 

The  following  anecdote  is  characteristic.  Wood  having  come  to 
Edinburgh  to  visit  his  brother-in-law,  Mr.  John  Carstairs,  who  was  in 
prison  at  the  time,  expressed  a  strong  desire  to  get  his  eye  upon 
Sharp.  For  this  purpose  he  went,  with  a  friend,  to  the  shop  of  a  Mr. 
Glen,  where  it  was  understood  that  Sharp  would  alight  from  his 
coach.  Wood  was  not  disappointed.  In  a  short  time  commissioner 
Middleton's  coach  came  up,  in  which  was  the  archbishop,  who,  step- 
ping out  first,  turned  round  and  uncovered  to  receive  Middleton ;  by 
which  means  Wood's  curiosity  was  fully  gratified.  Eying  him  very 
narrowly,  Wood  burst  forth  with  strong  emotion : — "  O  thou  Judas, 
aj instate  traitor,  that  hast  betrayed  the  famous  presbyterian  church 
of  Scotland  to  its  utter  ruin,  as  far  as  thou  canst, — if  I  know  anything 
of  the  mind  of  God,  thou  shalt  not  die  the  ordinary  and  common 
death  of  men  !"     And  so  it  happened,  about  eighteen  years  after. 

Wood  continued  in  the  undisturbed  enjoyment  of  his  principality, 
until  1GG3,  when  Sharp,  unable  to  brook  the  idea  of  such  a  zealous 
friend  of  Presbytery  being  any  longer  so  near  him,  caused  him  to  be 
cited  to  appear  before  the  council,  to  answer  to  certain  charges  alleged 
to  have  been  brought  against  him.  On  compearing,  he  was  interro- 
gated how  he  came  to  be  provost  of  the  college  of  St.  Andrew's  ;  and, 
when  about  to  reply,  he  was  interrupted  in^an  abrupt  manner,  and 
ordered  to  answer  in  a  word.     Regardless  of  such  unsentleman-like 


JAMES    WOOD. 


433 


conduct,  he  told  them  very  coolly,  that  he  had  been  invited  by  I 
faculty  of  the  college,  at  the  recommendation  of  Cromwell,  "  as  some 
present  very  well  knew,"  alluding  to  Sharp.   This  was  quite  enouj 
—he  was  immediately  commanded  to  retire ;  but  a  short  time  only 
elapsed,  when  he  was  recalled,  and  told  :— "  That  the  1<  >n ' 
for  the  present,  declared  the  said  place  to  be  vacant,  an  i  ordai 
and  commanded  him  to  confine  himself  within  the  city  of  Edinbur 
andnotto  depart  thence  tillfurther  orders."  Wood  merely  replied,  I 
he  was  sorry  they  had  condemned  him,  without  having  been  h 
in  his  own  defence,  as  he  had  not  been  guilty  of  any  breach  of  law. 
This  was  Sharp  Justice  with  a  vengeance, — and  in  September  follow- 
ing the  miscreant  took  the  office,  with  all  its  emoluments,  into 
own  hands. 

Upon  the  30th  of  the  same  month,  "Wood  presented  a  petition  to 
the  council,  stating  that  his  father  was  dangerously  ill ;  that  particu- 
lar business  required  his  immediate  presence  at  St.  Andrew's  ;  and 
praying  for  permission  to  visit  his  father.  The  prayer  of  the  petition 
was  accordingly  granted  ;  with  certification,  however,  that  he  should 
always  return  when  called  by  the  council. 

About  the  beginning  of  the  year  16G4-,  his  mortal  career  began  to 
draw  toward  a  close,  and  Sharp  judged  that  a  proper  opportunity  to 
injure  his  reputation  among  the  presbyterians.  Sharp  visited  him 
twice  upon  his  deathbed,  when  he  was  very  low  ;  and  although  Wood 
spoke  very  little  to  his  visitor,  and  not  a  word  about  the  state  of  public 
affairs,  yet  Sharj)  immediately  spread  a  rumour  : — "That  Mr.  Wood, 
being  now  under  views  of  death  and  eternity,  had  professed  himself 
very  indifferent  as  to  church-government,  declaring  the  government 
of  the  church  by  Presbytery  to  be  alterable  at  the  pleasure  of  the 
magistrate."  This  impudent  falsehood  Sharp  had  even  the  audacity 
to  lay  before  the  court  in  writing.  The  report  of  this  having  reached 
Wood,  he  considered  it  fortunate  that  it  had  taken  place  before  his 
death,  having  still  an  opportunity  to  give  it  the  lie,  which  he  himself 
dictated  and  subscribed,  on  the  2d  of  March,  in  presence  of  two  wit- 
nesses and  a  public  notary.  This  testimony  was  afterwards  burnt  by 
order  of  the  High  Commission.  This  unfortunate  circumstance  added 
much  grief  to  all  his  other  sorrows;  but  he  could  enjoy  no  peace  of 
mind  till  he  had  vindicated  himself  from  the  foul  calumny. 

Being  asked  whether  he  called  church-government  a  nicety,  and,  if 
he  lived,  he  would  abstract  more  from  such  niceties,  he  answe 
"  Fie,  fie,  never  such  a  thing  !     I  did  indeed,  that  the  bishop  mi 
not  think  that  I  was  pursuing  that  controversy  against  them,  say,  I 
had  a  great  business  to  think  upon  my  salvation  and  peace  with  God 
at  the  stake;  but  I  did  not  say,  nor  think,  that  presbyterian  govern- 
ment wras  a  nicety.     I  judge  it  to  be  a  truth  of  God,  an  ordi 
Jesus  Christ,  a  part  of  his  visible  kingdom,  for  which  every  Christian, 
as  called  to  it,  should  suffer  even  unto  death;  and   I  won': 
them  to  it;  for  it  is  but  little  that  we  have  suffered  yet,  and,  if  I  were 
to  live,  I  would,  through  the  grace  and  power  of  God,  account  it  my 
glory  to  lay  down  my  life  in  defence  of  that  truth.     There  is  no  man 
in  the  world  that  has  more  and  stronger  obligations  on  him,  to  stand 
to  the  maintenance  of  that  government  than  t,  wherein  the  Lord  Lath 
28 


43J.  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

cleared  me  with  a  strong  hand.  I  bless  the  Lord  that  hath  made  me 
understand  the  nature  of  his  covenant,  and  gave  me  light  in  the  point 
of  justification,  and  helped  me  in  some  measure  to  hold  out  light 
therein  to  others,  and  cleared  me  in  the  controversy  with  the  Inde- 
pendents, and  this  anent  prelacy."  He  said,  "  he  had  said  before, 
and  said  so  still,  that  if  ever  he  should  come  to  be  against  presby- 
terian  government,  he  might  fear  to  meet  God's  everlasting  wrath, 
and  be  made  a  spectacle"  to  others."  He  said  further,  with  much 
grave  confidence,  "  God  will  give  an  outgate  (meaning  of  the  pre- 
lates), though  they  will  say,  it  is  impossible — and  how  should  it  come? 
— he  can  hiss  for  the  bees,  as  beyond  the  river. 

Having  thus  given  publicity  to  his  sentiments,  he  afterwards  en- 
joyed great  calmness  and  serenity  of  mind,  frequently  setting  forth 
his  sweet  experiences,  and  the  assurance  he  had  of  a  blessed  entrance 
being  administered  to  him  into  Christ's  kingdom  in  glory,  which  he 
obtained  on  the  loth  of  the  same  month. 

Wood  was  among  the  brightest  lights  of  the  period  in  which  he 
lived.  He  had,  in  a  former  part  of  his  life,  been  colleague  to  Sharp; 
and,  after  the  Restoration,  he  lamented  much  that  he  had  been  so 
long  deceived  by  that  ambitious  man.  It  was  also  reported,  that  he 
greatly  regretted  his  having  taken  part  with  the  resolutioners. 

Wodrow  says  that  he  left  behind  him  a  finished  treatise,  in  manu- 
script, refuting  the  dogmas  of  Arminianism ;  and  it  is  also  known 
that  he  triumphantly  asserted  presbyterial  government  in  opposition 
to  the  Independents.  He  has  several  other  small  works  in  print ; 
but  they  are  beginning  now  to  get  scarce. 


WILLIAM    GUTHRIE. 


This  studious,  learned,  and  justly  celebrated  servant  of  Christ,  was 
born  atPitfrothy,  in  the  county  of  Angus,  in  1620.  His  father  was 
proprietor  of  that  estate,  and  a  branch  of  the  ancient  family  of  Guth- 
rie ;  and  his  mother  was  a  daughter  of  the  house  of  Easter  Ogle. 
There  were  four  sons  besides  himself,  all  of  whom  were  ministers  of 
the  gospel ;  and  all  were  eminent  for  their  piety,  and  attachment  to 
the  cause  of  Presbytery. 

The  subject  of  this  memoir  gave  early  indications  of  an  apt  genius, 
by  the  progress  lie  made  in  the  Latin  and  Greek  languages,  which  he 
studied  at  the  university  of  St.  Andrew's.    He  completed  his  course  of 


WILLIAM   GUTHRIE. 


435 


philosophy  under  his  uncle,  Mr.  James  Guthrie,  afterwards  minister 
of  Stirling,  whose  life  we  have  already  recorded.  At  college,  Guth- 
rie lodged  in  the  same  room  with  his  uncle,  and  therefore  enjoyed 
advantages  superior  to  those  of  his  class-fellows.  His  theology  was 
studied  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Samuel  Rutherford.  "  Then  and 
there,"  says  Mr.  Traill,  "  it  pleased  the  Lord  to  call  him  by  hia  grace, 
by  the  ministry  of  that  excellent  person.  His  conversion  was  Begun 
with  great  terror  of  God  in  his  soul,  and  completed  with  that  joy  and 
peace  in  believing  which  accompanied  him  through  life.  It  was  after 
this  blessed  change  that  he  resolved  to  obey  the  call  of  God  to  serve 
him  in  the  ^ministry  of  his  gospel,  which  was  thus  given  him  by  the 
Lord's  calling  him  effectually  to  grace  and  glory.  With  this  view  he 
so  disposed  of  his  paternal  estate,  as  not  to  be  entangled  with  the 
affairs  of  the  world,  by  making  it  over  to  the  only  brother,  who  had 
not  been  appointed  to  the  cure  of  any  particular  parish." 

Soon  after  having  obtained  his  license,  Guthrie  left  St.  Andrew's, 
and  became  tutor  to  lord  Mauchlin,  eldest  son  to  the  earl  of  Loudon, 
in  which  situation  he  remained  until  appointed  pastor  to  the  parish 
of  Fenwick,  which  at  that  time  was  disjoined  from  Kilmarnock. 
Having  been  appointed  to  preach  at  Galston,  on  a  day  preparatory 
to  the  celebration  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  and  a  number  of  persons  be- 
longing to  the  newly  erected  parish  being  present,  they  were  so  much 
captivated  by  his  discourses,  that  they  immediately  resolved  to  call 
him  to  be  their  pastor,  which  being  very  harmonious,  he  felt  it  to  be 
his  duty  to  accept.  It  is  said  that  he,  along  with  the  people,  made 
choice  of  the  spot  of  ground  on  which  the  church  was  to  be  built,  and 
that  he  preached  within  the  walls  before  the  edifice  was  completely 
finished. 

Many  were  the  difficulties  and  discouragements  he  had  to  encoun- 
ter at  the  outset;  yet  through  the  divine  blessing  upon  his  labours, 
he  was  eminently  successful  in  reforming  the  manners  of  the  people. 
Many  of  them,  indeed,  were  so  unconcerned  about  religion  as  never 
to  enter  a  place  of  worship  ;  and  the  face  of  their  pastor  was  alto- 
gether unknown  by  them.  Numbers  even  refused  his  visits,  and 
would  not  suffer  him  to  enter  their  houses.  Such  was  the  state  of 
Fenwick  at  the  time  this  pious  man  entered  upon  his  ministerial 
duties  among  them.  But  things  did  not  remain  long  in  that  state  ; 
for,  he  had  a  happy  art  of  winning  souls  to  the  Saviour.  Disguised 
in  the  habit  of  a  traveller,  he  frequently  called  at  their  houses  in  the 
evening,  and  asked  lodgings,  which  he  did  not  even  obtain  without 
much  entreaty ;  but,  when  once  admitted,  he  made  himself  a  very 
agreeable  guest,  by  his  amusing  and  instructive  conversation.  (  hie 
question  always  was, — how  did  they  like  their  minister? — and  when 
told  that  they  did  not  go  to  church,  he  pressed  them  to  go,  and  hear 
what  he  had  to  say.  To  some  he  even  gave  small  sums  of  money  to 
visit  the  house  of  God  ;  and,  before  retiring  to  rest  for  the  night,  he 
was  always  solicitous  to  know  if  family  worship  was  observed  by 
them. 

Upon  one  occasion,  in  a  family  where  the  duty  had  never  been 
performed,  he  urged  the  goodman  of  the  house  to  make  the  attempt  ; 
and,  as  this  person's  only  objection  was,  that  he  could  not  nr»T.  ♦'•  f 


436 


SCOTS   WORTHIES. 


he  had  never  "been  in  the  habit  of  praying,  and  therefore  could  not, 
Guthrie  was  so  very  earnest  in  his  entreaties  to  make  trial,  that  the 
man  cried  out : — "  O  Lord,  thou  knowest  that  this  man  would  have 
me  to  pray;  but  thou  knowest  I  cannot  pray  !"  This  was  sufficient, 
—Guthrie  desired  him  to  stop,  saying,  he  had  done  enough,  and  im- 
mediately began  himself,  to  the  great  wonder  and  edification  of  the 
family.  When  prayer  was  over,  the  mistress  of  the  house  said  to  her 
husband—"  Surely  this  man  must  be  a  minister !"  The  people  were 
overawed,  and  felt  as  if  a  charm  had  come  over  them.  It  was  no 
difficult  matter,  under  such  feelings,  to  gain  their  compliance  to  ap- 
pear in  church  on  the  following  Sabbath.  But,  what  was  their  sur- 
prise, when  they  saw  that  it  was  the  minister  himself  who  had  been 
their  guest,  and  who,  in  the  guise  of  an  humble  peasant,  upon  their 
own  hearth,  had  supplicated  for  them  so  many  blessings. 

Within  his  parish,  too,  there  was  a  person  who,  instead  of  going  to 
church  on  the  Lord's  day,  betook  himself  to  the  fields  with  his  dog 
and  gun.  Guthrie  was  determined  to  reclaim  this  man,  and  the  effort 
was  blessed.  The  minister  asked  him  what  reason  he  had  for  dese- 
crating the  Sabbath  ;  and  the  answer  he  received  was,  that  it  was  the 
most  fortunate  day  in  the  week  for  that  exercise.  Guthrie  asked  him 
how  much  he  could  make  by  it ;  and,  upon  being  told  that  he  could 
at  least  realize  half  a  crown,  the  good  pastor  at  once  told  him  that  he 
would  pay  him  that  sum,  if  he  would  appear  in  church  next  Sabbath. 
After  the  congregation  was  dismissed,  Guthrie  told  him  that  he  would 
renew  the  bargain,  if  he  would  appear  again,  which  the  man  con- 
sented to  do.  Trom  that  time  afterward,  he  never  failed  to  give  re- 
gular attendance  in  the  house  of  God ;  and,  relieving  the  minister 
from  his  obligation,  he  felt  to  his  sweet  experience  that  godliness  was 
of  itself  great  gain.  This  man,  ere  long,  became  a  member  of  the 
kirk-session,  and  ever  after  continued  to  live  a  godly  and  useful  life. 

Guthrie  himself  was  fond  of  rural  recreation,  and  took  particular 
pleasure  in  angling,  fowling,  and  curling.  In  these  exercises  he 
mingled  much  with  his  parishioners,  which  he  always  improved  as 
seasons  of  religious  instruction,  in  such  a  way,  as  never  to  give  offence. 
"  But,7'  says  a  celebrated  biographer,  "  as  he  was  animated  by  a 
flaming  zeal  for  the  glory  of  his  blessed  Master,  and  a  tender  com- 
passion for  the  souls  of  men  ;  and  as  it  was  the  principal  thing  that 
made  him  desire  life  and  health,  that  he  might  employ  them  in  pro- 
pagating the  kingdom  of  God,  and  in  turning  transgressors  from  their 
ways  ;  so  the  very  hours  of  recreation  were  dedicated  to  this  purpose, 
which  were  so  endeared  to  him,  that  he  knew  howT  to  make  his  diver- 
sions subservient  to  the  noble  ends  of  his  ministry.  He  made  them 
the  occasion  of  familiarizing  his  people  to  him,  and  introducing  him- 
self to  their  affections  ;  and,  in  the  guise  of  a  sportsman,  he  gained 
some  to  a  religious  life,  whom  he  could  have  had  little  influence  upon 
in  a  minister's  dress, — of  which  there  happened  some  memorable  ex- 
amples." 

After  having  been  ordained  for  about  a  year,  he  married  Agnes 
Campbell,  daughter  of  David  Campbell  of  Skeldon,  in  Ayrshire,  a 
remote  branch  of  the  family  of  Loudon,  by  whom  he  had  six  chil- 
dren.    Only  two  daughters  outlived  himself.     Mrs.  Guthrie  was  a 


WILLIAM   GUTHRIE.  437 

lady  of  the  most  amiable  qualities,  who  proved  a  very  agreeable 
companion  and  comforter  to  her  husband,  for  upwards  of  twenty 
years, — one  faith,  one  hope,  one  baptism,  and  a  supreme  love  to 
Jesus  Christ,  actuated  both  during  the  whole  period  of  their  union. 

Not  long  after  his  marriage,  Guthrie  was  .appointed  by  the  General 
Assembly  to  accompany  the  army,  in  the  capacity  of  chaplain  ;  but 
just  as  he  was  preparing  to  set  out,  he  had  a  violent  attack  of  gravel, 
to  which  he  was  occasionally  subject.  His  amiable  wife  fell 
at  the  thought  of  his  absence,  and  would  have  dissuaded  him  from 
compliance  ;  but  in  this  sudden  chastisement  she  evidently  saw  the 
hand  of  the  Lord,  which  made  her  resolve  never  again  to  inter] 
her  will,  when  the  service  of  his  divine  Master  demanded  her  hus- 
band's acquiescence.  In  this  campaign,  upon  the  defeat  of  the 
party  to  which  he  was  attached,  he  had  a  very  narrow  escape, — a  cir- 
cumstance, of  which  he  ever  after  retained  the  most  grateful  remem- 
brance. He  was  with  the  army  again,  at  the  time  when  the 
Usurper's  forces  were  victorious  at  Dunbar,  on  the  3d  of 
1650.  Rutherford,  upon  that  occasion,  dissuaded  him  strongly  from 
taking  part  with  Cromwell,  saving: — "that  his  heart  trembled  t<» 
entertain  the  least  thought  of  joining  with  these  deceivers."'  Guthrie 
accordingly  joined  the  remonstrants,  and  was  chosen  Moderator  of 
that  Synod  at  Edinburgh,  after  the  public  resolutioners  had  left  them. 

Such  was  Guthrie's  pleasant  and  cheerful  talent  for  conversation, 
that  he  was  universally  respected  by  the  English  officers,  who  all 
eagerly  sought  his  acquaintance  ;  but,  although  he  indulged  for  a 
time,  in  harmless  mirth,  his  courage  and  constancy  in  the  service  of 
his  Great  Master  never  for  a  moment  forsook  him.     Upon  all  o< 
sions  he  found  himself  able  to  repress  the  extravagancies  0/  the 
English  sectarians,  and  to  curb  that  spirit  of  licentiousness,  which,  as 
the  dominant  party,  they  thought  themselves  entitled  to  indulge;  a 
very  remarkable  instance  of  which  took  place  at  a  communion,  in 
Glasgow,   celebrated   by   the   Rev.   Andrew  Gray. — Several  of  the 
English  officers  had  formed  a  design  to  put  in  execution  the  dis- 
orderly practice  of  promiscuous  admission  to  the  Lord's  tall 
out  previous  information  to  the  minister,  and  satisfying  him  as  to 
their  being  worthy  of  the  privilege.     A  rush  was  accordingly  made 
by  these  gentlemen  to  occupy  the  seats;  but,  it  being  Guthrie's  turn 
to  dispense  the  elements,  he,  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  addre 
them  as  they  were  leaving  the  pews,  with  such  solemn  dignity  and 
awe,  that  they  were  all  confounded,  and  resumed  their  places  with- 
out any  further  disturbance. 

About  the  same  time,  while  he  was  absent  in  Angus  for  a  few- 
weeks  upon  some  private  business,  the  Quakers  took  advantage  oi 
the  occasion,  and  endeavoured  to  effect  a  settlement  in  his  parish  ; 
but  he  returned  to  Fenwick  before  the  infection  had  taken  deep 
and  recovered  those  who  were  in  the  greatest  danger  of  being  Beduc 
He  had  made  many  calls  to  other  parishes  about  this  time,  but  no 

*  These  "  Friends,"  as  they  call  themselves,  had  made  a  number  of  proselytes  in  Glas- 
gow. Kilbride,  and  other  parishes  in  Lanarkshire;  but  especially  in  the  parish  of  Glas 
where  they  had  prospered  so  well,  thad  there  is  still  pointed  oui  there  a  c 
they  buried  their  own  dead,  with  their  heads  to  the  east,  contrary  to  the  practice  ot   all 
other  Christians. 


438  SCOTS  WORTHIES. 

solicitation  could  make  him  leave  Feuwick.  He  was  fond  of  the  re- 
tirement and  recreations  of  a  rural  life  ;  he  loved  his  people,  and  he 
was  loved  by  them  in  return ;  he  had  been  honoured  in  bringing 
many  among  them  into  the  kingdom  of  Christ,  whose  heavenly 
birth  was  the  highest  pleasure  and  brightest  triumph  of  his  life ;  and 
therefore  he  preferred  the  comparative  obscurity  of  Fenwick  to  the 
most  considerable  localities  in  the  nation  ;  having  no  views  to  tem- 
poral aggrandizement. 

In  the  year  1657,  some  person  having  got  possession  of  a  few  stray 
notes  of  some  sermons  he  had  delivered  from  the  55th  chapter  of 
Isaiah,  regarding  the  duty  of  personal  covenanting;  and  having 
published  these  without  his  knowledge,  under  the  title  of  "  A  clear, 
attractive,  warning  Beam  of  Light,  from  Christ  the  Sun  of  Light, 
leading  unto  himself,"  he  was  much  dissatisfied,  and  therefore  thought 
the  only  way  to  remedy  the  defect,  and  save  his  reputation,  would  be 
to  revise  the  whole  of  these  discourses.  It  was  this  circumstance  that 
gave  rise  to  that  admirable  treatise,  "  The  Christian's  Great  Interest," 
which  has  been  blessed  to  the  souls  of  thousands.  Guthrie  was 
equally  displeased  at  the  title  of  the  surreptitious  work,  and  at  the 
very  imperfect  and  injudicious  manner  in  which  it  had  been  got  up  ; 
for,  although  it  was  published  anonymously,  he  was  the  reputed 
author  of  it.  Dr.  Owen  is  reported  to  have  said,  upon  one  occasion, 
of  "  The  Christian's  Great  Interest,"  when  addressing  himself  to  a 
minister  of  the  church  of  Scotland  : — "  You  have  truly  men  of  great 
spirits  in  Scotland, — there  is,  for  a  gentleman,  Mr.  Baillie  of  Jervis- 
wood,  a  person  of  the  greatest  abilities  I  almost  ever  met  with  ;  and, 
for  a  divine — taking  out  of  his  pocket  a  small  gilt  copy  of  Guthrie's 
treatise — that  author  I  take  to  be  one  of  the  greatest  divines  that 
ever  wrote.  It  is  my  vade  mecum;  I  carry  it  and  the  Sedan  New 
Testament  still  about  with  me.  I  have  written  several  folios ;  but 
there  is  more  divinity  in  it  than  in  them  all."  It  was  translated  into 
Low  Dutch,  and  was  so  highly  valued  in  Holland,  that  Mrs.  Guthrie 
and  one  of  her  daughters  met  with  very  marked  attention  in  that 
country  on  its  account,  upon  their  relationship  to  the  author  being 
made  known.  It  was  also  translated  into  French  and  High  Dutch, 
and  into  one  of  the  Eastern  languages,  at  the  charge  of  the  honour- 
able Robert  Boyle,  a  very  distinguished  patron  of  religion,  learning, 
and  Christian  beneficence. 

At  the  synod  of  Glasgow,  in  April  16G1,  after  long  debating  about 
proper  measures  for  the  security  of  Presbytery,  the  matter  being 
referred  to  a  committee,  Guthrie  produced  the  draught  of  an  address 
to  parliament,  in  which  a  faithful  testimony  was  given  to  the  purity 
of  our  Reformation,  in  worship,  doctrine,  discipline  and  government, 
in  terms  remarkable  both  for  their  prudence  and  courage,  which  was 
approved,  and  transmitted  to  the  synod.  Some,  however,  of  the 
resolution  party,  judging  it  inexpedient,  afforded  an  opportunity  of 
delay  to  those  who  intended  to  comply  with  episcopacy ;  and  thus  for 
the  time  got  it  suppressed. 

About  this  time  also,  being  the  last  time  he  was  in  company  with 
his  cousin,  James  Guthrie,  he  was  observed  to  be  rather  melancholy, 
— when  his  friend,  in  order  to  rouse  him,  said  : — "  A  penny  for  your 


WILLIAM   GUTHRIE. 


4.7.» 


thoughts,  cousin !"— "  There  is  a  poor  man  at  tbe  door,  give  him  a 
penny  ;"  which  having  done,  he  replied  :— "I'll  tell  you,  «•■'  asia,  what 
1  am  not  only  thinking  of;  but,  what  I  am  sure  of,  if  I  be  not  under 
a  delusion.  The  malignants  will  be  your  death,  and  this  gravel  will 
be  mine;  but  you  will  have  the  advantage  of  me.  You  will  die 
honourably  before  many  witnesses,  with  a  rope  about  your  neck,  and 
I  will  die  whining  upon  a  pickle  straw ;  and  will  suffer  more  pain 
before  I  rise  from  your  table,  than  all  the  pain  you  will  have  in  your 
death." 

This  was  within  a  very  short  time  of  his  cousin's  death,  who  had 
been  condemned  to  die  on  the  first  of  June  following,  which  public 
exhibition  of  suffering  Guthrie  had  determined  to  visit,  and  would 
certainly  have  been  present  at,  had  not  the  kirk-session,  by  their 
earnest  entreaties,  prevailed  upon  him  not  to  expose  himself  unne- 
cessarily to  the  vengeance  of  his  enemies.  Guthrie,  by  the  will  of 
God,  was  permitted  to  remain  in  his  charge,  nearly  four  years  longer 
than  this,  through  the  instrumentality  of  the  earl  of  Eglinton,  and 
chancellor  Glencairn,  who  were  unremitting  in  their  intercessions  for 
him ;  for  he  had  been  long  marked  out  by  the  government  as  one 
who  had  been  a  sharper  thorn  in  their  side  than  many  others.  Very 
many  of  his  brethren  had  been  ejected  by  this  time,  and  therefore 
vast  crowds  of  people  assembled  at  Fen  wick  every  sabbath-day,  from 
parishes  at  a  great  distance,  that  they  might  hear  the  words  of 
everlasting  truth ;  but  particularly  upon  sacramental  occasions.  At 
these  solemnities,  so  vast  was  the  concourse,  that  communicants  had 
to  show  their  tokens  to  the  door-keepers,  before  they  could  procure 
admission. 

That  period  was  the  most  distinguished,  during  the  whole  of  his 
ministry,  for  remarkable  outpourings  of  the  Spirit, — great  numbers 
having  been  converted  to  the  truth,  and  all  edified  and  built  up  in 
their  most  holy  faith.  He  was  at  that  time  signally  honoured  to  be 
an  instrument  of  turning  many  to  religious  life,  who  had  previously 
been  dissolute  profaners  of  God's  holy  name  and  ordinance-  ;  who. 
after  his  being  taken  from  them,  could  never,  without  exultation  of 
soul,  and  emotions  of  revived  affection,  think  of  their  spiritual 
father,  and  the  power  of  that  victorious  grace,  which,  in  those  da 
triumphed  so  gloriously.  For  many  years  after,  the  people  of 
Fenwick  were  regarded  "as  more  civilized  and  religious  than  those  of 
most  other  parishes, — their  spiritual  pastor  having  fortified  them  SO 
strongly  in  a  zealous  adherence  to  the  purity  of  the  Reformation,  and 
warned  them  so  faithfully  of  the  defections  that  had  taken  place 
through  the  introduction  of  episcopacy,  that  none  of  them,  even  after 
his  departure,  ever  yielded  compliance.  And  it  is  not  unworthy  oi 
our  notice  here,  that  the  pious  people  in  those  districts  were  among 
the  chief  sufferers  in  the  persecution  which  immediately  followed. 
No  part  of  Scotland  was  more  distinguished  for  steadfast  adher 
to  the  cause  of  God  and  truth;  and  it  is  not  perhaps  too  much  to 
say,  that  the  effects  of  Guthrie's  ministry  may  be  traced  among 
these  people,  even  at  the  present  day.  If  any  where  in  Scotland,  it 
is  in  that  district  that  samples  may  yet  be  found  of  what  Presbyterians 
were  in  the  days  of  Claverhouse  and  the  Covenant. 


440  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

Guthrie's  extraordinary  usefulness  and  popularity  had  now  so  much 
enraged  the  bishops  against  him,  that  the  archbishop  of  Glasgow,  in 
reply  to  the  earl  of  Glencairn — soliciting  that  Guthrie  might  be 
overlooked  in  the  general  persecution — said  : — "  That  shall  not  be, — 
it  cannot  be, — lie  is  a  ringleader  and  keeper  up  of  schism,  in  my 
diocese  !" — In  consequence  of  this  resolution,  Guthrie  was  suspended 
from  his  office  ;  but  such  was  the  awe  upon  the  minds  of  the  curates, 
for  fear  of  meddling  with  that  great  and  good  man,  that  it  was  with 
difficulty  one  could  be  found  to  intimate  the  sentence  of  suspension. 
The  curate  of  Cadder,  however,  was  at  length  induced  to  undertake 
the  commission,  for  the  paltry  promise  of  a  reward  of  five  pounds. 
Guthrie  having  got 'previous  notice  of  what  was  going  on,  earnestly 
entreated  his  friends  to  offer  no  resistance  to  his  deposition,  assured 
that  his  enemies  would  make  that  a  handle  against  him,  to  prosecute 
him  continually  for  his  former  zeal  and  fidelity. 

Accordingly  Wednesday,  July  20,  was  set  apart  as  a  day  of  solemn 
fasting  and  prayer ;  on  which  occasion  Guthrie  preached  to  the  people 
from  Hosea  xiii.  9 :  "  O  Israel,  thou  has  destroyed  thyself;  but  in 
me  is  thine  help !"  From  that  text  he  laid  before  them,  with  great 
plainness  and  affection,  their  own  sins  and  the  sins  of  the  land  and 
age  ;  and  at  the  close  of  the  sermon,  intimated  that  he  would  meet 
with  them  again  on  the  Sabbath  following  at  an  early  hour.  Between 
four  and  five  in  the  morning  the  church  was  crowded  to  excess,  when 
he  addressed  the  congregation  from  the  last  clause  of  the  verse, 
already  mentioned  : — "  But  in  me  is  thine  help."  Upon  this  heart- 
rending occasion,  he  directed  his  audience  to  the  Great  Fountain  of 
help,  when  the  gospel  and  gospel  ministers  should  be  taken  from 
them,  and  took  his  leave  by  commending  them  to  God,  who  was 
able  to  build  them  up,  and  help  them  in  every  time  of  need. 

Upon  the  day  appointed,  the  curate  of  Cadder  came  to  Fenwick, 
with  a  party  of  twelve  soldiers,  and,  by  commission  from  the  arch- 
bishop of  Glasgow,  discharged  Guthrie  from  preaching  any  more  in 
Fenwick  ;  declared  the  church  vacant,  and  suspended  him  from  the 
exercise  of  his  ministry.  Having  left  his  party  without,  the  curate 
then  stepped  into  the  manse,  and  told  Guthrie,  that  the  bishop  and 
committee,  after  much  lenity  shown  towrards  him,  had  been  con- 
strained to  pass  the  sentence  of  suspension,  because  he  would  not 
meet  with  his  brethren  in  presbyteries  and  synods,  and  for  his 
turbulence  in  the  church  ;  of  which  sentence  he  had  been  appointed 
to  make  public  intimation,  which  he  then  did,  by  reading  the 
commission  under  the  hand  of  the  archbishop  of  Glasgow. 

To  all  this  Guthrie  replied  : — "  I  judge  it  not  expedient  to  say 
much  in  answer  to  what  you  have  spoken  ;  only,  whereas  you  allege 
there  has  been  much  lenity  shown  towards  me— be  it  known  unto  you 
that  I  take  the  Lord  for  party  in  that,  and  thank  Him  first.  I  look 
upon  it  as  a  door  which  God  opened  to  me  for  preaching  his  gospel, 
which  neither  you  nor  any  other  man  was  able  to  shut,  until  it  was 
given  you  of  God.  As  to  this  sentence  passed  against  me,  I  declare 
before  these  gentlemen — pointing  to  the  officers  of  the  party — that  I 
lay  no  weight  upon  it,  as  it  comes  from  you  or  those  that  sent  you  ; 
although  I  respect  the  civil  authority,  who,  by  their  law,  laid  the 


WILLIAM    GUTHRIE.  441 

ground  of  the  sentence  against  me.  I  declare  I  will  not  cease  from 
the  exercise  of  ray  ministry  for  all  that  sentence.  As  to  the  crimes 
with  which  I  am  charged — I  did  keep  presbyteries  and  synods  with 
the  rest  of  my  brethren  ;  but  I  do  not  look  upon  those  who  now  sit  in 
these  courts  as  my  brethren,  who  have  fallen  from  the  truth  and 
cause  of  God  ;  neither  do  I  judge  those  to  be  free  and  lawful  courts 
of  Christ  that  are  now  held  in  this  kingdom.  With  regard  to  my 
turbulence,  I  know  I  am  bidden  follow  peace  with  all  men  ;  but  I 
know  also  I  am  bidden  follow  it  with  holiness ;  and  since  I  could  not 
obtain  peace  without  prejudice  to  holiness,  I  thought  myself  obliged 
to  let  it  go.  As  for  your  commission,  Sir,  to  intimate  this  sentence, 
— I  here  declare,  I  think  myself  called  by  the  Lord  to  the  work  of 
the  ministry,  for  which  I  forsook  the  nearest  relation  in  the  world, 
and  gave  myself  up  to  the  service  of  the  gospel  in  this  place,  having 
received  an  unanimous  call  from  this  parish,  and  having  been  licensed 
and  ordained  by  the  presbytery.  I  bless  the  Lord  he  has  given  me 
some  success  and  seals  of  my  ministry  upon  the  souls  and  consciences 
of  not  a  few  who  are  gone  to  heaven,  and  of  some  who  are  yet  on 
the  way  to  it.  And  now,  Sir,  if  you  will  take  it  upon  you  to 
interrupt  my  work  among  this  people,  I  shall  wish  the  Lord  may 
forgive  you  the  guilt  of  it :  but  I  cannot  but  leave  all  the  bad  conse- 
quences that  may  fall  out  upon  it,  betwixt  God  and  your  own 
conscience.  And  here  I  do  further  declare  before  these  gentlemen, 
that  I  am  suspended  from  my  ministry  for  adhering  to  the  Covenants 
and  word  of  God,  from  which  you  and  others  have  apostatized." 

Here  the  curate  interrupted  Guthrie,  and  said  that  the  Lord  had  a 
work  before  that  covenant  had  a  being  ;  and  that  they  were  the  only 
apostates  who  adhered  to  the  covenant : — "  True,"  replied  Guthrie, 
"  the  Lord  had  a  work  before  that  covenant  had  a  being  ;  but  it  is  as 
true,  that  it  has  been  more  glorious  since  that  covenant ;  and  it  is  a 
small  thing  for  us  to  be  judged  of  you,  in  adhering  to  the  covenant, 
— you  who  have  so  deeply  corrupted  your  ways.  As  for  you,  gentle- 
men," turning  to  the  soldiers,  "  I  wish  the  Lord  may  pardon  your 
countenancing  this  man  in  his  business," — to  which  one  of  these 
scoffingly  replied,  "I  wish  we  may  never  do  a  greater  fault!" — 
"  Well !"  answered  Guthrie,  "  a  little  sin  may  damn  a  man's  soul." 

Guthrie  here  called  for  a  glass  of  ale,  and  having  asked  a  blessing, 
drank  to  the  commanding  officer,  who,  after  having  tasted,  retired. 
But,  to  the  curate  he  remarked, — that  he  apprehended  some  evident 
mark  of  the  Lord's  displeasure  awaited  him  for  what  he  was  doing, 
and  seriously  warned  him  to  prepare  for  some  visitation  of  Provi- 
dence coming  upon  him  very  soon  ;  and  says  Mr.  "Wodrow  : — "  I  am 
well  assured  he  never  preached  any  more  after  he  left  Fenwick.  lie 
reached  Glasgow,  but  it  is  not  certain  that  he  reached  Cadder,  though 
but  six  miles  from  Glasgow.  However,  in  a  few  days  he  died  in 
great  torment,  of  an  iliac  passion  ;  and  his  wife  and  children  all  died 
in  a  year  or  thereby,  and  none  belonging  to  him  were  left." 

Before  leaving  Fenwick  the  curate  repaired  to  the  church,  and  in- 
timated  the  bishop's  sentence  from  the  pulpit,  after  having  harangued 
the  soldiers  for  about  a  quarter  of  an  hour  ;  for  they  formed  the  wdrole 
of  his  audience,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  children,  who  annoyed 


442  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

the  curate  not  a  little.  In  compliance  with  their  minister's  request, 
the  parishioners  were  all  quiet ;  although,  if  he  had  wished,  they 
would  have  sacrificed  their  lives  in  defence  of  his  rights. 

It  is  generally  believed  that  Guthrie  never  preached  in  Fenwick 
after  this  ;  but  it  is  related,  that  upon  a  certain  occasion,  as  he  and  a 
number  of  his  parishioners  were  returning  from  Stewarton,  whither 
they  had  gone  to  hear  sermon,  and  understanding  that  they  were  not 
altogether  satisfied  with  what  they  had  heard,  he  proposed  to  go  over 
the  discourse  himself,  if  they  chose.  All  having  assented,  and 
seated  themselves  upon  a  verdant  knoll,  in  the  calm  of  a  delightful 
summer  evening,  he  rehearsed  the  greater  part  of  the  sermon,  to  their 
great  joy  and  edification, — so  much  pleased  were  they  at  hearing 
that  voice  once  more,  which  had  so  often  thrilled  their  hearts  with 
rapture. 

He  continued,  however,  in  Fenwick,  till  the  year  1665,  when,  upon 
the  death  of  the  brother  to  whom  he  had  made  over  the  paternal 
estate,  he  and  his  wife  took  their  departure  for  Angus  to  look  after 
the  family  affairs.  But  he  had  not  been  long  there  until  he  was 
attacked  by  a  complication  of  maladies,  which  in  about  ten  days 
wrought  his  dissolution.  In  the  midst  of  his  greatest  sufferings,  he 
said,  "  The  Lord  has  been  kind  to  me,  notwithstanding  all  the  evils 
I  have  done ;  and,  I  am  assured,  that  though  I  should  die  mad,  I  shall 
die  in  the  Lord.  Blessed  are  the  dead  that  die  in  the  Lord  at  all 
times;  but  more  especially  when  a  flood  of  errors,  snares,  and  judg- 
ments, are  beginning  or  coming  on  a  nation,  church,  or  people !"  So 
very  excruciating  were  his  bodily  pains,  that  in  order  to  afford  him 
temporary  relief,  his  friends  were  frequently  obliged  to  hold  down 
his  head,  and  raise  his  lower  extremities  ; — yet,  amidst  all  these  he 
was  never  heard  to  complain  ;  but  adored  the  measures  of  Divine 
Providence,  saying — "  It  might  have  been  worse."  During  his 
short  intervals  of  cessation  from  bodily  pain,  he  longed  ardently  for 
his  dissolution,  and  often  said  how  gladly  he  would  make  the  grave 
his  dwelling-place,  when  it  should  please  God  to  bring  his  sufferings 
to  a  close.  Death  came  at  length  to  his  relief  in  the  house  of  his 
broth er-in-law,  Mr.  Lewis  Skinner,  at  Brechin,  upon  Wednesday,  10th 
(  k-tober,  1665,  in  the  45th  year  of  his  age ;  and  he  was  buried  in  the 
church  of  Brechin,  immediately  beneath  the  seats  allotted  to  the 
estate  of  Pitfrothy. 

"  Guthrie,"  says  Mr.  Livingstone,  "  was  a  man  of  most  ready  wit, 
fruitful  invention,  and  apposite  comparisons,  qualified  both  to  awaken 
and  pacify  the  conscience,  straight  and  zealous  for  the  cause  of  Christ, 
and  a  great  light  in  the  west  of  Scotland.  In  his  doctrine  he  was  as 
full  and  free  as  any  man  in  Scotland  had  ever  been  ;  which,  together 
with  the  excellency  of  his  preaching  gifts,  so  recommended  him  to  the 
affection  of  his  people,  that  they  turned  the  corn-field  of  his  glebe  into 
a  little  town,  every  one  building  a  house  for  his  family  on  it,  that 
they  might  live  under  the  drop  of  his  ministry."  Another  writer  says 
of  him — "  He  was  a  burning  and  shining  light ;  he  converted  and 
confirmed  many  thousand  souls,  and  was  esteemed  the  greatest 
preacher  in  Scotland.  Indeed,  he  was  accounted  as  well  qualified  for 
confirminir  those  who  were  under  exercise  of  soul,  as  almost  any  in 


ROBERT    BLAIR.  443 

his  age,  or  any  age  we  ever  heard  of.  Many  Lave  made  reflections 
on  him  because  Le  left  off  Lis  ministry,  on  account  of  the  bishop's 
suspension.  It  is  true  tliat  tLe  authority  of  the  Stuarts  was  too  much 
the  idol  of  jealousy  to  many  of  our  worthy  Scots  reformers  :  for,  we 
may  well  wonder  that  the  nation  did  not  rise  up,  as  one  man,  to  cut 
off  those  who  had  razed  the  whole  of  the  presbyterian  constitution  ; 
but  the  Lord,  for  holy  and  wise  ends,  saw  meet  to  cut  off  those  in 
power  by  another  arm,  after  they  had  all  been  brought  to  the  furnace 
together ;  although  it  might  well  have  been  seen,  as  Guthrie  ob- 
served,— "  that  the  civil  power  laid  the  foundation  for  the  other." 

Besides  his  admirable  work — "  The  Christian's  Great  Interest,"  a 
few  sermons,  said  to  have  been  preached  at  Fenwick,  from  Matt.  xix. 
44,  &c,  and  Hosea  xiii.  9.,  are  still  extant.  The  treatise  on  "Ruling 
Elders"  affixed  to  the  last  edition  of  his  works,  is  not  his,  but  his 
cousin,  Mr.  James  Guthrie's.  A  number  of  manuscripts,  bearing  a 
strong  resemblance  to  his  holograph,  are  still  to  be  found. 


ROBERT  BLATR. 


John  Blair  of  Winclyedge,  a  younger  brother  of  the  ancient  family 
of  Blair,  b>  the  parish  of  Irvine,  was  the  father  of  this  Worthy ;  and 
his  mother  was  Beatrix  Muir,  of  the  family  of  Eowallen.  lie  was 
born  in  1593.  His  father  died  when  very  young,  leaving  his  mother 
with  six  cLildren,  of  whom  Kobert  was  the  youngest.  She  is  said  to 
have  lived  to  the  age  of  100,  and  to  have  spent  nearly  the  half  of  that 
time  in  a  state  of  honourable  widowhood. 

Blair  was  sent  to  the  university  of  Glasgow,  when  about  K>  years 
of  age,  where  he  made  such  remarkable  progress,  both  in  the  classics, 
and  in  philosophy,  which  he  studied  under  his  own  brother  William, 
that  in  a  very  few  years  after  he  was  appointed  to  fill  the  chair  which 
his  brother  had  occupied,  until  he  was  settled  ministerof  Dumbarton. 
Previous  to  his  nomination  to  the  professorship,  however,  he  is  said 
to  have  distinguished  himself  greatly  as  a  teacher  in  the  city,  at  which 
time  he  was  brought  to  a  saving  knowledge  of  the  truth,  under  the 
ministry  of  the  celebrated  Mr.^Boyd  of  Trochrig,  into  whose  hand, 
says  Bl'air  himself  in  his  memoirs,  the  Lord  had  pul  the  key  of  his 
heart,  so  that  whenever  he  heard  him,  he  profited  much,  Mr.  Boyd 
having  been  sent  to  him  as  it  were  from  God,  to  speak  to  him  the 
words  of  eternal  life. 


44.4  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

In  the  summer  of  1010,  Blair  entered  upon  trials  for  license,  and, 
having  passed  honourably  through,  lie  was  appointed  to  preach  in 
the  College  Kirk  on  the  Sabbath  following.  Upon  that  occasion  he 
Mas  told  by  some  of  his  audience,  that  in  his  sermon  the  Lord  had 
spoken  to  their  hearts,  which  excited  him  even  more  to  follow  after 
the  L<»rd.  Not  long-  after,  he  had  for  one  of  his  hearers  the  famous 
Mr.  Robert  Bruce,  and  being  anxious  to  know  what  that  good. man 
thought  of  his  discourses,  he  received  for  answer  : — "  I  found  your 
sermon  very  polished  and  well  digested;  but  there  is  one  thing  I 
missed  in  if,  and  that  is,  the  SpiritqfGod, — I  found  not  that !"  From 
this  Blair  learned,  that,  to  be  a  successful  minister  of  Jesus  Christ. 
something  more  is  necessary  besides  talent  and  eloquence. 

During  the  course  of  his  professorship,  a  report  having  gone  abroad 
that  a  new  oath  of  a  particular  kind  was  to  be  exacted  from  the  pro- 
fessors, he  consulted  Mr.  Gavin  Forsyth,  one  of  his  colleagues,  what 
should  be  done  in  the  matter.  Forsyth  replied, — "By  my  faith,  I 
must  live  !" — "  I  wont  swear  by  my  faith,"  said  Blair,  "  as  you  do; 
but  truly  I  intend  to  live  by  my  faith.  You  may  choose  your  own 
way  ;  but  I  will  adventure  upon  the  Lord."  Some  years  after,  For- 
syth being  reduced  to  great  poverty,  applied  to  the  General  Assembly 
for  relief;  and  Blair,  happening  to  be  moderator  at  the  time,  could 
not  help  remarking  on  his  former  conduct.  In  a  private  conference 
with  the  unfortunate  man,  he  recalled  to  his  mind  his  former  unhappy 
expi-ession ;  but  at  the  same  time,  with  great  tenderness,  told  him 
that  he  himself  had  been  carried  through  by  that  faith,  at  which  he 
had  formerly  scoffed. 

Some  time  after  this  he  was  under  deep  mental  exercise  upon  that 
saying  in  scripture,  The  just  shall  live  by  faith  •  the  result  of  which, 
among  other  things,  led  him  to  remark,  that  it  was  no  wonder  that 
his  not  making  use  of  faith  for  sanctification  had  occasioned  an  ob- 
struction in  the  progress  of  holiness  ;  and  therefore  he  perceived  that 
making  use  of  Christ  for  sanctification,  without  directly  employing 
faith  to  extract  the  same  out  of  him,  was  like  one  seeking  water  out 
of  a  deep  well,  without  a  long  cord  to  let  down  the  bucket  and  draw 
it  up  again.  "  Then,"  said  he,  "  was  I  like  one  that  came  to  the 
store-house,  but  got  my  provision  reached  to  me,  as  it  were  through  a 
window.  T  had  come  to  the  house  of  mercy,  but  had  not  found  the  right 
door  ;  by  this  discovery,  however,  I  found  a  patent  portal  at  which  to 
go  in,  to  receive  provisions  and  furniture  from  Jesus  Christ.  Thus 
the  blessed  Lord  trained  me  up,  step  by  step,  suffering  many  diffi- 
culties to  arise,  that  more  light  from  himself  might  flow  in." 

Soon  after  this,  upon  the  resignation  of  principal  Boyd,  Dr.  Came- 
ron was  called  from  France  to  preside  over  the  university  of  Glas- 
gow ;  and  being  a  staunch  adherent  to  episcopacy,  Blair  was  repeat- 
edly urged  by  him  to  give  in  to  the  "Five  Articles;"  but  he  as  fre- 
quently refused.  The  Doctor  had  his  eye  upon  him  ever  after  this  ; 
and  the  more  so,  because  he  had  been  repeatedly  worsted  by  Blair, 
in  public  disputations,  which  galled  the  Doctor's  scholastic  pride  not 
a  little.  Besides,  having  acted  towards  Blair,  during  his  absence,  in 
a  manner  far  from  being  honourable,  he  foresaw  that  his  future  life, 
in  connexion  with  a  man  of  the  Doctor's  temper,  would  be  everything 


ROBERT    BLAIR.  445 

but  pleasant,  lie  gave  in  his  resignation,  and  left  the  university, — to 
the  great  regret  of  his  brethren,  the  students,  and  people  of  Glasgow 

Although  Blair  had  at  that  time  calls  from  different  parishes  in 
Scotland,^  besides  a  very  pressing  solicitation  to  go  to  France,  he  ac- 
cepted of  an  invitation  to  be  minister  of  Bangor  in  Ireland.  It  is  said 
that  as  he  drew  nigh  thatjilace  he  felt  a  powerful  impression  upon 
his  mind,  that  the  Dean  of  Bangor  was  sick,  which,  upon  his  arrival, 
he  found  to  be  the  case.  Mr.  Gibson,  the  incumbent,  invited  Blair  to 
officiate  for  him,  which  he  did  for  three  sabbaths,  with  so  much  ac- 
ceptance to  the  people,  and  even  to  the  Dean  himself,  that  he  told 
Blair  he  would  be  his  successor  in  that  place,  exhorting  him,  at  the 
same  time,  in  the  name  of  Christ,  not  to  forsake  the  good  way  in 
which  he  had  begun  to  walk.  The  Dean  was  no  friend  in  his  heart 
to  episcopacy,  of  which  he  gave  Blair  frequent  assurance  on  his  death- 
bed, behaving  towards  him  with  the  greatest  kindness  and  attention. 
A  little  before  his  death  he  stretched  out  both  his  arms,  and,  drawing 
Blair  towards  him,  blessed  him  in  the  most  heavenly  manner,  which 
was  so  unlike  his  former  general  behaviour,  that  a  bystander  remark- 
ed : — "  An  angel  is  speaking  out  of  the  Dean's  bed  to  Mr.  Blair !" 
In  a  few  days  the  Dean  died,  and  Blair  was  settled  in  his  place. 

With  regard  to  his  ordination,  the  following  singular  fact  is  related. 
After  Blair  had  told  the  bishoj)  of  the  diocese  his  opinions  regarding 
church  government,  and  that  ordination  by  one  man  did  not  accord 
with  his  principles  ;  the  bishop,  having  previously  heard  of  his  great 
talents  and  piety,  observed  : — "  Whatever  you  account  of  episcopacy, 
yet  I  know  you  believe  presbytery  to  have  a  divine  warrant — will  you 
not  receive  ordination  from  Mr.  Cunningham  and  the  adjacent 
brethren,  and  allow  me  to  come  in  as  a  co-presbyter  ?" — Upon  no 
other  terms  could  the  bishop  be  answerable  to  the  government ;  and 
therefore  Blair  yielded  compliance,  and  was  accordingly  ordained 
about  the  year  1623.  It  was  a  serious  undertaking ;  for  he  had 
above  1200  persons  of  full  age,  besides  children,  who  all  stood  in  great 
need  of  instruction.  Besides  the  stated  duties  of  the  Sabbath,  he 
preached  regularly  twice  a  week  ;  on  which  occasions  he  was  greatly 
assisted,  and  made  a  blessed  instrument  of  much  good  to  the  souls  of 
many. 

In  the  great  work  which  afterwards  took  place  at  Six-mile  Water, 
and  other  parts  in  the  counties  of  Down  and  Antrim,  Blair  was  very 
much  distinguished,  not  only  by  his  own  ministry,  but  also  by  the 
great  pains  he  took  in  stirring  up  others  to  similar  diligence. 

At  the  first  celebration  of  the  Lord's  Supper  in  that  place,  when 
treating  of  the  new  covenant,  his  heart  was  greatly  elated,  which  de- 
termined him  ever  after,  in  the  observance  of  that  ordinance,  to  have 
recourse  to  the  same  inexhaustible  fountain  of  consolation  ;  and. 
coming  over  to  Scotland  soon  after,*  he  received  no  small  assistance 
from  Mr.  Dickson,  who  had  been  restored  to  his  flock  at  [rvi 
who  was  studying  and  preaching  on  the  same  subject  But  he  was 
not  allowed  to  exercise  his  ministry  for  many  years  undisturbed  ;  for, 
in  the  autumn  of  1031,  he  and  Mr.  Livingstone  were  both  suspended 

*  It  is  supposed  that  about  this  time  he  married  his  first  wife,  Beatrix  Hamilton,  a  very 
excellent  lady,  belonging  to  the  family  of  Barduie. 


4J-6  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

by  the  bishop  of  Down.  Upon  application,  however,  to  archbishop 
Usher,  their  sentence  was  relaxed,  and  they  were  permitted  to  con- 
tinue in  their  charge,  until  May  of  the  following  year,  when  they 
were  finally  deposed  from  the  office  of  the  holy  ministry. 

As  the  last  resource  in  this  distressing  case,  Blair  undertook  a 
journey  to  London,  to  represent  to  the  court  his  own  situation,  and 
that  of  his  persecuted  brethren  ;  but  after  waiting  for  a  long  time,  he 
found  there  was  very  little  hope  of  meeting  king  Charles,  and  there- 
fore the  time  hung  very  heavy  on  his  hands.  One  day,  however, 
tired  with  waiting  on  the  court,  and  labouring  under  deep  despond- 
ency, after  having  engaged  in  solemn  prayer,  he  walked  out  to  Green- 
wich Park,  and  having  ventured  to  ask  of  the  Lord  a  sign  by  which 
he  might  be  able  to  judge  of  his  success, — it  was  most  graciously  re- 
vealed to  him,  that  his  wishes  would  ere  long  be  realized.  Very  soon 
after  this,  then,  he  received  a  despatch  from  his  majesty,  not  only 
granting  the  prayer  of  his  petition  ;  but,  in  a  note  to  the  deputy,  on 
the  margin,  written  with  the  king's  own  hand,  were  the  words  : — 
"  Indulge  these  men,  for  they  are  Scotsmen !" 

Upon  his  return  to  Ireland,  he  presented  Charles'  note  to  the 
deputy  ;  but  he  paid  no  attention  to  it ;  wherefore  he  was  compelled 
once  more  to  have  recourse  to  good  archbishop  Usher.  The  vener- 
able old  man  shed  tears  because  he  felt  himself  unable  to  assist  the 
suffering  servants  of  God ;  however,  through  the  kind  interposition 
of  lord  Castlestuart,  the  king  granted  them  six  months'  liberty.  But, 
after  all,  in  November,  1634,  he  was  again  cited  before  the  bishop, 
and  sentence  of  excommunication  pronounced  against  him.  Blair's 
spirit  rose  with  the  emergency,  and,  before  the  bishop's  face,  he  sum- 
moned him  to  answer  for  his  conduct  before  the  tribunal  of  Jesus 
Christ.  Upon  this  the  bishop  contemptuously  appealed  from  the 
justice  of  God  to  his  mercy  ;  to  which  Blair  very  coolly  replied  : — 
"  Your  appeal  is  like  to  be  rejected,  because  you  act  against  the  light 
of  your  conscience !" — and  so  it  happened ;  for  in  a  few  months'  after, 
the  bishop  was  taken  ill ;  and,  labouring  under  great  anguish  of 
mind,  he  said  to  his  physician  one  day,  when  inquiring  how  he  felt: 
— "  It  is  my  conscience,  man,  it  is  my  conscience  V — As  might  have 
been  expected,  the  doctor's  observation  was : — "  I  have  no  cure  for 
that!" — and,  in  a  short  time  after,  the  bishop  departed  this  life,  to 
learn  the  issue  of  his  appeal. 

After  his  ejection,  Blair  continued  to  preach  frequently  in  his  own 
and  some  neighbouring  houses,  until  the  beginning  of  the  year  1635, 
when  he  entered  into  the  matrimonial  state  a  second  time,  with 
Catharine,  daughter  of  Hugh  Montgomery  of  Busbie,  in  Ayrshire, 
then  with  his  family  in  Ireland. 

It  has  been  already  mentioned,  that  a  number  of  the  ejected  pres- 
byterian  ministers  in  Ireland  had  formed  a  project  of  building  a 
vessel  to  convey  them  to  America,  and  that  they  actually  accom- 
plished  this.  A  tremendous  hurricane,  however,  rendered  their 
scheme  abortive,  and  they  sought  refuge  in  Scotland.  Blair  was  one 
of  these.  Having  continued  about  four  months  in  Ireland,  after  the 
failure  of  the  expedition,  he  and  Mr.  Livingstone,  having  received 
information,  that  they  were  about  to  be  apprehended,  immediately 


ROBERT   BLAIR.  447 

went  on  board  a  vessel  bound  for  Scotland,  where  they  landed  in 
1637.  The  principal  scene  of  Blair's  labours  was  about  Irvine,  and 
the  surrounding  country  ;  but  he  went  also  occasionally  to  Edinburgh. 
Episcopacy  being  then  powerfully  regnant  in  the  country,  he  accept 
of  a  chaplaiuship  in  Col.  Hepburn's  regiment  in  the  French  service, 
a  corps  recently  raised  in  Scotland,  and  with  that  officer  he  embarked 
at  Leith.  But  the  display  of  a  military  life  was  not  at  all  suited  to 
our  Worth}T's  habits.  The  regiment  was  composed  chiefly  of  wild 
Highlanders  who  were  intolerant  of  reproof,  and  could  not  brook  tin- 
idea  of  clerical  discipline  ;  and  therefore,  upon  any  reproof  of  Blair's, 
how  grievous  soever  the  offence,  they  made  show  of  their  weapons, 
and  threatened  to  stab  the  good  man.  Such  conduct  as  this  at  once 
determined  him  to  abandon  the  service,  and  he  was  set  ash 
privately,  without  imparting  his  intention  to  any  one.  On  this  occa- 
sion he  had  a  very  narrow  escape  of  his  life ;  for,  his  foot  having 
slipped,  he  would  have  fallen  into  the  sea,  had  he  not  caught  hold  of 
a  rope,  by  which  he  hung  till  he  was  relieved. 

Blair's  return  was  matter  of  great  joy  to  his  friends,  and,  in  the 
spring  of  1638  he  was  called  to  be  fellow-labourer  with  .Mr.  Annan,  at 
Ayr,  to  which  charge  he  was  inducted  upon  the  2d  day  of  May  fol- 
lowing. His  stay,  however,  was  but  short;  for  having,  at  the  (iene- 
ral  Assembly  of  that  year,  vindicated  himself  in  regard  to  his  dispu- 
tation with  Dr.  Cameron,  while  professor  in  the  university  of  Glas- 
gow, and  also  in  the  matter  of  his  settlement  in  Ireland,  he  was  by 
the  supreme  court  appointed  to  St.  Andrew's,  where  his  splendid 
talents  might  be  turned  to  better  account.  He,  nevertheless,  con- 
tinued another  year,  not  seeing  his  way  clearly,  as  he  expressed  him- 
self; but  the  Assembly  of  1639,  dissatisfied  at  this  act  of  disobedi- 
ence, ordered  him  to  betake  himself  thither  without  delay. 

Blair  went  over  again  to  Ireland,  after  the  rebellion  in  1611,*  with 
the  permission  of  the  General  Assembly,  who  had  been  supplicated 
for  a  supply  of  ministers,  to  fill  up  the  vacancies  of  those  who  had 
either  fallen  in  battle,  or  had  been  otherwise  deprived  of  their  livings  ; 
and,  at  this  time,  he  was  no  less  laborious  than  formerly. 

In  1613  he  acted  as  one  of  the  committee  of  the  General  Assembly 
who  agreed  to  a  Solemn  League  and  Covenant  betwixt  Scotland  and 
England ;  and  in  the  end  of  the  same  year,  when  the  Scots  assisted 
the  English  parliament,  he  was  appointed  chaplain  to  the  earl  of 
Crawford's  regiment;  in  which  situation  he  continued  until  duly. 
1611,  when  the  king's  troops  were  defeated  at  Marston-moor  ;f  after 
which  he  returned  to  his  charge  at  St.  Andrew's. 

Blair   opened  the  parliament  and   commission  of  Assembly, 
Perth,  in  July,  1615;  and,  after  having  again  preached  before  par- 

*  A  contemporary  writer  says  that  in  this  rebellion,  the  papists  massacred  about  200,000 
piotestants. — men,  women,  and  children. 

f  "  The  Scots  army  entered  England,"  says  the  Medulla  Historic  Scottor,  Jan.  16,  lG4.i, 
their  army  being  in  number  1S,000  foot,  and  2,000  horse.  After  they  ha;!  served  the  par- 
liament upon  several  occasions,'  and  particularly  at  Marston-moor,  where  they  helpt  them 
to  obtain  a  victory  against  Prince  Rupert,  they  retired  to  Newcastle—  the  king  being 
brought  so  low,  that  he  was  hardly  able  to  keep  anything  of  an  army  in  the  field,  came 
thither  in  disguise,  acquainting  General  Leslie,  the  Srotish  general,  that  be  woul  I  now  com- 
mit himself  to  him  ;  looking  upon  him  as  a  man  of  honour,  that  would  do  nothing  but  what 
was  just  and  loyal,  in  a  matter  of  such  weight. 


448 


SCOTS   WORTHIES. 


liament,  on  the  27th— a  day  of  solemn  humiliation,— he  rode  out  to 
the  arm}-,  then  encamped  at  Forgandenny,  and  preached  to  Crawford 
and  Maitland's  regiments.  In  that  sermon  he  told  them  that  their 
wickedness  was  notorious ;  and,  though  they  had  been  victorious  at 
Marston-moor,  they  would  not  be  able  to  stand  before  a  less  formid- 
able foe,  if  they  did  not  repent,  and  turn  to  God.  In  about  three 
weeks  after,  the  greater  part  of  Crawford's  regiment  was  cut  down  at 
the  unfortunate  affair  of  Kilsyth. 

After  this  defeat,  Blair  opposed  all  terms  of  accommodation  with 
Montrose ;  saying  that  the  Lord  would  look  upon  the  affliction  of  his 
people — and  so  it  turned  out — for  the  Committee  of  Estates  recalled 
General  Leslie  with  4000  foot  and  1000  horse.  Montrose  by  this 
time  had  received  orders  from  the  king  to  march  southward,  and 
i  ippose  Leslie ;  but  the  latter,  having  surprised  the  royal  army  at 
Philiphaugh,  totally  routed  Montrose,  and  put  his  army  to  flight, — 
the  general  himself  having  with  difficulty  made  his  escape.  Among 
the  prisoners  taken  in  that  encounter  were  Sir  Robert  Spottiswood, 
Nathaniel  Gordon,  and  Andrew  Guthrie,  who  were  condemned  to  be 
executed  on  the  17th  of  January  thereafter.  "With  these  gentlemen 
Blair  was  at  great  pains  to  bring  them  to  a  sense  of  their  guilt;  and 
with  Sir  Robert  he  so  far  succeeded,  as  to  obtain  from  him  a  wish  to 
be  released  from  the  sentence  of  excommunication  under  which  he 
lay.  "With  this  Blair  complied ;  but  the  other  two,  being  bishops' 
sons,  were  not  to  be  moved.— Mali  corvi  malum  ovum.* 

In  the  Assembly  of  1646,  Blair,  who  was  moderator  at  the  time, 
was  one  of  those  appointed  to  go  to  the  king  at  Newcastle,  and  en- 
deavour to  convince  him  of  the  alarming  bloodshed  he  had  caused  in 
the  nation  ;  and,  if  possible,  to  reconcile  him  to  Presbytery  and  the 
Covenants.  Among  other  things,  the  conversation  having  turned  tu 
popery,  Blair  asked  his  majesty  if  there  were  not  abominations  in 
that  worship : — "  Yes,"  replied  Charles,  "  I  take  God  to  witness 
there  are  abominations  in  popery,  which  I  so  much  abhor,  that  ere  I 
consent  to  them,  I  would  rather  lose  my  life  and  my  crown  !"  Upon 
this  Blair  urged  him  strongly  to  gratify  the  desires  of  his  subjects, — 
but  he  refused.  Blair's  plain  dealing  with  the  king,  however,  im- 
pressed his  majesty  with  a  favourable  opinion  of  his  honest  sincerity  ; 
but,  unable  to  move  Charles  to  compliance,  he  returned  home  to  St. 
Andrew's,  for  the  time. 

Here,  however,  he  was  not  permitted  to  remain  long ;  for  Mr. 
Henderson,  the  king's  chaplain,  having  died  in  the  interim,  Charles 
immediately  sent  for  Blair  to  supply  the  vacancy.  In  this  also,  Blair 
did  not  at  once  see  his  way  clearly  ;  but  having  consulted  his  friend 
Mr.  Dickson,  and  recollecting  how  honourably  his  deceased  brother 
]  ad  held  fast  his  integrity,  amid  all  the  fascinations  of  a  court,  he  ac- 
cepted of  his  majesty's  offer.  Blair's  diligence  and  fidelity,  as  chaplain 
he  household,  were  most  exemplary, — praying  every  day  in  the 
presence-chamber  before  dinner  and  supper ;  lecturing  once,  and 
preaching  twice,  every  Lord's  day  ;  besides  preaching  occasionally  in 
Bt.  Nicholas'  church  on  other  days  ;  conversing  much  with  the  king  ; 

*  Rooks  out  of  a  bad  nest. 


ROBERT    BLAIR.  449 

debating  with  him  upon  the  forms  of  episcopacy ;  and  pressing  him, 
upon  every  proper  opportunity,  to  accede  to  the  just  aesires  of  his 
people. 

After  prayer,  one  day,  the  king  asked  him  if  it  was  warrantable  to 
determine  a  controversy  in  prayer — as  you  have  to-day  declared  the 
pope  to  be  antichrist, — a  point,  concerning  which  divines  are  still  at 
issue.  Blair  replied  : — "  Please  your  majesty,  with  me  this  is  no  con- 
troversy, and  I  am  sorry  it  should  be  accounted  so  by  your  majesty  ; 
for  it  was  not  so  with  your  royal  father!"  Upon  hearing  this,  the 
king  was  silent;  for  the  authority  of  his  father  was  of  more  weight 
with  him,  than  that  of  any  divine.  After  having  performed  the 
duties  for  a  few  months,  he  was  permitted  to  visit  his  flock  and 
family. 

During  the  sitting  of  the  next  Scots  parliament,  Blair  paid  the 
king  another  visit  at  Newcastle,  where  he  urged  him  with  all  the  elo- 
quence and  arguments  he  could  command,  to  subscribe  the  Covenants, 
and  abolish  episcopacy  in  England, — assuring  him  that  every  honest 
Scotsman  would  espouse  his  cause  against  his  enemies.  To  this, 
Charles  replied, — that  he  was  bound  by  his  great  oath  to  defend 
episcopacy  in  that  church,  and,  rather  than  wrong  his  conscience,  by 
violating  his  oath,  he  would  lose  his  crown.  Blair,  knowing  the  form 
of  words  to  be  only,  that  he  would  maintain  it  to  the  utmost  of  his 
power,  informed  his  majesty  that  he  had  not  only  done  so ;  but,  for 
such  a  length  of  time,  and  to  such  an  extent,  that  he  had  now  no 
power.  All  was  unavailing,  however;  and  therefore  Blair  took  hie 
departure  for  St.  Andrew's  with  a  heavy  heart. 

In  1648,  when  Cromwell  made  a  descent  upon  Edinburgh,  Messrs. 
Blair,  Dickson,  and  James  Guthrie,  were  deputed  by  the  Commission 
of  Assembly  to  wait  upon  the  usurper,  and  endeavour  to  obtain  his 
assent  to  a  uniformity  of  religious  worship  in  England  ;  but  Cromwell 
evaded  the  point  in  his  usual  manner,  by  smooth  and  adulatory 
speeches,  frequently  appealing  to  God  as  to  the  sincerity  of  his  inten- 
tions. But  Blair  was  not  to  be  trifled  with  ;  he  respectfully  demand- 
ed an  answer  to  three  questions — What  was  his  opinion  of  monar- 
chical government  ? — "What  were  his  views  of  toleration  '. — and,  "What 
did  he'think  of  the  government  of  the  church  \  To  the  first,  Crom- 
well said  he  was  in  favour  of  government  by  monarchy;  to  tin- 
second,  that  he  was  altogether  hostile  to  toleration  ;  and  to  the  third  : 
— "  Eh,  Mr.  Blair  !  you  article  me  too  severely  now, — you  must  par- 
don me,  that  I  give  you  not  a  present  answer  to  this  !"  Blair  knew 
well  the  meaning  of  this  evasion ;  for  Cromwell  had  formerly  con- 
fessed that  he  was  partial  to  that  of  Independence.  When  the  depu- 
tation left  Cromwell,  Mr.  Dickson  observed,  "  that  he  was  glad  to 
hear  that  man  speak  no  worse."'  "  Ah  !"  said  Blair,  "  you  don't  know 
him  so  well  as  I,  or  you  would  not  believe  one  word  he  Bays  ;  for  he 
is  a  most  egregious  dissembler  !" 

In  the  contest  between  the  resolutioners  and  protesters,  Blair 
remained  for  the  most  part  neutral;  although,  upon  every  occasion 
where  he  thought  he  could  effect  a  pacification,  he  used  all  his 
influence  and  eloquence  to  reconcile  differences ;  yet,  both  at  St. 
Andrew's  and  at  Edinburgh,  where  there  was  a  strong  muster  on  both 
29 


450  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

sides,  all  his  Lopes  were  blasted,  and  every  shadow  of  agreement 
vanished. 

In  this  state  did  affairs  continue  till  the  year  1660,  when,  upon  the 
death  of  Cromwell,  the  nation,  weakened  by  internal  dissensions, 
agreed  to  recall  Charles  II.  to  the  throne.  On  this  occasion,  Blair 
once  more  made  an  attempt  to  bring  about  a  reconciliation  ;  but  his 
endeavours  were  again  frustrated,  and  a  long  and  bloody  persecution 
was  the  result. 

In  September,  1661,  Sharp  came  to  St.  Andrew's,  and  the  presby- 
tery having  been  well  assured  of  the  double  part  he  had  been  acting, 
and  of  the  probability  of  his  being  made  archbishop  of  St.  Andrew's 
— ill  at  ease  with  such  an  Achan  in  their  camp — commissioned  Blair 
and  another  minister  to  wait  upon  him,  and  inform  him  of  what  had 
come  to  their  knowledge.  This  these  gentlemen  did  with  so  much 
plainness  and  fair  dealing,  that  Sharp  was  never  at  ease  till  Blair  was 
ejected. 

Very  soon  after  this,  Blair,  having  taken  occasion  to  preach  from 
1  Pet.  iii.  13  ; — "  And  who  is  he  that  will  harm  you,  if  ye  be 
followers  of  that  which  is  good  ?" — introduced  into  the  discourse,  the 
topics  of  suffering  for  righteousness'  sake,  and  giving  testimony  to 
the  Covenants  and  the  work  of  Reformation,  against  the  corrupt 
courses  of  the  times.  As  might  have  been  expected,  Blair  was 
summoned  to  appear  before  the  council  to  answer  for  the  sentiments 
to  which  he  had  given  expression.  The  points  upon  which  he  was 
interrogated,  were : — 1.  Whether  he  had  asserted  presbyterial 
government  to  be  jure  divino? — 2.  "Whether  he  had  asserted  that 
suffering  for  it  was  suffering  for  righteousness'  sake  ? — 3.  Whether 
in  his  prayers  against  popery  he  had  joined  prelacy  with  it  ? — Having 
answered  in  the  affirmative,  and  expressed  his  sorrow  that  they 
should  doubt  his  opinion  upon  these  points,  he  was  first  confined  to 
his  chamber  in  Edinburgh  ;  but  afterwards,  on  account  of  his  health, 
permitted  to  retire  to  Inveresk,  about  the  middle  of  January,  1662, 
where  he  remained  until  October,  enjoying  amidst  all  his  perplexities, 
much  of  the  divine  presence.  Through  the  kindness  of  the  chan- 
cellor, he  then  obtained  liberty  to  go  anywhere  he  chose,  with  the 
exception  of  St.  Andrew's,  Edinburgh,  and  the  west  country.  He 
made  choice  of  Kirkaldy  ;  but,  in  consequence  of  an  Act  which  was 
passed  soon  after — that  no  ousted  minister  should  reside  within  twenty 
miles  of  an  archbishop's  see, — he  was  removed  to  Meikle  Couston,  in 
the  parish  of  Aberdour,  where  he  remained  till  his  death. 

At  length,  worn  out  with  age  and  grief,  he  was  taken  ill  on  the  10th 
of  August,  1666  ;  but  he  was  enabled  to  look  forward  to  his  approach- 
ing exit,  with  the  composure  and  serenity  of  a  believer  in  Jesus. 
Many  and  gracious  were  the  edifying  words  with  which  he  both 
strengthened  and  comforted  the  numerous  friends  who  visited  him 
upon  iiis  deathbed.  Upon  one  occasion,  when  told  of  some  severe 
acts  of  council,  lately  passed  at  the  instigation  of  archbishop  Sharp, 
instead  of  reproaching  him,  he  prayed  earnestly  that  the  Lord  would 
open  his  eyes,  and  give  him  repentance  ;  and  afterwards,  in  a  conver- 
sation with  Mrs.  Rutherford  said  : — "  I  would  not  exchange  situations 


ROBERT    BLAIR. 


451 


with  that  man  (Sharp)  altho'  all  between  us  were  red  gold,  and  given 
me  to  the  bargain  !" 

To  his  wife  and  children  he  spoke  with  the  most  affectionate 
seriousness  ;  and  after  having  solemnly  blessed  them,  lie  addressed 
them  one  by  one  upon  subjects  of  grave  and  eternal  importance.  To 
his  son  David  he  said,  "  I  have  again  and  again  thought  upon  my 
former  ways,  and  communed  with  my  heart;  and  as  for  my  public 
actings  and  carriage,  in  reference  to  the  Lord's  work,  if  I  were  to 
begin  again,  I  would  just  do  as  I  have  done."  lie  frequently 
repeated  the  16th,  23d,  and  71st  psalms — the  latter  of  which  be  used 
to  call  his  own.  About  two  days  before  his  death,  his  speech  began 
to  fail  so  much  that  his  words  were  but  imperfectly  understood  ;  but 
to  his  wife,  and  some  other  attendants  he  was  heard  to  say,  that  he 
rejoiced  to  suffer  as  a  persecuted  minister,  adding,  very  energeti- 
cally : — "  Is  it  not  persecution  to  thrust  me  from  the  work  of  the 
ministry,  which  was  my  delight,  and  hinder  me  from  doing  good  to 
my  people  and  flock,  which  was  my  joy  and  crown  of  rejoicing,  and 
to  chase  me  from  place  to  place,  till  I  am  wasted  with  heaviness  and 
sorrow,  for  the  injuries  done  to  the  Lord's  prerogative,  interest,  and 
cause  ?"  These  were  among  the  last  intelligible  expressions  he  was 
heard  to  utter.  At  length  death  terminated  all  his  earthly  sufferings 
and  sorrows,  on  the  morning  of  the  27th  of  August,  1666. 

He  was  buried  in  the  churchyard  of  Aberdour,  close  by  the  wall, 
upon  which  was  erected  a  small  monument,  with  the  following 
unostentatious  inscription  : — 

Hie  reconditse  jacent  mortsB 
Exuviae  D.  Eoberti  Blair,  S.  S. 
Evangel ii  apud  Andreapolin 
Prredicatoris  fidelissimi.     Obiit 
Augusti  27,  1666,  Aetatis  sua  73  * 

Blair  was  a  man  of  an  excellent  constitution ;  and,  though  of  a 
majestically  dignified  mien,  his  deportment  was  humble,  affable,  and 
courteous.  "  In  all  the  private  as  well  as  public  duties  of  his  station, 
he  was  laborious,  diligent,  and  unremitting;  not  only  endearing 
himself  to  the  people  of  his  own  parish  and  congregation  :  but  to  all 
the  people  of  God  in  the  district  where  he  lived,  to  the  church 
judicatories  he  bore  a  very  distinguished  character,  not  only  for  the 
quickness  of  his  apprehension,  but  also  for  the  clearness  of  hia  expo- 
sitions, and  the  decision  which  he  uniformly  displayed  in  all  matl 
of  public  concern. 

At  the  time  when  the  General  Assembly  resolved  upon  a  new- 
Exposition  of  the  Bible,  the  portion  assigned  to  Blair  was  the  1 ks 

of  Proverbs  and  Ecclesiastes  ;    but  the  former  of   thew Ij 

finished  in  the  same  year  on  which  he  died.     He  is  said  also  to  I 
cultivated,  occasionally,  a  taste  for  poetry,  and  to  have  left  i.ehind 

*Here  lie  intombed  the  mortal  remains  of  Mr.  Robert  Blair  S.  S  a  very  faithful 
preacher  of  the  gospel  at  St.  Andrew's,  who  died  on  the  27th  of  August,  1660,  in  the  73d 
year  of  his  age. 


452  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

him  a  few  fugitive  effusions,  and  some  short  epigrams  on  various 
subjects,  which  did  no  inconsiderable  honour  to  the  age  in  which  he 
lived. 


HUGH  M'KAIL. 


Although  all  the  historians  of  the  age  in  which  M'Kail  lived  narrate 
his  sufferings  and  death,  yet  not  one  of  them  takes  any  notice  of  the 
place  of  his  birth.  We  have  it,  however,  from  authority  which  has 
not  been  disputed,  that  he  was  born  of  pious  and  respectable  parents, 
in  the  parish  of  Libberton,  near  Edinburgh  ;  and  that  they  very  early 
dedicated  him  to  the  work  of  the  ministry.  As  a  scholar,  he  dis- 
tinguished himself  very  highly  ;  and  as  a  student  in  divinity,  he,  at 
that  early  age,  gave  sure  indications  of  becoming  a  talented  preacher 
of  the  gospel. 

Before  he  was  twenty  years  of  age,  he  became  chaplain  and  tutor 
in  the  family  of  Sir  James  Stewart  of  Coltness,  at  that  time  lord  pro- 
vost of  Edinburgh,  a  gentleman  remarkable  for  his  attachment  to  the 
cause  of  both  civil  and  religious  liberty.  In  this  family  M'Kail  be- 
came acquainted  with  the  marquis  of  Argyle,  the  earl  of  Loudon,  lord 
Warriston,  and  many  other  kindred  spirits,  whose  patriotic  attach- 
ment to  the  cause  of  Presbytery  he  then  imbibed,  and  continued 
afterwards  to  embrace  with  such  ardour,  as  to  make  him  willing  to 
suffer  the  loss  of  all  things  in  its  defence. 

But  M 'Kail's  enjoyment  of  these  happy  scenes  was  but  of  short 
duration.  The  tyrannical  overbearing  of  king  Charles,  and  his  irre- 
concilable aversion  to  the  principles  of  the  Covenant,  urged  on  by  a 
horde  of  popish  incendiaries,  led  him  soon  after  to  overthrow  the 
presbyterian  church,  as  has  been  already  more  than  once  narrated. 
Although  the  family  of  Sir  James  had  been  friendly  to  the  cause  of 
the  monarch  in  the  days  of  his  adversity,  these  things  were  all  for- 
gotten now,  and  he  was  involved  in  the  general  persecution.  Having 
been  induced  to  accompany  his  friend  Sir  John  Chiesly  of  Carswell 
to  Edinburgh  castle,  both  of  these  gentlemen  were  then  made  prison- 
ers by  order  of  the  government.* 

In  the  winter  of  1661,  M'Kail,  who  still  abode  with  the  family  of 
Coltness,  offered  himself  for  license  before  the  presbytery  of  Edin- 
burgh, and  having  gone  through  his  probationary  trials  to  their  satis- 

*  From  Edinburgh  castle,  Sir  James  was  removed  to  Dundee,  and  fined,  first  in  £500, 
and  afterwards  in  £1000. 


HUGH    M'KAIL.  453 

faction,  he  obtained  the  ultimatum  of  his  ambition, — viz.,  that  he 
might  preach  "  Christ,  the  power  of  God,  and  the  wisdom  of  God, 
unto  salvation." 

From  the  last  sermon  which  he  delivered  at  that  time,  in  the  High 
Church  of  Edinburgh,  from  Songi.  7.,*  may  be  dated  the  commence- 
ment of  his  sufferings.  In  this  sermon  he  fearlessly  showed  that  it 
was  no  new  thing  for  the  church  to  be  involved  in  persecution  ;  and, 
amplifying  the  subject,  he  said, — a  Pharaoh  on  the  throne,  a  Iranian 
in  the  state,  and  a  Judas  in  the  church,  had  done  the  work  in  former 
times  ;  and  although  in  his  allusion  to  Hainan  and  Jndas  lie  made 
no  application,  yet  Sharp  and  Lauderdale  thought  their  portraits  had 
been  very  accurately  drawn;  and  therefore  M'Kail  was  singled  out 


out  juiuiil,  aitnougii  lie  naa  little  more  man  a  moment  s  warning, 
escaped  from  his  own  bedroom  to  another,  and  was  almost  miracu- 
lously preserved.  From  thence  he  escaped  to  his  father's  house  in 
the  parish  of  Libberton,  where  he  remained  under  concealment,  till 
lie  found  an  opportunity  to  go  to  Holland,  at  that  time  the  asylum  of 
Scottish  refugees.  In  that  peaceful  country,  apart  from  the  .shaft  of 
persecution,  and  the  din  and  carnage  of  civil  discord,  he  enlarged  his 
stock  of  theological  knowledge,  by  entering  himself  a  student  in  one 
of  the  Dutch  universities. 

M'Kail  returned  to  Scotland  about  the  year  1664:,  or  1665  ;  but 
found  the  state  of  the  church  much  worse  than  when  he  went  abroad. 
A  set  of  ignorant,  illiterate  curates  occupied  the  pulpits  of  the  learned 
and  godly  ministers  who  had  been  ejected;  and  becanse  they  wonld 
not  cease  to  proclaim  the  glad  tidings  of  salvation,  when  and  wl 
soever  they  could  find  opportunity,  had  been  forced  to  wander  upon 
the  mountains,  and  hide  themselves  in  the  lonely  glens  of  the  wildest 
fastnesses  which  the  country  afforded. 

After  his  return,  M'Kail  lived  for  the  most  part  at  his  father's 
house;  but  though  his  days  were  spent  in  seclusion,  they  were  not 
allowed  to  pass  in  idleness.     The  sheep-walks  and  valleys  were 
resort  for  prayer  and  conference  with  those  who  were  as  sheep  with- 
out a  shepherd  ;  and  to  such  persons  these  were  indeed  times  of  re- 

*  «  Tell  me  0  thou  whom  my  soul  loveth,  where  thou  feedest,  where  thou  makes}  thy 
Jhck  to  rest  at  noon :  for  why  should  I  be  as  one  that  turneth  aside  by  the  Hocks  ol  thy 

CTThi°followine  document,  which  is  still  to  be  found  in  the  records  of  council  affoi 
lamentable  specimen  of  prelatic  domination,  in  the  times  of  which  we  write :-    Int. 
ion  having  been  -iven  that  Mr.  Hugh  M'Kail,  chaplain  to  Sir  James  Stewart  of 
and  Goo  luees  3k1  of   ate,  in  a  sermon  preached  by  him  in  one  of  the  kirks  ol  Edinburgh, 
most  ma  idously  inveigh  against,  and  abuse  his  most  sacred   majesty    and   the  present 
rvernmen    in  church  and  state,  to  the  great  offence  of  God,  and  the  stumbling  of  his  people  5 
and  thaTthe  said  Sir  James  Stewart,  and  Mr.  Walter  his  son  were  present,  wheu  said 
?,  VV~Vpr1   it  leist   were  certainly  informed  thereof;  yet,  notwithstanding,  d] 
men  was  Poached  at .teast,  *ere  rertt n  >  w    *  ^  h<?s  . 

aesrnhhvnon  a  ceSn defending  to  sedition,  especially  anent  puhlic  differences-  and  had 
a  smithy   on  a  certain 1  nay ,  lenui.  ,      1  hundred  thousand  would  lose  their 

SatfftSaSK^aSK  Icersire  ordered  .o  eite  «he»  taf.r.  *.  « B 

against  the  11th  insL"  j___.  but  his  son,  Mr.  Walter,  on  being  enm.i I,  nii.l 

ana  dislike  of  the  bishops.     He  was  therefore  imprisoned ;  but  afteniards  set  al 


45±  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

freshing, — many  of  whom  testified  that  lie  had  been  with  Jesus,  ad- 
vancing in  knowledge  and  true  holiness  ;  and,  these  things  having 
been  reported  to  the  curates,  he  became  so  much  the  more  the  object 
of  their  implacable  malice.  His  native  land,  which  had  been  once 
Beulah, — married  to  the  Lord — had  forsaken  her  God,  and  therefore 
M'Kail  thought  it  a  very  befitting  time  for  weeping,  and  fasting,  and 
]u*ayer.  During  one  day  in  every  week  he  poured  out  his  soul  to 
God  in  godly  sorrow  for  his  afflicted  country  ;  and  it  was  observed, 
that  always  after  such  exercises,  he  was  endowed  with  a  large  portion 
of  divine  grace  and  strength,  to  impart  consolation  to  others,  and  to 
take  comfort  to  himself,  of  which  he  soon  after  stood  so  much  in  need. 
The  Spirit  of  God  has  not  said  in  vain,  that  "  the  secret  of  the  Lord 
is  with  them  that  fear  him  ;"  for,  M'Kail  had  now  an  irradicable 
presentiment,  that  he  would  one  day  fall  into  the  hands  of  his  ene- 
mies, and  die  a  martyr  for  the  truth.  The  prospect  of  that  event, 
however,  in  no  way  dismayed  him  ;  for,  to  the  sweet  experience  of 
the  "  little  flock"  who  were  in  the  habit  of  meeting  him  in  his  place 
of  retirement,  he  appeared  as  one  coming  from  the  wilderness,  "  like 
pillars  of  smoke,  perfumed  with  myrrh  and  frankincense,  and  all  the 
powders  of  the  merchant." 

It  was  during  the  time  he  lived  at  his  father's  house,  that  the 
troubles  in  the  west  country  were  excited  by  the  cruelties  of  Sir 
James  Turner,  who  instigated  his  soldiers  to  acts  of  extortion  and 
cruelty,  unknown  to,  and  unauthorized  by,  the  council.*  From 
motives  which  he  himself  afterwards  details,  M'Kail  joined  himself 
to  those  who  then  took  up  arms  in  defence  of  presbyterianism,  and 
marched  with  them  into  Ayrshire.  In  this  small  army  of  undisci- 
plined men,  there  were  other  ministers  besides  M'Kail,  all  eager  in 
defence  of  the  vilified  cause.  It  wras  their  intention  to  march  to 
Edinburgh  with  their  prisoner  Turner,  whose  guilty  conscience  kept 
him  in  constant  alarm  for  his  life,  which  some  would  have  had  no 
objections  that  he  should  have  been  deprived  of  ;  but  he  was  saved 
by  Neilson  of  Corsack,  a  gentleman  whom  he  had  harassed  above 
measure.  Their  route  lay  through  a  deep  moss  between  Cumnock 
and  Muirkirk,  which  they  had  to  traverse  during  a  heavy  rain. 
M'Kail  was  of  a  delicate  constitution,  and  ill  adapted  for  such  a 
march  in  such  weather  :  for,  only  a  little  before  this,  he  had  been 
confined  to  bed  at  Ayr,  and  was  accompanying  the  party  on  horse- 
back. Our  limits  will  not  permit  us  to  detail  the  movements  of  the 
Covenanters,  and  their  proceedings  at  Douglas,  and  Lanark,  on  their 
way  to  the  metropolis,  farther  than  that  they  renewed  the  Covenant 
at  the  latter  place,  after  a  very  moving  sermon  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Guthrie  of  Tarbolton.     After  the  preacher  had  ended,  the  Covenants 

*  One  day  some  soldiers  were  actually  preparing  to  roast  a  poor  old  man  alive,  upon  a 
large  gridiron,  when  they  were  desired  by  four  countrymen  to  desist.  This  interference 
only  exasperated  the  soldiers,  and  a  scuffle  ensued,  in  which  the  peasants  succeeded  in  dis- 
arming their  antagonists,  and  releasing  their  friend.  Fearing  lest  the  other  military  who 
were  quartered  in  the  parish  would  avenge  the  quarrel  of  their  comrades,  they  immediately 
mustered  a  stronger  party,  and  disarmed  the  whole  without  harm  to  any  but  one  who  was 
killed  in  resisting.  Following  up  their  success, — afraid  of  Turner's  resentment,  when  the 
circumstance  should  come  to  his  knowledge, — they  marched  on  to  Dumfries,  took  him 
prisoner,  and  disarmed  his  troops. 


HUGH    M'KAIL. 


455 


were  read  over,  article  by  article;  at  the  conclusion  of  each  of  which, 
the  people  lifted  up  their  hands,  and  sware  unto  the  Lord  their  God. 
— A  writer  of  that  period  says  :— "  It  will  be  hard  to  parallel  Buch 
another  company;  so  many  together  of  sound  judgment,  true  piety, 
integrity  of  heart,  prudent  zeal,  undaunted  courage  and  resoluti 
and  with  so  small  a  mixture  of  persons  of  corrupt  minds,  profane 
conversation,  and  sinistrous  ends;  and,  although  we  would  not  ln- 
prodigal  of  men's  lives,  especially  of  saints,  when  there  are  so  few 
now  to  stand  between  the  living  and  the  dead  ;  yet  that  simple  act  of 
renewing  the  Covenants  gave  more  glory  to  God,  and  was  a  greater 
testimony  and  advantage  to  that  covenanted  cause,  than  (we  hope) 
the  loss  of  so  many  as  fell  in  its  support." 

After  leaving  Lanark,  they  had  a  letter  from  Sir  James  Stewart, 
encouraging  them  to  march  forward  to  Edinburgh,  and  informi 
them  who  were  ready  to  join  them.  By  this  advice,  they  were  unin- 
tentionally led  into  new  difficulties  ;  for,  while  taking  a  hurried  march 
by  Bathgate,  Sharp,  alarmed  at  their  approach,  had  caused  all  the 
gates  of  the  city  to  be  shut,  and  the  passages  guarded  in  such  a  way. 
that  their  friends  were  prevented  from  joining  them,  while  Dalziel's 
army  cut  off  all  succour  in  the  rear.  Exhausted  and  faint,  M'Kail 
was  unable  to  proceed  farther  than  the  water  of  Almond,  at 
Cramond  ;  from  which  place  as  he  was  making  the  best  of  his  \va  . 
Libberton,  and  passing  through  Braid's  Crags,  one  Kennoway,  an 
officer  of  dragoons,  with  another  person,  met  him  and  made  him 
prisoner. 

Having  been  broughtbefore  the  council  at  Edinburgh  he  was  stripped 
and  examined  for  letters,  or  other  writings  ;  but  although  none  were 
found,  he  was  committed  to  prison.  Next  day  he  was  taken  before 
the  earl  of  Dumfries,  lord  Sinclair  and  others,  and  being  interrogated 
concerning  the  rebellion,  refused  to  reply  to  several  of  their  questions  ; 
which  induced  the  council  to  suspect  he  was  possessed  of  some  secrete 
he  was  unwilling  to  divulge. 

On  Thursday,  November  29th,  M'Kail  was  again  examined.  Tie 
acknoAvledged  having  been  with  the  party  in  the  west  country  ;  but, 
even  this  would  not  satisfy  the  council.  They  still  imagined  he  could 
make  some  important  disclosures;  and  to  elicit  them,  that  terrible 
instrument  of  torture,  the  Boot*  was  laid  before  him,  warning  him, 

*  This  instrument  was  employed  for  the  purpose  of  extorting  coi  Tiinab. 

and  for  eliciting  evidence  against  suspected  persons.     It  was  a  strong  iron  or  w 
shaped  like  a  boot,  and  adapted  to  receive  one  or  both  legs.     Where   both   legs    ' 
fined,  as  in  the  case  of  Ravillac,  the  assassin  of  Henry  IV.  of  Frances-see  his  inn    in 
Sully's  Memoirs,  vol.  v.— a  wedge  was  driven  between  the  knees  by  the  I  allet ; 

and  other  wedges  of  increased  thickness  were  successively  introduced,  until  the  pn 
•rave  way   under  the  mortal  agony  occasioned  by  the   blows  of  the  mallet.     It   is 
recorded  of  the  celebrated  Dr.  Fian,  who  was  tried  at  Edinburgh  for  Sorcer) .  and  toi  I 
with  the  boots, "  wherein  he  continued  for  a  long  time,  and  did  abide  so  many  blowi 
them  that  his  le»s  were  crushed  and  beaten  together  so  Bmall  as  mighl   1  ■• 
and  flesh  so  bruised,  that  the  marrow  spouted  forth  in  great  abundance,  whereby  they 
made  unserviceable  for  ever."     When  the  instrument  was  suited  to  cecen  i  [I  the 

le»s  of  the  prisoner,  the  wedge  was  driven  between  ihe  edge  of  the   bool  and  the  1 
For  a  notice  of  the  application  of  this  species  of  torture,  perfectly  harrowing  in  its  di 
see  Old  Mortality,  chap.  vii. ;  and  which,  although  found  in  a  work  ol  fiction, 
from  the  pen  of  Sir  Walter  Scott,  may  be  considered  as  possessii  uracy,  and 

cannot  fail  to  impress  the  mind  of  the  reader  by  its  appalling  truthrolness. 


456  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

that  lie  would  certainly  be  subjected  to  it,  if  be  did  not  make  confes- 
sion. Having  still  preserved  silence,  he  was  brought  forward  again ; 
and,  although  the  instrument  was  produced,  reeking  with  the  blood 
of  Neilson  of  Corsack,  the  young  martyr  suffered  them  to  do  their 
worst,  in  torturing  his  limb  beyond  description.  Nothing,  however, 
could  the  agonizing  pain  extort.  Before  he  received  the  last  three 
strokes,  he  protested  before  God,  that  he  had  no  disclosures  to  make, 
although  all  the  joints  in  his  body  were  subjected  to  the  same  usage. 
More  he  would  not  say  than  that  the  rising  in  Galloway  was  caused 
by  the  indiscretion  of  Sir  James  Turner. 

Having  suffered  severely  from  the  effects  of  the  torture,  he 
petitioned  the  council  to  delay  proceedings  against  him.  Two 
physicians  and  two  surgeons  were  therefore  appointed  to  visit  him 
and  report,  which  they  did,  confirming  the  bad  state  of  his  health  ; 
but  the  council  allowed  him  only  six  days.  In  the  mean  time,  Anne, 
duchess  of  Hamilton,  and  her  mother-in-law,  the  marchioness  of 
Douglas,  wrote  to  the  earl  of  Rothes  in  his  favour,  but  their  request 
was  denied — and  M'Kail,  with  other  four,  was  brought  before  lord 
lienton,  justice  clerk ;  and  Mr.  Murray,  advocate  depute.  The 
principal  charges  against  M'Kail  were,  "  that  he  had  been  at  Ayr, 
Ochiltree,  and  Lanark,  with  the  rebels,  on  horseback,  with  a  sword,'' 
&c. 

Having  been  permitted  to  speak  to  the  indictment — although  still 
very  weak — he  rose  and  addressed  the  court  with  great  calmness  ;  but 
at  the  same  time  with  the  most  undaunted  fortitude.  He  said  that, 
from  the  conclusion  of  his  indictment,  and  from  what  had  happened 
to  others,  he  looked  upon  himself  as  one  appointed  to  die,  and  there- 
fore he  would  candidly  acknowledge  that  he  was  not  ashamed  of  be- 
longing to  that  afflicted,  persecuted  party,  the  Presbyterians.  Ad- 
verting to  the  charge  of  rebellion,  he  said,  that  simple  presence  was 
his  only  accession  to  it ;  and  that  only  by  his  own  extrajudicial  con- 
fession. Indeed,  there  was  nothing  against  him  but  what  he  had 
himself  admitted  ;  and  therefore  the  advocate  depute,  having  again 
read  over  his  confession  to  the  court,  without  any  farther  inquiry  re- 
ferred the  business  entirely  to  them.  The  jury  having  been  called, 
gave  in  their  verdict  by  Sir  William  Murray  of  Newton,  their  chan- 
cellor.— "  Finding  Hugh  M'Kail  guilty  of  being  with  the  rebels  at 
several  places,  according  to  his  own  confession  before  the  council." 

The  verdict  being  reported,  his  doom  was  pronounced,  declaring 
and  adjudging  him  to  be  taken,  on  Saturday,  December  20th,  to  the 
market-cross  of  Edinburgh,  there  to  be  hanged  on  a  gibbet  till  dead, 
and  his  goods  and  lands  to  be  escheated  and  forfeited  for  his  majesty's 
use.  Upon  hearing  this  sentence  he  said,  "  The  Lord  giveth,  and  the 
Lord  taketh  away  ;  blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord."  He  was  then 
carried  back  to  the  tolbooth,  through  the  guards,  the  people  making 
great  lamentation  for  him.  After  he  came  to  his  chamber,  he  imme- 
diately addressed  himself  to  God  in  prayer,  with  great  enlargement 
of  heart,  in  behalf  of  himself  and  those  who  were  condemned  with 
him.  To  a  friend  he  afterwards  said,  "  O  how  good  news  :  to  be 
within  four  days'  journey  of  enjoying  the  sight  of  Jesus  Christ!"  and 
protested,  "  he  was  not  so  cumbered  how  to  die,  as  he  had  sometimes 


HUGH    M-KAIL. 


457 


been  to  preach  a  sermon.'''    To  some  women  lamenting  for  him, 
said,  "That  his  condition,  though  he  was  bnt  young,  and  in  the  bud- 
ding of  his  hopes  and  labours  in  the  ministry,  was  not  to  be  mourned  ; 
for  one  drop  of  my  blood,  through  the  grace  of  God,  may  make  m 

hearts  contrite,  than  many  years'  sermons  might  have  done." 

The  same  afternoon  he  supplicated  the  council  for  liberty  to 
father  to  visit  him,  which  being  granted,  his  father  came  next  night, 
with  whom  he  conversed  a  little  concerning  obedience  to  parents. 
After  prayer,  his  father  said  to  him,  "  Hugh,  I  called  thee  a  goodly 
olive-tree  of  fair  fruit,  and  now  a  storm  hath  destroyed  the  tree  and 
his  fruit!" — to  which  MkKail  answered,  "  that  his  too  good  opinion 
of  him  afflicted  him."  His  father  replied,  "  lie  was  persuaded  God 
was  visiting  not  his  own  sins,  hat  his  parents'  sins,  so  that  he  might 
say,  Our  fathers  have  sinned  and  we  have  borne  their  iniquity,  — 
adding,  "  I  have  sinned;  thou  poor  sheep,  what  hast  thou  don  .'" 
M'Kail  answered  with  many  groans,  "That,  through  coming  short 
of  the  fifth  commandment,  he  had-  come  short  of  the  promise,  that 
his  days  should  be  prolonged  in  the  land  of  the  living ;  and  that 
God's  controversy  with  his  father  was  for  overvaluing  his  children, 
especially  himself." 

Upon  the  20th  of  December,  through  the  importunity  of  friends 
more  than  his  own  inclination,  he  gave  in  a  petition  to  the  council, 
craving  their  clemency,  after  having  declared  his  innocence  ;  but  it 
proved  altogether  ineffectual.  During  his  abode  in  prison,  the  Lord 
was  very  graciously  present  with  him,  both  in  sustaining  him  agai 
the  fears  of  death,  and  by  expelling  the  overcloudings  of  terror,  that 
sometimes  the  best  of  men,  through  the  frailty  of  flesh  and  blood,  are 
subject  to.  He  was  also  wonderfully  assisted  in  prayer  and  prai 
to  the  admiration  of  all  the  hearers  ;  especially  on  Thursday  night, 
when,  being  at  supper  with  his  fellow-prisoners,  his  father,  and 
or  two  more,  he  said  somewhat  cheerfully,  "  Eat  to  the  full,  and 
cherish  your  bodies,  that  we  may  be  a  fat  christmas-pie  to  the  pre- 
lates !"  After  supper,  he  broke  forth  into  several  expressions,  both 
concerning  himself  and  the  church  of  God.  and  at  last  used  that  ex- 
clamation in  the  last  of  Daniel,  "  What,  Lord,  shall  be  the  end  of 
these  wonders  ?" 

The  last  night  of  his  life  he  proposed  and  answered  several  questions 
for  strengthening  his  fellow-prisoners,  such  as: — How  should  he 
from  the  tolbooth  through  a  multitude  of  gazing  people  and  guard- 
soldiers,  to  a  scaffold  and  gibbet,  and  overcome  the  impression  of  all 
this?     He  answered,  by  conceiving  a  deeper  impression  of  a  multitude 
of  angels,  who  are  on-lookers  ;  according  to  that  scripture,  "  We  are  a 
gazing  stock  to  the  world,  angels,  and  men  ;"  for,  the  angels  rejoicing 
at  our  good  confession,  are  present  to  convey  and  carry  our  soulfi 
Abraham's  bosom  ;  not  to  receive  them,  for  that  is  Jesus  Christ's  w<  irk, 
who  will  welcome  them  to  heaven  himself,  with  the  songs  of  an. 
and  blessed  spirits.     What  is  the  way  for  us  to  conceive  of  hea 
who  are  hastening  to  it,  seeing  the  word  saith,  "  Eve  hath  D 
nor  ear  heard,"  &c.  ?    To  this  he  answered,  that  the  Scripture  helpB  us 
two  ways  to  conceive  of  heaven,  1.  Bv  way  of  similitude,  a-  in  Rev. 
xxi.,  where  heaven  is  held  forth  by  the  representation  of  a  glori< 


45S 


SCOTS    WORTHIES. 


city,  &c.  2.  By  holding  forth  the  love  of  the  saints  to  Jesus_  Christ, 
and' teaching  us  to  love  him  in  sincerity,  which  is  the  very  joy  and 
exultation  of  heaven. 

The  last  words  he  spoke  at  supper  were  in  the  commendation  of 
love  above  knowledge  : — "  O  but  notions  of  knowledge  without  love 
are  of  small  worth,  evanishing  in  nothing,  and  very  dangerous  !" 
After  supper,  his  father  having  given  thanks,  he  read  the  16th  psalm, 
and  then  said,  "  If  there  were  anything  in  the  world  sadly  and  un- 
willingly to  be  left,  it  were  the  reading  of  the  Scriptures.  I  said  I 
shall  not  see  the  Lord  in  the  land  of  the  living  ;  but  this^  needs  not 
make  us  sad,  for  where  we  go,  the  Lamb  is  the  book  of  Scripture,  and 
the  light  of  that  city  ;  and  there  is  life,  even  the  river  of  the  water  of 
life,  and  living  springs,"  &c.  Supper  being  ended,  he  called  for  a 
pen,  saying,  it  was  to  write  his  testament  in  which  he  ordered  some 
few  books  ne  had  to  be  delivered  to  several  persons.  He  went  to  bed 
about  eleven  o'clock,  and  slept  till  five  in  the  morning,  when  he  rose 
and  called  for  his  companion,  John  Woclrow,  saying  pleasantly,  "  Up, 
John,  for  you  are  too  long  in  bed  ;  you  and  I  look  not  like  men  going 
to  be  hanged  to-day,  seeing  we  lie  so  long  !"  After  some  short  dis- 
course, John  said,  "  You  and  I  shall  be  chambered  shortly  beside  Mr. 
Kobertson !"  M'Kail  answered,  "  John,  I  fear  you  bar  me  out,  be- 
cause you  were  more  free  before  the  council  than  I  was ;  but  I  shall 
be  as  free  as  any  of  you  upon  the  scaffold  !"  He  then  prayed  with 
Great  fervency,  pleading  bis  covenant  relation  with  God,  and  that 
they  might  be  enabled  that  day  to  witness  a  good  confession  before 
many  witnesses.  His  father  then  bade  him  farewell ;  to  whom,  after 
prayer,  he  said,  his  sufferings  would  do  more  hurt  to  the  prelates,  and 
be  more  edifying  to  God's  people,  than  if  he  were  to  continue  in  the 
ministry  twenty  years.  Desiring  his  father  to  leave  him,  and  go  to 
lus  chamber,  he  prayed  earnestly  to  the  Lord  to  be  with  him  on  the 
scaffold ;  for,  "  how  to  carry  there  is  my  care,  even  that  I  may  be 
strengthened  to  endure  to  the  end." 

About  two  o'clock,  afternoon,  he  was  brought  to  the  scaffold,  with 
other  live  who  suffered  with  him  ;  where,  in  the  opinion  of  all  who 
f  inner]  y  knew  him,  he  had  a  fairer  and  more  composed  countenance 
than  ever  they  had  before  observed.  Being  come  to  the  foot  of  the 
ladder,  he  directed  his  speech  to  the  multitude  on  the  north,  saying, 
"  that  as  his  years  in  the  world  had  been  but  few,  his  words  should 
not  be  many  ;"  after  which  he  delivered  with  a  firm  voice  the  subse- 
quent speech  and  testimony  which  he  had  before  written  and  sub- 
scribed. 

He  then  sung  a  part  of  the  31st  psalm,  and  prayed  with  such  power 
and  fervency,  as  caused  many  to  weep  bitterly  ;  after  which  he  gave 
away  his  hat  and  cloak.  When  he  took  hold  of  the  ladder  to  go  up, 
he  said  with  an  audible  voice,  "  I  care  no  more  to  go  up  this  ladder, 
and  over  it,  than  if  I  were  going  home  to  my  father's  house !"  Hear- 
ing a  noise  among  the  people,  Ee  called  down  to  his  fellow-sufferers, 
saying.  "  Friends  and  fellow-sufferers,  be  not  afraid ;  every  step  of 
this  ladder  is  a  degree  nearer  heaven  !" — and,  having  seated  himself 
thereon,  he  said,  "  I  do  partly  believe  that  the  noble  counsellors  and 
rulers  of  this  land  would  have  used  some  mitigation  of  this  punish- 


HUGH    M'KAIL. 


459 


ment,  had  they  not  been  instigated  by  the  prelates  ;  so  that  our  blood 
lies  principally  at  their  door;  but  this  is  my  comfort  dow,  i: 
that  my  Eedeemer  liveth.    And  now  I  do  willingly  lav  down  my  life 
for  the  truth  and  cause  of  God,  the  Covenants  and  works  of  Reforma- 
tion, which  were  unco  counted  the  glory  of  this  nation  ;  and  if  is  for 
endeavouring  to  defend  this,  and  to  extirpate  that  bitter  root  of  Pre- 
lacy, that  1  embrace  this  rope,'*— the  executioner  thru  putting  the 
rope  about  his  neck.     Hearing  the  people  weep,  he  Baid,  "Your 
work  is  not  to  weep  but  to  pray  that  we  may  be  honourably  borne 
through  ;  and  blessed  be  the  Lord  that  supports  me  now.    Ajb  1  have 
been  indebted  to  the  prayers  and  kindness  of  many  since  myim 
ment  and  sentence,  so  I  hope  you  will  not  be  wanting  to  me 
in  the  last  step  of  my  journey,  that  I  may  witness  a  good  conf. 
and  that  ye  may  know  what  the  ground  of  my  encouragement  in  this 
work  is,  I  shall  read  to  .you  from  the  last  chapter  of  the  Bible,  my 
glory  and  reward,  "  Let  him  that  is  athirst  come  ;"  and  here  vou  see 
my  welcome,  ;;  The  Spirit  and  the  bride  say,  Come."     He  then  said, 
"  I  have  still  a  word  to  say  to  my  friends  "—looking  down  the  scaf- 
fold— l|  Where  are  you  ?     You  need  neither  lament  nor  be  ashamed 
of  me  in  this  condition,  for  I  make  use  of  that  expression  of  Christ, 
'  I  go  to  your  Father  and  my  Father,  to  your  God  and  my  God,'  to 
your  King  and  my  King,  to  the  blessed  apostles  and  martyrs,  '  ami  to 
the  city  of  the  living  God,  the  heavenly  Jerusalem,  to  an  innumera- 
ble company  of  angels,  to  the  general  assembly  of  the  first-born,  to 
God  the  judge  of  all,  to  the  spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect,  and  to 
Jesus  the  Mediator  of  the  new  covenant;'  and  I  bid  you  all  farewell, 
for  God  will  be  more  comfortable  to  you  than  I  could  be,  and  he  will 
be  now  more  refreshing  to  me  than  you  can  be — Farewell,  farewell, 
in  the  Lord  !"   Then  the  napkin  being  put  over  his  lace,  he  prayed  a 
little,  and,  putting  it  up  again  with  his  hand,  said  he  had  a  word  more 
to  say  concerning  what  comfort  he  had  in  his  death.     "  I  hope  you 
perceive  no  alteration  or  discouragement  in  my  countenance  and  car- 
riage ;  and  as  it  may  be  your  wonder,  so  I  profess  it  is  a  wonder  to 
myself;  and  I  will  tell  you  the  reason  of  it.     Besides  the  justic 
my  cause,  this  is  my  comfort,  that  when  Lazarus  died,  the  angels  did 
carry  his  soul  to  Abraham's  bosom  ;  so  that  as  there  is  a  great  solem- 
nity here,  a  scaffold,  a  gallows,  people  looking  out  of  window 
there  is  a  greater  and  more  solemn  preparation  of  angels  to  carry  my 
soul  to  Christ's  bosom.     Again,  this  is  farther  my  comfort,  that  it  is 
to  come  to  Christ's  hand,  and  he  will  present  it  blameless  and  fault- 
less to  the  Father,  and  then  shall  I  be  ever  with  the  Lord.    And  now 
I  leave  off  speaking  any  more  to  creatures,  and  begin  my  intercourse 
with  God,  which  shall  never  be  broken  off. — Farewell  father  and 
mother,  friends  and  relations  ; — Farewell  the  world  and  all  delights  ; 
— Farewell  meat  and  drink  ; — Farewell  sun,  moon,  and  ^tar> ;  -Wel- 
come God  and  Father; — Welcome  sweet  Jesus  Christ,  the  Mediator 
of  the  new  covenant ; — Welcome  blessed  Spirit  of  grace,  and  Go 
all    consolation; — Welcome   glory; — Welcome   eternal    life;-  and. 
Welcome  death !" 

He  then  desired  the  executioner  not  to  turn  him  off  until  he  him- 
self should  put  over  his  shoulders, — which,  after  praying   a   little 


460  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

within  himself,  he  did,  saying,  "  O  Lord,  into  thy  hands  I  commit 
my  spirit,  for  thou  hast  redeemed  my  soul,  O  Lord  God  of  truth  !" — 
and  thus,  in  the  2Gth  year  of  his  age,  he  died  as  he  had  lived  in  the 
Lord, — 

'  Shouting  forth  with  his  expiring  breath, 
The  great  Redeemer's  praise.     Triumphant  leap'd 
Into  the  monster  Death's  devouring  jaws, 
And  made  his  hollow  vaults,  while  passing  through 
With  hallelujahs  ring.     Thus  Stephen  died." 

His  death  was  so  much  lamented  by  the  spectators,  that  there  was 
scarcely  a  dry  cheek  in  all  the  streets  and  windows  about  the  cross  of 
Edinburgh,  at  the  time  of  his  execution.  A  celebrated  historian  gives 
him  this  character,  that,  "  he  was  a  youth  of  26  years  of  age,  univer- 
sally beloved,  singularly  pious,  and  of  very  considerable  learning. 
He  had  seen  the  world,  and  travelled  some  years  abroad,  and  was  a 
very  comely  and  graceful  person.  I  am  told,"  said  he,  "  that  he  used 
to  fast  one  day  every  week,  and  had  frequently,  before  this,  signified 
to  his  friends  his  impression  of  such  a  death  as  he  now  underwent. 
His  share  in  the  rising  was  known  to  be  but  small ;  and  when  he 
spoke  of  his  comfort  and  joy  in  his  death,  heavy  were  the  groans  of 
those  present." 

Meanwhile,  Mackail's  fellow-sufferers,  being  men  of  little  educa- 
tion, who 

"  lived  unknown, 
Till  persecution  dragged  them  into  fame, 
And  chased  them  up  to  heaven," 

spoke  their  last  testimonies  with  such  meekness  and  patience  towards 
their  enemies,  with  such  greatness  of  soul,  piety,  and  good  sense,  that 
they  were  an  admiration  to  all.  Those  who  knew  them  before  were 
convinced  that  it  was  given  them  from  on  high  what  they  should 
speak.  John  Wodrow ;  Michael  Shields,  an  Englishman  ;  John 
Wilson  of  Ayr;  and  Humphrey  Colquhoun,  were  like  men  in  the 
suburbs  of  heaven.  Colquhoun  called  for  his  Bible,  laid  it  on  his 
wounded  arm,  and  read  from  it  apposite  passages,  to  the  astonish- 
ment of  all.  When  they  were  taken  in  battle,  they  had  the  promise 
of  life ;  but,  to  gratify  the  primate's  rage  and  cruelty,  they  were  put 
to  death,  contrary  to  all  law ;  and,  what  is  more,  contrary  to  kino- 
Charles'  order,  that  no  more  lives  should  be  taken  in  the  quarrel. 
Bishop  Burnet  had  brought  the  king's  order  to  this  effect,  to  Sharp,  as 
head  of  the  council,  who  had  connived  at  its  being  kept  secret,  till 
Mackail  and  his  brethren  were  cut  off. 


JOHN    NEVAY.  4(J1 


JOHN  NEVAY. 


John  Nevay  was  licensed  and  ordained  a  minister  in  the  time  of 
bcotland's  purest  reformation,  and  settled  at  Newmills  in  the  parish 
ot  London.  Besides  his  soundness  in  the  faith,  he  was  a  man  of  re- 
markable piety  in  conversation,  and  great  diligence  in  attending  to 
all  the  parts  of  his  ministerial  function.  In  church-judicatories  he 
was  particularly  zealous  in  contending  against  the  several  steps  of  de- 
fection, that  were  contrary  to  the  work  of  reformation  carried  on  in 
that  period. 

When  the  earl  of  Callendar  and  major-general  Middleton  were 
cruelly  harassing  the  Covenanters,  and  well-affected  people  in  the 
west  of  Scotland,  because  they  would  not  join  in  the  Duke  of  Hamil- 
ton's unlawful  engagement  in  war  against  England,  Nevay  was  one 
of  those  ministers  who  assembled  at  the  celebration  of  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per at  Mauchlin-moor,  in  June,  1648,  where  opposition  in  their  own 
defence  was  made  to  Callendar  and  Middleton's  forces,  being  attacked 
by  them  there  upon  the  last  day  of  that  solemnity.*  Besides,  when 
the  Assembly  held  at  Edinburgh  and  St.  Andrews,  in  1651,  approved 
and  ratified  the  public  resolutions  for  restoring  the  malignant- 
places  of  power  and  trust  in  judicatories  and  armies,  Nevay  was  i 
of  those  who  faithfully  witnessed  and  protested  against  that  unhappy 
course. 

And,  as  a  conclusion  to  the  whole,  when  that  chief  of  malignants, 
Charles  II.,  was  restored  as  king  over  these  lands — in  consequence  i  »f 
which  the  whole  of  our  covenanted  work  of  reformation,  which  for 
some  time  had  flourished,  began  to  be  defaced  and  overturned — 
Nevay,  being  the  earl  of  Loudon's  chaplain,  and  very  much  esteemed 
by  him,  was  Nov.  18,  1662,  by  order  of  the  council,  cited,  with  Borne 
others,  to  repair  to  Edinburgh,  and  appear  before  the  council,  on  the 
9th  of  December  thereafter.  He  did  not,  however,  compear  until  the 
23d,  when  he  was  examined;  and,  upon  his  refusing  the  oath  of 
allegiance,  he  was  banished,  in  terms  of  the  following  bond  : — 

"  I,  John  Nevay,  minister  of  the  gospel  at  Newmills,  bind  and 
oblige  myself  to  remove  forth  of  the  king's  dominions,  and  not  to 
return  under  pain  of  death;  and  that  I  shall  remove  before  the  firsl 

*  Bishop  Guthrie  says,  that  the  chief  managers  here  were  Messrs.  William  Ainlir. 
William  Guthrie,  and  John  Nevay ;  and  that  the  Covenanters  were  of  foot  2000,  and  horse 
f;00  strong. 


462  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

of  February;  and  that  I  shall  not  remain  within  the  dioceses  of 
Glasgow  and  Edinburgh  in  the  mean  time.  Subscribed  at  Edin- 
burgh, December  23. 

"  John  Xevay." 

Having  taken  leave  of  his  old  parishioners,  with  a  sorrowful  heart, 
he  prepared  for  his  journey,  and  went  to  Holland,  where  for  some 
rears  he  preached  to  such  as  would  hear  him;  and  jet  all  the  while 
he  displayed  the  affection  of  a  dear  and  loving  pastor  to  his  old 
parishioners  of  Loudon,  both  by  sending  them  sermons  and  letters, 
in  which  he  not  only  exhorted  them  to  steadfastness  in  midst  of 
temptation,  but  even  showed  a  longing  desire  to  return  to  his  native 
land  and  parish,  as  appears  from  a  letter,  written  some  time  before 
his  death,  dated  Eotterdam,  October  22,  166S  :* — "  I  can  do  no 
more  than  pray  for  you;  and  if  I  could  do  that  well,  I  had  done 
almost  all  that  is  required.  I  am  not  worthy  of  the  esteem  you  have 
of  me ;  I  have  not  whereof  to  glory,  but  much  whereof  I  am 
ashamed,  and  which  may  make  me  go  mourning  to  my  grave ;  but 
if  you  stand  fast,  I  live.  You  are  all  my  crown  and  joy  in  this 
earth,  next  to  the  joy  of  Jerusalem  and  her  King,  and  I  hope  to  have 
some  of  you  my  joy  and  crown  in  our  Father's  kingdom,  besides 
those  that  are  gone  .before  us,  and  entered  into  the  joy  of  the  Lord.  I 
have  not  been  altogether  ignorant  of  the  changes  and  wars  that  have 
been  amongst  you — deep  calling  unto  deep — nor  how  the  Lord  did 
sit  on  all  your  floods  as  King,  and  did  give  you  many  times  some 
more  ease  than  others  ;  and  you  wanted  not  your  share  in  the  most 
honourable  testimony  that  ever  was  given  to  the  truth  and  kingdom 
of  Christ  in  that  land,  since  the  days  of  Messrs.  Patrick  Hamilton. 
George  Wishart,  and  Walter  Mill,  &c.,  martyrs." 

That  Xevay  was  no  ordinary  divine  in  his  day,  is  fully  evident, 
from  an  act  of  the  General  Assembly,  in  1647 ;  in  which  he  was 
nominated  one  of  four  ministers,  appointed  to  revise  and  correct 
Rouse's  Paraphrase  of  David's  Psalms  in  Metre, — of  which  he  had 
the  last  thirty — and  also  that  elegant  Paraphrase  of  his  upon  the 
_  of  Solomon,  in  Latin  verse.  Both  of  these  show  him  to  have 
been  a  man  not  only  of  profound  judgment,  but  verv  rare  and  sino-u- 
lar  abilities. 

Pretixedto  the  sermons  of  the  Rev.  James  Borstius,  an  eminent 

Dutch   divine,   at   Rotterdam,   will  be   found  two   copies  of  Latin 

zas,  signed,  Joannes  Xevius,  Scotus ;  the  former  of  which  is  a 

paraphrase  of  Isaiah  ii.  1--5,  consisting  of  seventv-two  lines,  very 

creditable,  indeed,  to  the  piety  and  scholarship  of  the  writer. 

Nevay'e  son  married  Sarah  von  Brakel,  whose  poetical  powers  are 
favourably  exhibited  in  her  elegy  upon  a  popular  preacher,  and  a 
kind  triend  to  the  British  refugees.  In  the  year  1737,  there  was 
published  at  the  Hague,  the  fourth  edition  of  a  small  tract  by  Sarah 
Nevius,  entitled,  -  The  Devout  Disciple  taught  by  the  Lord  Jesus 
himself. ' 

There  are  fifty-two  sermons,  or  rather  notes  of  sermons,  of  Nevay's 

In  K,70   Charles  II:  made  application  to  the  States-General  to  remove  Xevay  and 
-s  lrom  the  Dutch  territories.—  Stcc.n's  Hist,  of  the  Church. 


(.triers 


JOHN    LIVINGSTONE.  443 

published,  upon  the  nature,  properties,  blessings,  &c.,  of  the  Cove- 
nant of  Grace,  in  Svo. ;  thirty-nine  sermons  on  Christ's  Tempta- 
tions, in  manuscript,  all  of  which  were  sent  over  from  Holland,  for 
the  benefit  of  his  old  parishioners  of  Xewmills. 


JOHN  LIVINGSTONE. 


The  subject  of  this  memoir  was  born  in  1603.  He  was  son  of  Mr. 
William  Livingstone,  minister  at  Kilsyth,  but  afterwards  removed  to 
Lanark.  He  was  nearly  related  to  the  house  of  Callendar.  After 
having  taught  his  son  to  read  and  write,  he  seut  him  to  the  Grammar 
school  of  Stirling,  under  Mr.  Wallace,  a  pious  and  learned  man, 
where  he  continued  till  summer  1017,  when  he  returned  home.  In 
October  following,  he  was  sent  to  the  college  of  Glasgow,  where  he 
remained  four  years.     In  1621,  he  passed  Master  of  Arts. 

After  this  he  lived  with  his  father  till  he  began  to  preach,  during 
which  time  he  observed  the  Lord's  great  goodness,  that  he  had  been 
born  of  parents  who  taught  him  the  principles  of  religion  as  soon  as 
he  was  capable  of  understanding  anything.  In  his  own  historical 
account  of  his  life,  he  does  not  remember  either  the  manner  or  time, 
particularly,  when  the  Lord  first  wrought  upon  his  heart  ;  only, 
when  but  very  youug,  he  would  sometimes  pray  with  feeling,  and 
read  the  word  with  delight;  but  afterward  often  intermitted  such 
exercises.  He  had  no  inclination  for  the  ministry,  till  a  year  or 
more  after  he  had  passed  his  course  at  college,  when  he  had  a  stmng 
desire  to  study  medicine,  and  go  to  France  for  that  purpose;  but 
father  refused  to  comply.      About  this  time  his  father,  pur- 

chased some  land  in  the  parish  of  Kilsyth,  caused  the  title-deed 
be  drawn  out  in  his  sou's  name,  proposing  that  he  should  marry  and 
live  there.     Against  this,  however,  he  remonstrated,  fearing  it  might 
divert  him  from  his  studies.     In  the  midst  of  these  straits,  be  re- 
ed to  set  apart  a  day  by  himself  to  implore  God  for  m<        special 
direction;  and  for  this  purpose  he  accordingly  retire' 
wood,  about  a  mile   from  Lanark,  where,   after   much 
regarding  the  state  of  his  soul,  he  thought  it  was  made  oul  to  him, 
that  he  behoved  to  preach  Jesus  Christ ;  which,  if  he  did  not,  he 
should  have  no  assurance  of  salvation.      Upon  this,  la\  ing  aside  all 
thoughts  of  other  things,  he  betook  himself  to  the  study  of  divinity. 
He  continued  a  year  and  a  half  in  his  father's  house,  studying  and 


461  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

sometimes  preaching ;  during  which  time  he  wrote  all  his  sermons 
before  he  preached  them,  till  one  day,  being  to  preach  after  the 
communion  at  Quodquhan,  and  having  in  readiness  a  sermon  which 
he  had  preached  elsewhere  one  day  before,  but  perceiving  several 
persons  present  who  had  heard  him  preach  it,  he  resolved  to  choose 
a  new  text,  writing  only  some  notes  of  the  heads  he  was  to  deliver; 
yet,  he  says,  he  found  at  that  time,  more  assistance  in  enlarging 
upon  these  points,  and  more  emotion  in  his  own  heart,  than  he  had. 
ever  found  before.  He  never  afterwards  wrote  any  more  sermons, 
excepting  only  notes  for  the  help  of  his  memory. 

About  April,  1626,  he  was  invited  by  Lord  Ken  mure  to  Galloway, 
in  reference  to  a  call  to  the  parish  of  Anwoth;  but  some  hinderance 
intervening,  this  design  was  laid  aside.  In  the  following  autumn,  he 
responded  to  another  call  from  Torphichen  ;  but  this  proved  also  un- 
successful. 

After  this  he  resided  for  some  time  with  the  earl  of  "Wigton,  assist- 
ing for  the  most  part  upon  sacramental  occasions,  particularly  at 
Lanark,  Irvine,  Newmills,  and  the  Kirk  of  Shotts.  He  used  to  say 
that  he  experienced  more  of  the  divine  presence,  in  preaching  at  the 
latter  place,  than  at  any  other,  and  particularly  refers  to  Monday, 
21st  June,  1630,  the  day  after  a  communion,  when,  having  spent  the 
previous  night  in  prayer  with  some  pious  Christians,  he  felt  such  free- 
dom and  enlargement  of  mind,  as  he  had  never  experienced  before. 
He  had  been  visited  with  such  misgivings  of  spirit,  when  reflecting 
upon  his  own  weakness  and  unworthiness,  and  the  expectations  of  the 
people,  that  he  thought  to  have  withdrawn  privately,  and  declined 
the  appointment ;  but  fearing  to  distrust  Him  who  has  said  : — "  I 
will  never  leave  thee  nor  forsake  thee,"  he  entered  upon  the  duty, 
choosing  for  his  text,  Ezek.  xxxvi.  25,  26  : — "  Then  will  I  sprinkle 
clean  water  upon  you,  and  ye  shall  be  clean ;  from  all  your  filthi- 
ness,"  &c.  Here  he  was  led  out  in  such  a  melting  strain,  that,  by 
the  outpouring  of  the  Spirit,  a  very  perceptible  change  was  wrought 
upon  about  500  hearers,  who  could  either  date  their  conversion,  or 
some  remarkable  confirmation,  from  that  day.*  He  farther  adds  : — 
"  Some  little  of  that  stamp  remained  on  me  the  Thursday  after,  when 
preaching  at  Kilmarnock  ;  but  on  the  Monday  following,  preaching 
at  Irvine,  I  was  so  deserted,  that  what  I  had  meditated  upon,  written, 
and  kept  fully  in  memory,  I  could  not  get  pronounced  ;  which  so  dis- 
couraged me,  that  I  resolved  not  to  preach  for  some  time, — at  least 
at  Irvine  ;  but  Mr.  Dickson  would  not  suffer  me  to  go  from  thence, 
till  I  preached  next  Sabbath,  which  I  did  with  some  freedom." 

Being  at  Irvine  the  same  summer,  he  received  an  invitation  from 
Clanniboy,  to  come  to  Ireland,  in  reference  to  a  call  from  Killinchie  ; 
and,  seeing  no  appearance  of  an  appointment  in  Scotland,  he  went 
thither,  and  got  a  unanimous  call  from  that  parish.  Here  he  laboured 
with  the  utmost  assiduity  among  a  people  who  had  been  both  rude 
and  profane  before,  but  soon  became  the  most  experienced  Christians 
in  that  part  of  the  country.  But  he  had  not  been  above  a  year  there 
until  he  was  suspended  by  the  bishop  of  Down.     He  remained  under 

*  See  Fulfilling  of  the  Scriptures  part  i.  p.  434.     Wodrow's  History  vol.  i.  p.  143. 


JOHN    LIVINGSTONE.  435 

that  sentence,  until  May,  1632;  when,  by  the  intercession  of  Lord 
Castlestnart,  a  warrant  was  granted  by  the  king  for  his  restoration. 

Soon  after,  he  married  the  eldest  daughter  of  Mr.  Bartholomew 
Fleming,  a  merchant  in  Edinburgh;  burin  little  more  than 
years  be  was  again  deposed  and  excommunicated.  Seeing  no 
pect  of  liberation  either  to  ministers  or  professors,  he  embraced  the 
resolution  of  going  to  New  England  with  other  ministers  in  the  same 
situation  ;  but  the  expedition  proving  unsuccessful,  as  we  have  alreadj 
more  than  once  narrated,  he  returned  to  Scotland,  and  took  tip  hie 
abode  for  a  time  with  Mr.  Dickson,  at  Irvine.  His  stay,  however, 
was  short,  as  he  soon  after  took  his  departure  for  Edinburgh. 

About  the  beginning  of  March,  1638,  when  the  great  bodj  of  the 
nation  were  about  to  renew  their  testimony,  he  was  despatched  to 
London  with  copies  of  the  Covenant,  and  letters  to  friends  ;  but  he 
had  been  there  only  a  few  days,  when  the  Marquis  of  Hamilton  in- 
formed him  that  he  had  overheard  the  king  say,  Livingstone  had 
come,  but  he  would  put  a  pair  of  fetters  about  his  feet.  Alarmed  for 
his  safety,  he  bought  a  horse  and  came  home  by  St.  Alban's  and 
the  western  road.  He  was  present  at  Lanark  and  other  places  when 
the  Covenant  was  sworn  ;  and,  except  at  the  Kirk  of  Shotts,  as  already 
noticed,  he  says,  he  never  witnessed  such  emotions  of  the  Spirit. — all 
the  people  so  generally  and  willingly  concurring ;  yea,  thousands  of 
persons  all  at  once  lifting  up  their  hands,  with  the  tears  flowing  from 
their  eyes  ;  so  that,  through  the  whole  land,  the  people  almost  uni- 
versally entered  into  covenant  with  God,  for  the  reformation  of  reli- 
gion against  prelacy  and  its  obnoxious  ceremonies. 

In  1638,  Livingstone  received  a  call  both  from  Stranraer  in  Gallo- 
way, and  Straiton  in  Carrick  ;  but  he  referred  the  matter  to  Messrs. 
Blair,  Dickson,  Cant,  Henderson,  Rutherford,  and  his  father  ;  who. 
having  heard  both  parties,  advised  him  to  Stranraer ;  to  which  charge 
he  was  admitted  by  the  presbytery,  upon  the  5th  of  .Inly.  1638, 
where  he  remained,  in  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  ministry,  until 
autumn  1648,  when  he  was,  by  the  nomination  of  the  General  Assem- 
bly, translated  to  Ancrurri  in  Teviotdale.  Here  he  found  the  people 
tractable  ;  but  so  very  ignorant,  and  some  of  them  so  very  loos,,  in 
their  morals,  that  it  was  a  long  time  before  any  competent  number 
of  them  were  brought  to  such  a  condition  that  ho  could  venture  to 
celebrate  the  Lord's  Supper.  By  his  diligence,  however,  thn  .ugh  the 
grace  of  God  not  a  few  began  to  lay  religion  to  heart. 

In  1649,  the  parliament  and  church  of  Scotland  sent  con  missioners 
to  treat  with  the  king  at  the  Hague,  in  order  to  his  admission  ;    but 
they  returned  without  satisfaction.     However,  in  summer   L650,  the 
parliament  sent  other  commissioners  to  prosecute  the  foresaid 
at  Breda,  when  the  commission  of  the  kirk  chose  Messrs.  Living- 
stone, Wood,  and  Hutcheson,  ministers  ;  with  the  bonis  Cassill 
Brodie,  as  ruling  elders,  that,  in  name  of  the   church   tl 
present  and  prosecute  their  wishes.     For  several  reasons  Livim 
was  very  unwilling  to  comply;  the  chief  of  which  was,  he  still  bus 
pected  the  king  not  to  be  right  at  heart  in  respect  of  the  true  j.ivsbv- 
terian  religion;  observing,  at  the  same  time,  that  many  in  the  king- 
dom were  ready  to  receive  the  king  home  upon  any  terms  ;  bat  he 
30 


4(36  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

was  at  length  prevailed  upon  by  Messrs.  Dickson,  James  Guthrie, 
and  Patrick  Gillespie,  to  yield  compliance.  After  much  conference 
and  reasoning  with  his  majesty  at  Breda,  however,  the  commission- 
ers were  not  like  to  come  to  any  satisfactory  conclusion.  Living- 
stone observed  that  Charles  still  continued  the  use  of  the  service-book 
and  Ins  chaplains,  and  frequently  spent  the  night  in  balls  and  other 
public  parties.  This,  with  many  other  things,  made  him  conclude 
there  would  be  no  blessing  on  that  treaty  ;  which,  to  his  unspeakable 
grief,  was  at  last  concluded.  Some  time  after,  the  king  set  sail  for 
Scotland,  but  Livingstone  refused  to  go  on  board  with  the  party ; 
and  certainly  would  not  have  done  so,  but  for  the  following  strata- 
gem. When  lord  Brodie  and  Mr.  Hutch eson  saw  that  they  could 
not  prevail  upon  him  to  come  on  board,  they  solicited  him,  before 
parting,  to  come  into  the  ship  at  least,  to  speak  of  some  urgent 
matters  ;  which  having  done,  the  boat,  in  the  mean  time,  that  should 
have  waited  his  return,  made  strait  for  the  shore  without  him.  The 
king  now  agreed  with  the  commissioners  to  swear  and  subscribe  the 
Covenants,  National  and  Solemn  League ;  but  Livingstone,  judg- 
ing that  such  a  rash  and  precipitate  swearing  of  the  Covenants  would 
not  be  for  the  honour  of  the  cause  they  were  embarked  in,  did  all  he 
could  to  deter  Charles  and  the  commissioners  from  doing  so  until 
they  came  to  Scotland.  When,  nothing,  however,  would  dissuade 
the  king  from  his  purpose,  compliance  was  granted  ;  but  Livingstone 
afterwards  remarked,  that  the  commissioners,  nay,  the  whole  king- 
dom— not  even  excepting  the  church — were  highly  culpable  in  re- 
storing him  to  the  government,  without  any  real  evidence  of  a  change 
having  been  wrought  upon  his  heart,  and  without  a  renunciation  of 
his  former  principles,  council,  and  company. 

After  they  landed  in  Scotland,  before  taking  leave  of  the  king  at 
Dundee,  he  took  the  liberty  of  advising  Charles  to  avert  the  impend- 
ing stroke  ready  to  be  inflicted  by  a  victorious  English  army  making 
rapid  advances  upon  him,  by  issuing  a  public  declaration  in  such  a 
way  as  not  to  compromise  his  right  to  the  crown  of  England  ;  and,  in 
the  mean  time,  desist  from  prosecuting  his  title  by  fire  and  sword, 
until  the  storm  should  blow  over,  when  the  nation  would  be  in  a 
better  mood  for  being  governed.  But  Charles  did  not  relish  this  mo- 
tion, saying,  he  would  not  wish  to  sell  his  father's  blood  ;  which  made 
Livingstone  conclude,  that  his  advice  with  regard  to  matters  of  state 
would  meet  with  but  little  success.  Another  instance  of  this  he  met 
with  in  1G5-1,  when  he,  with  Messrs.  Patrick  Gillespie  and  Menzies, 
were  called  up  by  the  protector  to  London,  when  Livingstone  pro- 
posed that  the  heavy  fines  that  had  been  imposed  upon  many  in 
Scotland,  which  they  were  altogether  unable  to  pay,  should  be  taken 
off.  Cromwell  seemed  to  relish  the  suggestion  very  well;  but  when 
it  was  proposed  to  the  council,  they  unanimously  refused  to  listen 
to  it. 

While  at  London,  preaching  before  the  protector,  Livingstone  men- 
tioned the  king  in  prayer,  at  which  some  were  greatly  incensed  ;  but 
Cromwell,  knowing  his  influence  in  Scotland,  said,  "  Let  him  alone  ; 
he  is  a  good  man  ;  and  what  are  we,  poor  men,  in  comparison  of  the 
kino-s  of  England?" 


JOHN    LIVINGSTONE. 


407 


Some  time  after  the  General  Assembly  appointed  Livingston*  . 
some  other  ministers,  to  wait  upon  the  protector's  army  and  the  ( !om- 
mittee  of  Estates  then  with  it ;  but  the  fear  and  apprehension  of  w  hat 
ensued,  deterred  him  from  going,  and  he  went  home  until  he  go1  the 
sad  news  of  the  defeat  at  Dunbar.    After  thja  Cromwell  wrote 
him  from  Edinburgh,  to  come  and  speak  with  him  ;  but  he  deferred 
compliance.     It  was  during  that  winter  the  unhappy  difference  oc- 
curred between  the  resolutioners  and  protesters,  and  Livings! 
it  to  be  his  duty  to  take  part  with  the  latter.   He  was  present  at  tl 
first  meeting  in  the  west,  at  Kilmarnock,  and  several  other  meeti] 
afterwards;  but  not  being  satisfied  with  holding  these  meetings  -  i 
often,  and   continuing  them  so  long,  which  he  imagined  made  the 
breach  wider,  he  declined  them  for  some  time. 

From  that  period  till  the  year  1660,  he  devoted  his  time  to  the  ex- 
ercise of  his  ministry,  when  he  was  informed  that  the  king  had  been 
recalled.  lie  now  clearly  foresaw,  that  the  overturning  of  the  whole 
work  of  reformation  would  ensue,  and  that  the  situation  of  all  who 
should  adhere  to  the  same  would  be  perilous  in  the  extreme.  But 
when,  in  1662,  the  parliament  and  council  had,  by  proclamation, 
ordered  all  ministers  who  had  been  inducted  since  1649,  and  had  not 
kept  the  holiday  of  the  29th  of  May,  either  to  own  the  prelates  or  re- 
move, Livingstone  foresaw  more  clearly,  that  the  storm  was  ready  to 
burst.  At  the  last  communion  which  he  held  at  Ancrnm,  in  October, 
he  says,  that  after  sermon  on  Monday,  it  pleased  the  Lord  to  grant 
him  enlargement  of  mind,  and  freedom  of  utterance  in  a  reasonably 
long  discourse,  anent  the  grounds  and  encouragements  to  suiter  for 
the  present  controversy  of  the  kingdom  of  Christ,  in  appoin 
government  of  his  house;  after  which  he  took  his  leave  of  that  place, 
although  he  knewT  nothing  of  what  was  soon  to  follow. 

After  he  had,  like  Elijah,  eaten  before  a  great  journey — having 
communicated  before  he  entered  upon  suffeiing — he  heard,  very  soon, 
of  the  council's  procedure  against  him,  and  about  other  twelve  or  six- 
teen who  were  to  be  brought  before  them.  Before  the  summons  could 
reach  him,  he  went  privately  to  Edinburgh,  and  concealed  him- 
there  for  some  time,  until  he  could  obtain  certain  information  of  the 
council's  intention,  whether  they  meant  to  take  their  lives,  as  they 
had  done  those  of  William  Guthrie  and  others,  or  merely  to  send 
them  into  exile,  as  they  had  done  with  Messrs.  McWardand  Simpe 
Finding  that  they  intended  only  the  latter,  he  therefore  1  to 

appear  with  the  rest  of  his  brethren.    The  1 1th  of  December  was  the 
day  fixed  for  their  examination*  before  the  council,— the  decision  of 
which  was,  that  they  required  him  to  subscribe  or  take  the  oath 
allegiance,  which  he,  upon  several  solid  ground-  and  reason,,  r  sfn 
Sentence  was  therefore  pronounced,  that  in  forty-eight  hours  he  should 
depart  from  Edinburgh,  and  go  to  the  north  side  of  the  Taj  :  I 
within  two  months  depart  out  of  all  the  king's  dominions,     lie 


jpart 

•dinglv  removed  from  Edinburgh  to  Loilh  ;   but  the 

petition,  in  regard  of  his  infirmity,  he  obtained  liberty  tureuiam  me.e 

until  he  should  remove  from  Scotland.     He  petitioned  also  fpr  a  lew 

days  to  visit  his  wife  and  children,  but  was  refused;  also  for  an  e\- 

*  Wodrow's  History,  vol.  i.  p.  149. 


46S  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

tract  of  his  sentence,  but  could  not  obtain  it.  In  1663,  he  went  on 
hoard,  accompanied  to  the  ship  by  several  friends,  and  in  eight  days 
reached  Kotterdara,  where  he  found  the  rest  of  the  banished  ministers. 
Here  he  had  frequent  opportunities  of  preaching  to  the  Scots  congre- 
gation at  Kotterdam ;  and  in  December  following,  his  wife,  with  two 
of  his  children,  came  over  to  him  ;  but  other  five  were  left  in  Scot- 
land. 

About  this  time,  upon  a  retrospect  of  his  life,  he  observes,  that  the 
Lord  had  given  him  a  body  not  very  strong,  and  }^et  not  weak ;  for 
he  could  hardly  remember  himself  wearied  in  reading  and  studying, 
although  he  had  continued  seven  or  eight  hours  without  rising,  and 
also  that  there  were  but  two  recreations  he  was  in  danger  of  being 
mastered  by.  The  first  was  hunting  on  horseback,  to  which  he  was 
very  partial ;  although  he  had  few  opportunities  of  engaging  in  it, 
yet  he  found  it  very  enticing  ;  the  other  was  singing  in  concerts  of 
music,  of  which  he  had  some  knowledge,  and  took  great  delight. 
He  says  farther,  that  he  was  always  short-sighted,  and  could  not  dis- 
cern any  person  or  thing  afar  off;  but  hitherto  had  found  no  occa- 
sion for  spectacles,  and  could  read  small  print  as  long,  and  with  as 
little  light  almost,  as  any  other.  And,  as  to  his  constitutional  tem- 
perament, he  was  generally  soft  and  benevolent,  averse  to  debates, 
rather  given  to  caution  than  rashness,  and  too  easy  to  be  wrought 
upon  ; — and  although  he  could  not  say  what  Luther  affirmed  of  him- 
self concerning  covetousness,  yet  he  could  say  he  had  been  less 
troubled  with  secular  cares,  than  many  other  evils.  He  was  rather 
inclined  to  solitude  than  company ;  much  troubled  with  wandering 
of  mind  and  evil  thoughts ;  in  outward  things,  he  was  never  rich  ; 
and  although,  when  in  Killinchie,  he  had  not  above  four  pounds 
sterling  of  stipend  a-year,  he  was  never  in  want. 

He  farther  observes,  that  he  could  not  remember  any  particular 
time  of  conversion,  or  ever  being  much  either  cast  down  or  lifted  up; 
only  one  night,  in  the  Dean  of  Kilmarnock's,  having  been  most  of  the 
previous  day  in  company  with  some  pious  people  from  Stewarton, 
who  were  under  that  exercise  of  mind,  when  he  went  to  bed  under 
such  heaviness,  as  he  had  never  experienced  before.  During  night, 
when  fast  asleep,  he  felt  such  a  terror  of  the  wrath  of  God  upon  him, 
that  he  thought  himself  in  a  most  awful  condition.  It  was  instantly 
removed,  however,  but  he  thought  it  was  said  within  his  heart,  "  See 
what  a  fool  thou  art,  to  desire  the  thing  thou  couldst  not  endure  !'r 
In  the  pulpit  he  was  sometimes  much  deserted  and  dejected,  and 
again  at  other  times  graciously  assisted.  He  has  been  heard  to  say 
that  he  never  preached  a  sermon,  except  two,  that  he  would  be  de- 
sh-ous  to  see  in  print ;  the  first — says  Wodrow — was  the  one  at  the 
Ivirk  of  Shotts,  as  has  been  already  noticed,  and  the  other,  that  on  a 
communion  Monday,  at  Hollywood  in  Ireland.  Upon  both  of  these 
occasions  he  had  spent  the  previous  night  in  conference  and  prayer 
with  some  exemplary  Christians,  without  any  more  than  ordinary  pre- 
paration ;  for,  says  his  biographer,  his  style  and  manner  of  preaching 
were  better  adapted  to  ordinary  hearers,  than  to  a  learned  audience. 
Of  the  Hebrew,  Chaldaic,  and  Syriac  languages,  he  had  a  tolerable 
knowledge  ;  but  he  never  made  any  proficiency  in  Arabic. 


JOHN    LIVINGSTONE.  469 

He  had  as  much  of  the  French,  Italian,  Dutch,  and  Spanish  lan- 
guages, as  enabled  him  to  peruse  their  Bibles  and  some  other  bcx  ' 
and,  such  was  the  opinion  the  General  Assembly  entertained  of 
abilities,  that  the}'  thrice  urged  him  very  earnestly  to  write  a  history 
of  the  Church  of  Scotland,  from  the  Reformation  in  1G38  ;  but  he 
always  declined  the  task.  When  in  Holland,  he  spent  the  greater 
part  of  his  time  in  translating  the  Bible  into  Latin  from  the  original 
Hebrew;  for  which  purpose  he  compared  Pagnin'a  version  with  the 
original  text,  and  with  the  later  translations  of  Minister,  the  Tigurine, 
Junius,  Diodati,  and  the  English;  but  especially  the  Dutch,  which 
he  thought  by  far  the  most  accurate  translation. 

Whether  from  his  long  sedentary  habits  or  some  other  cause, — 
perhaps  the  growing  infirmities  of  old  age — he  could  not  determine  ; 
but  from  the  year  1664,  he  suffered  so  much  from  internal  pain,  that 
he  could  only  walk  abroad  with  difficulty.  His  hands,  too,  were  so 
much  paralyzed  that  he  could  scarcely  write;  otherwise,  he  blessed 
the  Lord  that  he  had  found  no  great  defection  either  in  body  or 
mind. 

In  this  weak  state  he  continued  at  Rotterdam  till  he  was  relieved 
from  all  his  earthly  sufferings,  on  the  9th  of  August,  1672.  Anionjj 
his  last  words  were,  "  Carry  my  commendation  to  Jesus  Christ,  till  I 
come  there  myself;"  adding  after  a  pause,  "  I  die  in  the  faith,  that 
the  truths  of  God,  which  he  hath  helped  the  Church  of  Scotland  to 
own,  shall  be  owned  by  him  as  truths  so  long  as  sun  and  moon  en- 
dure;  and  I  believe  that  Independency — though  there  be  good  men 
and  well-meaning  professors  in  that  persuasion — will  be  found  m 
to  the  prejudice  of  the  work  of  God,  than  many  are  aware  of.  I  have 
my  own  faults,  as  well  as  other  men;  but  he  made  me  always  abhor 
shows.  I  have,  I  know,  given  offence  to  many,  through  my  negli- 
gence ;  but  I  forgive,  and  desire  to  be  forgiven/1  Not  being  able  to 
speak  much  at  a  time,  he  said,  after  a  short  pause: — "I  would  not 
have  people  to  forecast  the  worst;  but  there  is  a  dark  cloud  ab 
the  Reformed  Churches,  which  prognosticates  a  coming  storm  '." 

There  have  been  few  wThose  labours  in  the  gospel  have  been  more 
remarkably  blessed  than  Livingstone's  ;  nay,  it  is  doubtful,  if  any 
since  the  days  of  the  apostles,  can  produce  so  many  convincing  and 
confirming  seals  of  their  ministry.  Witness  the  Kirk  of  Shotts  and 
Hollywood  in  Ireland,  at  which  two  places,  about  1500  souls  were 
either  confirmed  in  the  faith,  or  converted  and  brought  to  Christ. 

Besides  his  letter  from  Leith,  1663,  to  his  parishioners  at  Ancrum, 
are  extant  his  Memorable  Characteristics  of  Divine  Providence,  and 
a  manuscript  of  his  live,  of  which  this  memoir  is  a  short  abridgment. 
While  in  his  Patmos  in  Holland,  he  finished  his  Latin  Translation  of 
the  Old  Testament,  which  was  revised  and  approved  of  by  Vosai 
Essenius,  and  other  eminent  men  of  the  age.  Before  his  death,  it  was 
put  into  the  hands  of  Luesden,  to  publish. 


470  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 


JOHN   SEMPLE. 


The  origin  of  tins  wonderful  man  is  altogether  unknown,  and  there- 
fore no  account  can  be  given  of  his  early  life  and  habits.  The  first 
notice  we  have  of  him  is  from  a  manuscript  of  Mr.  Gabriel  Semple, 
minister  of  Jedburgh,  a  relation  of  his,  in  which  the  subject  of  this 
biography  is  represented  as  having  acted  in  the  capacity  of  precentor 
to  one  of  the  Scots  ministers  in  Ireland, — supposed  to  be  either  Liv- 
ingstone, Blair,  or  Cunningham.  The  circumstance  which  led  to  his 
call  to  the  ministry  is  singular,  as  he  is  said  to  have  been  without  a 
classical  education  ;  and  consequently  could  not  have  been  received 
as  a  student  within  any  of  the  Universities. 

About  the  time  of  which  we  write,  and  till  a  period  much  later,  it 
was  the  practice  for  the  congregation  to  assemble,  on  sabbath,  a 
considerable  time  before  the  arrival  of  the  minister,  and  join  together 
in  singing  a  psalm,  which,  not  unfrequently,  was  lengthened  out,  almost 
to  intolerance.  Semple  being  engaged  in  this  exercise  one  morning, 
and  thinking  that  the  minister  was  tarrying  unusually  long,  felt  an 
irresistible  impulse  to  make  some  observations  upon  the  psalm  they 
had  been  singing,  which,  by  the  aid  of  the  Spirit  of  God  he  was 
enabled  to  do,  with  great  freedom  aud  enlargement  of  mind.  The 
ministers,  whose  names  we  have  mentioned,  having  heard  of  this,  and 
judging  that  Semple  had  an  "unction  from  on  high,''  immediately 
examined  into  his  religious  experience  and  scriptural  qualifications ; 
and,  having  satisfied  themselves  that  he  possessed  a  gift  of  edification, 
licensed  him  to  teach  and  exhort  in  private.  Semple,  having  obtained 
this  liberty,  began  to  take  a  wider  circuit  than  was  at  first  contem- 
plated, collecting  large  audiences  in  barns  and  unoccupied  houses, 
and  was  so  very  popular  and  successful,  that  he  became  the  blessed 
instrument  of  converting  many  souls  to  God.  But  Providence  had 
marked  him  out  for  a  more  enlarged  and  useful  sphere ;  wherefore 
he  left  Ireland,  and,  coming  over  to  Kirkcudbright,  he  there  under- 
went a  scrutinizing  examination  for  the  ministry.  Soon  after,  he  was 
called  to  Carsphairn,  a  newly  constituted  church  and  parish.  The 
author  of  the  manuscript  says  : — u  1  had  frequent  occasions  to  be  at 
communions  in  that  country,  much  countenanced  by  God, — at  none 
more  than  Carsphairn ;  Mr.  Semple  always  employed  the  most 
lively  ministers  he  could  find  in  the  presbyteries  of  Dumfries  or 
Galloway — he  gave  the  sacrament  twice  a  year;  and  as  he  had  the 
choice  of  ministers,  so  the  choice  of  people  in  Galloway  and  Niths- 
dale  ordinarily  repaired  thither,  even  twenty  or  thirty  miles  oft'." 


JOHN    SEMPLE.  47"[ 

Semple  was  a  man  of  strict  morality  and  exemplary  piety  ;  and,  as 
such,  he  was  held  in  great  veneration  by  all  ranks  or  people.  lie 
was  a  great  check  upon  the  clergy,  especially  the  indolent  and 
worldly  part  of  them,  who  were  often  much  afraid  of  him.  ( 'oming 
once  from  Carsphairn  to  Sanquhar — about  twelve  miles  distant — on 
a  Monday  morning  after  the  sacrament  there,  the  ministers  being  still 
in  bed,  got  up  in  all  haste,  to  prevent  his  reproof;  bul  he,  observing 
them  putting  on  their  clothes,  said,  "What  will  become  of  the  Bheep, 
when  the  shepherds  sleep  so  long? — in  my  way  hither,  I  -aw  some 
shepherds  on  the  hills  looking  after  their  flocks,"  which,  considering 
his  age,  and  early  journey,  so  many  miles  after  he  had  preached  the 
day  before  at  home,  had  much  influence  on  them,  and  made  them 
somewhat  ashamed. 

He  was  one  who  very  regularly  attended  church-judicatories,  from 
which  he  was  seldom  absent,  and  that  from  a  principle  of  conscience, 
so  that  hardly  any  circumstance  could  hinder  him  from  his  purpose  ; 
for,  going  one  time  to  the  presbytery  of  Kirkcudbright,  twenty  miles 
distant  from  Carsphairn,  when  about  to  ford  the  water  of  Dee, 
although  he  was  told  by  some  that  it  was  impassable;  yet  he 
persisted,  saying,  "  I  must  go  through,  if  the  Lord  will ;  I  am  going 
about  his  work)' — He  entered  the  stream,  and  the  strength  of  the 
current  carrying  him  and  his  horse  beneath  the  ford,  he  fell,  but 
immediately  standing  upright  in  the  Mater,  he  took  off  his  hat,  and 
prayed  a  word  with  great  deliberation ;  after  which  he  and  his  horse 
got' safely  out,  to  the  admiration  of  all  present. 

He  was  also  a  man  much  given  to  secret  prayer,  and  commonly 
retired  to  the  kirk,  for  that  purpose,  before  sacramental  occasions, 
frequently  setting  apart  Friday  for  wrestling  with  the  Lord  for  his 
gracious  presence  on  communion  Sabbaths.  He  was  often  favourc  d 
with  merciful  returns,  to  the  great  comfort  of  both  ministers  and 
people  ;  thereafter  he  also  appointed  a  week  day  for  thanksgiving  to 
God. 

As  he  was  faithful  and  laborious  in  his  Master  s  service,  so  he  was 
also  courageous  and  bold  towards  his  fellow-men,  having  no  r< 
of  persons,  but  sharply  reproving  wickedness  in  the  highest  as  well  as 
in   the  lowest.     He  was  so  evidently  a  man  of  Grod,  that  the 
wicked,  to  whom  he  was  a  terror,  had  a  respect  for  him,  and  Bpoke 
favourably  of  one  who  wished  well  to  their  souls;  so  much  so  that  at 
one  time,  some  person  of  quality  calling  him  a  varlet,  another  p 
of  the  same  rank,  whom  he  had  often  reproved  for  his  wickedness, 
being  present,  said,  he  was  sure  if  he  was  a  varlet,  he  was  one  oi 
God?  varlets.    At  another  time,  a  certain  gentleman,  from  whose 
house  he  was  going  home,  sent  one  of  his  servants,  on  horseback,  with 
a  broadsword,  and  loaded  pistols,  to  feign  an  attack  upon  him   in  a 
lonely-place  in  the  night-time— the  servant  being  ordered  to  do  all  he 
could  to  frighten  him.     The  servant  acconlmgly^urprise.  1_  ln.nl 
holdim 
under 


although 

vou  ai-e  a  wicked  man,  who  will  either  take  my  life  or  my  pur 

God   gives  you  leave.     As  for  my  purse,  it  will  not  do  you  much 


472 


SCOTS    WORTHIES. 


service,  though  you  had  it;  and  for  my  life,  I  am  willing  to  lay  it 
down  when  and  where  God  pleaseth  ;  however,  if  you  will  lay  aside 
your  weapons,  I  will  wrestle  a  fall  with  you  for  my  life  ;  which,  if 
you  be  a  man,  you  cannot  refuse,  seeing  I  have  no  weapons  to  fight 
with  you."' — After  many  threats  on  the  part  of  the  servant,  though  all 
in  vain,  be  at  length  divulged  the  whole  plot,  and  asked  Semple  if  he 
was  not  afraid  at  first  ?  .Not  in  the  least,  answered  Semple  ;  for, 
although  you  have  killed  me,  as  I  did  not  know  but  you  might,  I  was 
sure  to  get  the  sooner  to  heaven. 

Semple  was  one  of  the  faithful  protesters,  in  the  year  1657, 
who  were  apprehended  w7ith  Mr.  James  Guthrie,  at  Edingburgh,  in 
August,  1660 ;  and,  after  ten  months'  imprisonment  in  the  castle, 
was  brought  before  the  council,  who  threatened  him  severely  with 
death  and  banishment.  But  he  answered  with  boldness  : — "  My  God 
will  not  let  you  either  kill  or  banish  me ;  I  will  go  home  and  die  in 
peace,  and  my  dust  will  lie  among  the  bodies  of  my  people.''  He 
was  accordingly  dismissed  ;  and  went  home.  When  re-entering  his 
pulpit,  he  said,  "  I  parted  with  thee  too  easily  before,  but  I  shall  hang 
by  the  wicks  of  thee  now.'! 

He  was  so  much  concerned  for  the  salvation  of  his  people,  that, 
when  on  his  deathbed,  he  sent  for  them,  and  preached  to  them  with 
much  fervency,  showing  them  their  miserable  state  by  nature,  and 
their  need  of  a  Saviour ;  with  so  much  earnestness,  expressing  his 
sorrow  to  leave  many  of  them  as  graceless  as  he  had  found  them,  that 
many  wept  very  bitterly. 

He  died  at  Carsphairn,  about  the  year  1677,  being  upwards  of 
seventy  years  of  age,  in  much  assurance  of  heaven  ;  often  longing 
to  be  there,  rejoicing  in  the  God  of  his  salvation  ;  and,  under  great 
impression  of  dreadful  judgments  to  come  on  these  covenanted 
sinning  lands,  when  scarce  able  to  speak,  he  cried  aloud  three 
times,  "  A  Popish  sword  for  thee,  O  Scotland,  England,  and 
Ireland  !" 


JAMES  MITCHELL. 


The  earliest  accuunt  we  have  of  this  eminent  man  is,  that  he  received 
the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts,  in  1656,  in  the  University  of  Edin- 
burgh,  where  he  received  his  education  for  the  ministiy.  Mr. 
heighten,  afterwards  archbishop,  was  at  that  time  principal,  who, 
before  conferring  the  degree  upon  the  students,  always  tendered 
them  the  National  and  Solemn  League  and  Covenant.     These  cove- 


JAMES    MITCHELL. 


173 


nants  Mitchell  received  with  the  most  full  assent  of  his  will  ;  ?. 
fled  they  contained  nothing  hut  a  brief  compendium  of  the  id 
law,  binding  to  the  duties  we  owe  to  God  and  man,  in  our  several 
stations,  and  hiking  the  king's  intent  to  be  included  therein.      \ 
proof  of  his  fidelity  and  loyalty,  we  may  mention,  that  when  others 
were  swearing  fealty  to  Cromwell,  Mitchell   took  the  oath  of  alle- 
giance to  the  king;  but,  how  he  was  repaid  for  his  faithful  adherence 
to  the  legal  government  the  sequel  will  discover. 

The  name  of  this  Worthy  has  become  chiefly  famous,  for  the  hold. 
but  unsuccessful  attempt,  which  he  made  on  the  life  of  archbishop 
Sharp,  with  the  view  of  ridding  his  country  of  a  man,  whom  not  onl  v 
he,  but  thousands  of  the  servants  of  God,  considered  as  the  greal 
enemy  the  country  had,  to  its  political  and  religious  liberty.  Apart 
from  this,  however,  altogether,  the  name  of  Mitchell  deserves  to  be 
recorded  for  his  sufferings  in  the  cause  of  Reformation. 

Having  received  a  license  to  preach  the  gospel,  very  soon  after  the 
Restoration,  he  was,  with  the  rest  of  his  faithful  brethren,  reduced  to 
many  hardships  and  difficulties.  It  would  appear  he  went  to  Gallo- 
way, about  the  year  1661,  with  a  recommendation  from  Mr.  Trail, 
one  of  the  ministers  of  Edinburgh,  introducing  him  to  some  pious 
ministers  there,  as  a"  good  youth  that  had  not  much  to  subsist  upon, 
and  as  fit  for  a  school,  or  teaching  gentlemen's  children,*'  there  bei 
no  door  of  access  then  to  the  ministry,  for  him,  or  any  one  who  held 
bis  principles,  while  prelacy  was  on  the  advance  in  Scotland. 

But,  whether  he  employed  himself  in  teaching,  or  if  he  preached 
on  some  occasions,  where  he  could  have  opportunity,  we  have  no  cer- 
tain account.  We  find,  however,  he  joined  with  that  little  faithful 
band,  who  rose  in  1666 ;  but  he  was  not  at  the  engagement  at  Pent- 
land,*  having  been  sent  by  Captain  Arnot  to  Edinburgh,  the  day 
before,  upon  some  necessary  business,  on  that  emergent  occasion. 
However,  he  was  excepted  from  the  indemnity  in  the  several  ': 
made  out  for  that  purpose. 

Soon  after  the  unfortunate  defeat  at  Pentland,  Mitchell  went  out 
to  Holland,  from  which  country,  after  remaining  about  nine  months, 
be  returned,  in  company  with  some  Dutchmen  from  Amsterdam, 
having  a  cargo  of  goods  to  dispose  of. 

His  return  was  probably  about  the  beginning  of  the  year  166S,  as 
it  was  during  the  summer  of  that  year  he  made  the  attempt  upon  the 
life  of  Sharp.  Mitchell,  conceiving  himself  now  excluded  from  all 
mercy  or  favour  from  the  government,  and  not  having  yet  laid  down 
arms,  and,  taking  the  archbishop  of  St.  Andrew's  to  be  the  main  in- 
stigator of  all  the  oppression  and  bloodshed  of  his  faithful  brethren, 
formed  a  resolution,  in  1668,  to  despatch  him.  For  this  purpose, 
upon  the  afternoon  of  the  11th  of  July,  he  waited  for  Sharp  coming 
down  to  his  coach,  at  the  head  of  Blackfriars'  Wynd,  in  Edinbur. 
Upon  this  occasion  Sharp  was  accompanied  by  Honeyman,  bishop  oi 
Orkney.  When  the  archbishop  entered,  and  had  taken  his  seat, 
Mitchell  stepped  to  the  north  side  of  the  coach,  and  discharged  a 
pistol  loaded  with  three  balls,  in  at  the  door— at  the  moment  Honey- 

*  Wo.lrow  thinks  he  was  at  Pentland;  but  in  his  answers  before  the  Committee, 
Mitchell  says  otherwise. 


171 


SCOTS    WORTHIES. 


man  was  setting  Lis  foot  in  the  boot,  and,  when  reaching  up  his 
hand  to  step  in,  he  received  the  shot  in  one  of  his  wrists,  and  the 
primate  escaped. 

Upon  this,  Mitchell  crossed  the  street  with  much  composure,  till 
he  came  to  the  head  of  Niddry's  Wynd,  where  a  man  attempted  to 
stop  him ;  but  upon  Mitchell  presenting  a  pistol,  he  let  him  go  ;  after 
which  he  went  down  to  the  wynd,  and  up  Stevenlaw's  Close,  where, 
entering  a  house,  he  changed  his  clothes,  and  came  straight  to  the 
street,  as  being  the  place  where  he  would  be  least  suspected.  A  cry 
then  arose  that  a  man  had  been  killed ;  upon  which  some  replied,  it 
was  only  a  bishop,  and  all  was  soon  quiet.  Upon  Monday,  the  13th, 
the  council  issued  a  proclamation,  offering  a  reward  of  five  thousand 
marks  to  any  that  would  discover  the  perpetrator,  with  pardon  to 
accessories  ;  but  nothing  more  happened  at  that  time. 

Mitchell  shifted  the  best  way  he  could  until  the  beginning  of  the 
year  1674,  when  he  was  discovered  by  Sir  William  Sharp,  the 
bishop's  brother ;  and,  before  Mitchell  was  aware,  he  caused  a  num- 
ber of  his  servants,  armed  for  that  purposo,  to  apprehend  and 
commit  him  to  prison.  On  the  10th  of  February  he  was  examined 
by  the  lord  chancellor,  lord  register,  and  lord  Halton  ;  but  he  denied 
the  assassination  of  the  archbishop  ;  however,  being  taken  apart  by 
the  chancellor,  he  confessed  that  it  was  he  who  shot  the  bishop  of 
Orkney,  while  aiming  at  the  archbishop.  This  he  did  upon  assu- 
rance of  his  life,  given  by  the  chancellor  in  these  words  : — "  Upon 
my  great  oath  and  reputation,  if  I  be  chancellor,  I  will  save  your 
life."  On  the  12th,  he  was  again  examined  before  the  council ;  but 
said  nothing  more  than  he  had  done  before  the  committee.  He  was, 
however,  remitted  to  the  justice  court  to  receive  his  indictment  and 
sentence,  which  was, — to  have  his  right  hand  struck  off  at  the  cross 
of  Edinburgh,  and  his  goods  forfeited.  This  last  part  was  not  to  be 
executed,  till  his  majesty's  pleasure  ;  because,  says  lord  Halton,  in  a 
letter  to  earl  Kincardine,  assurance  of  his  life  was  given  him  upon 
his  confession.  However,  he  was,  on  the  second  of  March,  brought 
before  the  lords  of  justiciary,  and  indicted  for  being  concerned  at 
Pentland,  and  for  the  attempt  on  the  archbishop  of  St.  Andrew's  ; 
but  he  pleaded,  Not  Guilty,  and  insisted,  that  the  things  alleged 
against  him  should  be  proved. 

The  lords  postponed  the  trial  till  the  25th,  and  in  the  mean  time, 
the  council  passed  an  act  (March  12),  specifying  "  that  Mr.  James 
Mitchell  confessed  his  firing  the  pistol  at  the  archbishop  of  St.  An- 
drew's upon  assurance  given  him  of  life  by  one  of  the  committee, 
win)  had  a  warrant  from  the  lord  commissioner  and  secret  council  to 
grant  the  same  ;  and  therefore  he  did  freely  confess,  &c."  In  the 
said  act  it  was  declared,  "that  on  account  of  his  refusing  to  adhere 
to  his  confession,  the  promises  made  to  him  were  void,  and  that  the 
lords  of  justiciary  and  jury  ought  to  proceed  against  him,  without 
any  regard  to  these."  About  the  25th  he  was  brought  before  the 
justiciary  again  ;  but,  as  there  was  no  proof  against  him,  they,  with 
consent  of  the  advocate,  deserted  the  diet,  pro  tempore,  and  he  was 
remanded  to  prison. 

Thus  he  continued  until  January  6th,  1676,  when  he  was  ordered 


JAMES    MITCHELL. 


475 


to  be  examined  before  the  council  by  torture,  concerning  his  being 
m  the  rebellion,  in  the  year  1666.  Accordingly  he  was  brought 
before  them  upon  the  18th,  about  six  o'clock  p.m.  Linlithgow,  b< 
preses,  told  him  ho  was  brought  before  them  to  Beewhether  he  would 
adhere  to  his  former  confession,  lie  answered,  "  My  lord,  it  is  not 
unknown  to  your  lordship,  and  others  here  present,  that,  bv  the 
council's  order,  I  was  remitted  to  the  lords  of  justiciary,  before  whom 
I  received  an  indictment  at  my  lord  advocate's  instance,  to  which 
indictment  I  answered  at  three  several  diets  ;  and  the  last  diet  being 
deserted  by  my  lord  advocate.  I  humbly  conceive  that,  both  by  the 
law  of  the  nation,  and  the  practice  of  this  court,  I  ought  to  have 
been  set  at  liberty;  yet  notwithstanding,  I  was,  contrary  to  law, 
equity,  and  justice,  remanded  to  prison  ;"  and  upon  what  account  I 
am  this  night  before  you,  I  am  ignorant."  The  preses  told  him,  he 
was  only  called  to  see  if  he  would  own  his  former  confession.  lie 
replied,  "  I  know  no  crime  I  was  guilty  of,  and  therefore  made  no 
such  confession."  Upon  this  the  deputy-treasurer  said  : — "  The 
pannel  is  one  of  the  most  arrogant  liars  I  have  ever  known. "" 
Mitchell  replied,  "  My  lord,  if  there  were  fewer  of  those  persons  you 
have  been  speaking  of,  in  the  nation,  I  should  not  be  this  night 
standing  at  this  bar;  but  my  lord  advocate  knows,  that  what  is  pro- 
duced against  me  is  not  my  confession."  The  preses  then  said,  "  Sir, 
we.  will  make  you  confess." 

On  the  22d,  he  was  again  called  before  the  court,  to  see  if  he 
would  own  his  former  confession,  when  a  paper  was  produced,  said 
to  have  been  subscribed  by  him  ;  but  he  would  not  acknowledge  it. 
"  You  see  what  is  upon  the  table,"  said  the  preses,  pointing  to  the 
boot,  a  I  will  see  if  that  will  make  you  confess!"  Mitchell  replied, 
u  My  lord,  I  confess  that  by  torture  you  may  cause  me  to  blaspheme 
God,  as  Saul  compelled  the  saints  ;  you  may  compel  me  to  speak 
amiss  of  your  lordships  ;  to  call  myself  a  thief  or  a  murderer,  and 
then  pannel  me  on  it ;  but  if  you  shall  here  put  me  to  it,  I  protest 
before  God  and  your  lordships,  that  nothing  extorted  from  me,  by 
torture,  shall  be  made  use  of  against  me  in  judgment,  nor  have  any 
force  in  law  against  me,  or  any  other  person.  But  to  be  plain  with 
you,  my  lords,  I  am  so  much  of  a  Christian,  that  whatever  your  lord- 
ships shall  legally  prove  against  me,  if  it  be  truth,  I  shall  not  deny  ; — 
but,  on  the  contrary,  I  am  so  much  of  a  man,  and  a  Scotsman,  that  I 
never  held  myself  obliged  by  the  law  of  God,  nature,  and  nations,  to 
be  my  own  accuser."  The  treasurer  depute  said,  he  had  the  devil's 
logic,  and  sophisticated  like  him — ask  him,  whether  that  be  his  sub- 
scription ?     Mitchell  replied,  "  I  acknowledge  no  such  thing." 

Upon  the  24th,  they  again  assembled  in  their  robes  in  the  innei 
parliament  house,  when  the  boots  and  the  executioner  were  again 
presented.  Mitchell  was  once  more  interrogated;  but  still  perai 
ing,  he  was  ordered  to  the  torture  ;  and,  knowing  that,  after  tin  man 
ner  of  the  Spanish  inquisition,  the  more  he  confessed,  either  concern- 
ing himself  or  others,  the  more  severe  the  torture  would  be  to  make 
him  confess  the  more,  he  thus  addressed  the  court: — "My  lord,  I 
have  been  now  these  two  full  years  in  prison,  and  more  than  one  of 
them  in  bolts  and  fetters,  which  hath  been  more  intolerable  to  me  than 


476  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

many  deaths,  if  I  had  been  capable  thereof;  and  it  is  well  known,  that 
some,  in  a  shorter  time,  have  been  tempted  to  make  away  with  them- 
selves ;  but  respect  and  obedience  to  the  express  law  and  command 
of  God  have  made  me  undergo  all  these  hardships,  and  I  hope,  this 
torture  with  patience  also,  that  for  the  preservation  of  my  own  life, 
and  the  life  of  others,  as  far  as  lies  in  my  power ;  and  to  keep  inno- 
cent blood  from  your  lordships'  persons  and  families,  which,  by  the 
shedding  of  mine,  you  would  doubtless  bring  upon  yourselves'  and 
posterity,  and  wrath  from  the  Lord  to  the  consuming  thereof,  till 
there  should  be  no  escaping  ;  and  now  again  I  protest,  as  before. 
When  you  please,  call  for  the  man  appointed  for  the  work."  The 
executioner  having  been  called,  he  was  tied  in  a  two-arm  chair,  and 
the  boot  brought.  The  executioner  asked  which  of  the  legs  he  should 
take  ;  and  the  lords  bade  him  take  any  of  them.  The  executioner 
laying  the  left  in  the  boot,  Mitchell  drew  it  out  again,  and  said, 
"  Since  the  judges  have  not  determined,  take  the  best  of  the  two  ;  for 
I  freely  bestow  it  in  the  cause  ;"  and  so  put  his  right  leg  into  the  boot. 
After  this  the  advocate  asked  leave  to  speak  but  one  word  ;  but,  not- 
withstanding, he  insisted  at  great  length, — to  which  Mitchell  an- 
swered, "  The  advocate's  word  or  two  has  multiplied  to  so  many, 
but  my  memory  cannot  serve,  in  the  condition  in  which  I  am,  to  re- 
sume in  particular  ;  but  I  shall  essay  to  answer  the  scope  of  his  dis- 
course : — Whereas  he  has  been  speaking  of  the  sovereignty  of  the 
magistrate,  I  shall  go  somewhat  further  than  he  hath  done,  and  own 
that  the  magistrate  whom  God  hath  appointed  is  God's  depute  ;  both 
the  throne  and  the  judgment  are  the  Lord's,  when  he  judgeth  for 
God,  and  according  to  his  law ;  and  a  part  of  this  office  is  to  deliver 
the  poor  oppressed  out  of  the  hand  of  the  oppressor,  and  shed  no  in- 
nocent blood.  And  whereas  the  advocate  has  been  hinting  at  the 
sinfulness  of  lying  on  any  account ;  it  is  answered,  that  not  only 
lying  is  sinful,  but  also  a  pernicious  speaking  of  the  truth  is  a  horrid 
sin  before  the  Lord,  when  it  tendeth  to  the  shedding  of  innocent 
blood — as  in  the  case  of  Doeg.  But  what  my  lord  advocate  has 
forged  against  me  is  false ;  so  that  I  am  standing  on  my  former 
ground,  viz.,  the  preservation  of  my  own  life,  and  the  life  of  others, 
as  far  as  lies  in  my  power, — the  which  I  am  expressly  commanded  by 
the  Lord  of  hosts." 

Upwards  of  thirty  questions  were  asked  at  him  during  his  torture, 
of  which  the  following  are  the  most  important : — "Are  you  that  Mr. 
James  Mitchell  who  was  excepted  out  of  the  king's  grace  and  favour? 
I  never  committed  any  crime  deserving  to  be  excluded. — Were  you 
at  the  battle  of  Pentland  ?  No. — Were  you  at  Ayr ;  and  did  you 
join  the  rebels  there  ?  I  never  joined  with  any  such. — Where  were 
you  at  the  time  of  Pentland  ?  In  Edinburgh. — When  did  you  know 
of  their  rising  in  arms  ?  When  the  rest  of  the  city  knew  it. — When 
was  that  ?  When  the  messenger  came  from  Dumfries,  and  Dalziel, 
with  his  forces,  marched  out  at  the  West  Port. — Where  did  you 
meet  with  James  Wallace  ?  I  knew  him  not  at  that  time. — Did  you 
go  out  of  town  with  Captain  Arnot  ?     No." 

At  the  beginning  of  the  torture,  he  said,  "  My  lords,  not  knowing 
that  I  shall  escape  this  torture  with  my  life,  therefore  I  beseech  you  to 


JAMES    MITCHELL.  Mm 

remember  what  Solomon  saith,  <  He  who  showeth  no  mercy  shall 
have  judgment  without  mercy.'  And  now,  my  lords,  I  do  freely 
from  my  heart  forgive  you,  who  are  sitting  judges  upon  the  bench, 
and  the  men  who  are  appointed  to  be  about  this  horrible  piece  of  w<  irk, 


..  my  „ 
iniquities,  and  never  to  lay  them  to  my  charge  here  nor  hereafter." 

It  is  indeed  true  that  Mitchell  made  a  confession,  upon  the  promise 
of  his  life  ;  but  the  managers  having  revoked  their  promise,  because 
he  would  not  adhere  to  his  confession  before  the  justiciary,  he  was 
advised  by  some  friends  not  too  trust  too  much  to  that  promise,  and 
be  his  own  accuser.  "  The  reader  must  determine"  (says  Crook- 
shanks),  "how  far  he  was  to  blame  now,  in  not  owning  his  confes- 
sion judicially,  as  they  had  judicially  revoked  the  condition  upon 
which  the  confession  was  made ;  and  to  put  a  man  to  torture  for 
finding  out  things  for  which  they  had  not  the  least  proof,  seems  to  be 
unprecedented  and  cruel ;  and  to  bring  him  to  a  farther  trial,  appears 
to  be  unjust.  For,  as  another  author  has  well  observed, — That 
when  a  confession  or  promise  is  made  upon  a  condition,  and  that  con- 
dition is  judicially  rescinded,  the  obligation  of  the  promise  or  con- 
fession is  taken  away,  and  both  parties  are  in  statu  quo.  Besides, 
when  an  open  enemy  perverts  and  overturns  the  very  nature  and 
matter  of  a  discourse  or  confession,  by  leaving  out  the  most  material 
truths,  and  putting  untruths  and  circumstances  in  their  room,  it  no 
longer  is  the  former  discourse  and  confession  ;  and  when  a  person  is 
brought  before  a  limited  judicatory,  before  whom  nothing  was  ever 
confessed  or  proven,  the  person  may  justly  stand  to  his  defence,  and 
put  his  enemies  to  bring  in  proof  against  him." 

At  the  close  of  this  examination,  the  executioner  took  down  his 
leg  from  a  chest  on  which  it  had  been  lying  all  the  time  in  the  boot, 
and  set  both  on  the  ground  ;  and  then  thrusting  in  the  shafts  to  drive 
the  wedges,  began  his  strokes  ;  at  every  one  of  which,  Mitchell,  when 
asked  if  he  had  any  more  to  say,  answered,  No!  At  the  ninth,  he 
fainted  through  extremity  of  pain;  upon  which  the  executioner  cried, 
"  He  is  gone,  my  lords,  he  is  gone !"  He  was  then  ordered  to 
desist,  and  the  lords  walked  away.  After  Mitchell  had  recovered  a 
little,  he  was  carried  in  the  same  chair  to  the  tolbooth. 

Mitchell  continued  in  prison  from  this  time  till  the  beginning  of 
next  year,  when  he  and  Mr.  Frazer  of  Brae  were  sent  to  the  1 1 
where  he  remained  till  about  the  6th  of  December,  when  he  was 
again  brought  to  Edinburgh,  for  trial ;  which  came  on  upon  the  7th 
of  January,  1678.  On  the  third  of  the  same  month,  Sir  George 
Lockhart  and  Mr.  John  Ellis  were  appointed  counsel  for  the  pannel  : 
but  Sharp  was  determined  to  have  hie  life,  and  Lauderdale  gave  vraj 
to  it.  Sir  Archibald  Primrose  furnished  them  with  a  copy  of  the 
council's  act  anent  Mitchell ;  and  a  day  or  two  before  the  trial,  wraited 
upon  Lauderdale,  who  had  been  summoned  along  with  lord    Rothes, 

*  For  a  most  interesting  account  of  this  rock,  so  famous  in  the  ecclesiastical  hi- 
Scotland,  see  a  volume   entitled,  "  The  Bass  Rock,"   by   Hugh  Miller,   Dr.  McCne,  and 
others,  published  by  R.  Carter  &  Brothers. 


478  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

lord  Halton,  and  Sharp.  Primrose  told  Lauderdale,  that  he  thought 
a  promise  of  life  had  been  given  ;  but  the  latter  denied  it.  Primrose 
wished  that  act  of  council  to  be  looked  into;  but  Lauderdale  said  he 
would  not  give  himself  the  trouble. 

When  the  trial  came  on,  the  proof  rested  mainly  on  his  own 
confession — February  16,  1674 — and  many  and  long  were  the 
reasonings  on  the  different  charges  in  the  indictment.  Sir  George 
Lockbart  defended  the  prisoner  with  great  learning,  to  the  admiration 
of  the  audience,  "  that  no  extra-judicial  confession  could  be  allowed 
as  evidence,  and  that  his  confession  had  been  extorted  from  him 
under  promise  of  life ;  but  it  was  overruled."  So  tedious  were  the 
pleadings  that  the  court  adjourned  over  until  the  9th, — a  full  report 
of  which  will  be  found  in  Wodrow's  History. 

The  court  having  reassembled  on  the  day  appointed,  lord  Pothes,  a 
crown  witness,  upon  being  shown  Mitchell's  confession,  deponed  that 
he  was  present  and  saw  Mitchell  subscribe  the  same,  but  that  he  gave 
him  no  assurance  of  his  life ;  nor  did  he  remember  any  warrant  given 
by  the  council  to  his  lordship  to  that  effect.  Halton  and  Lauderdale 
deponed  much  to  the  same  purpose ;  but  Sharp  swore  distinctly,  that 
he  knew  the  prisoner  at  the  bar,  at  first  sight,  to  be  the  person  who 
shot  at  him  ;  but  that  he  either  gave  him  assurance  of  life,  or  author- 
ized any  person  to  do  so,  was  a  false  and  malicious  calumny — that  he 
gave  no  other  promise  to  Nichol  Somerville,  than  that  it  was  his 
interest  to  make  a  free  confession.  Somerville,  however,  Mitchell's 
brother-in-law,  deponed,  that  the  archbishop  promised  to  him  to 
secure  his  life,  if  he  could  induce  him  to  confess.  Sharp  denied  this, 
calling  it  a  villainous  lie ;  and  Sir  William  Paterson,  Mr.  John 
Vanse,  and  the  bishop  of  Galloway,  all  swore  in  Sharp's  favour, — it 
being  dangerous  for  them  to  do  otherwise. 

At  the  close  of  the  pleadings  Mitchell  produced  a  copy  of  an  act 
of  council  issued  against  him  on  the  12th  of  March,  1674,  in  which 
the  promise  of  an  assurance  of  life  was  distinctly  recognised ;  and 
requested  that  the  original  might  either  be  produced,  or  the  clerk 
permitted  to  furnish  extracts ;  but  this  was  also  overruled  on  the 
ground  of  informality. 

The  jury  were  therefore  enclosed,  and  ordered  to  return  their 
verdict  next  afternoon,  which  they  did;  and  Mitchell  was  brought  in 
Guilty.  Sentence  was  accordingly  pronounced,  "That  Mr.  James 
Mitchell  be  taken  to  the  Grassmarket  of  Edinburgh,  upon  Friday,  the 
18th  of  January  instant,  betwixt  two  and  four  of  the  clock  in  the 
afternoon,  and  there  hanged  on  a  gibbet  till  he  be  dead,  and  all  his 
moveables,  goods,  and  gear,  escheat,  and  in-brought  to  his  majesty's 
use."  No  sooner  did  the  court  break  up,  than  the  lords  found  the  act 
recorded,  and  signed  by  lord  Eothes,  the  president  of  the  council. — 
"  This  action,"  says  Burnet,  "  and  all  concerned  in  it,  were  looked  on 
by  the  people  with  horror ;  and  it  was  such  a  complication  of 
treachery,  perjury  and  cruelty,  as  the  like  had  not  perhaps  been 
known." 

Two  days  after  the  sentence,  orders  came  from  court  for  placing 
Mitchell's  head  and  hands  on  some  public  place  of  the  city;  but  the 
sentence  being  passed,  no  alteration  could  be  made.     About  the  same 


i 

W  ■ 
"V 

*b      ;  i 


i# 


JAMES    MITCHELL. 


479 


time,  his  wife  petitioned  the  council  that  hey  husband  might  be 
reprieved  for  some  time,  that  she  might  see  him  and  take  her  last 
farewell  especially  as  it  was  not  above  twelve  days  since  she  had  been 
delivered  of  a  child,  and  at  the  lime  afflicted  with  a  lever;  hut  do 
regard  was  paid  to  it. 

Such  was  the  end  of  this  zealous  and  faithful  servanl 
fouryears'  unrelenting-  persecution.  That  he  was  a  truly  pious  man, 
notwithstanding  the  foul  aspersions  that  were  east  upon  him  by 
his  enemies,  all  contemporary  writers  agree  in  maintaining,  by  hie 
faithful  contending^  for  the  reformed  and  covenanted  Church  of 
Scotland.  The  attempt  which  he  made  upon  the  life  of  Sharp  is  the 
only  act  that  stands  in  need  of  vindication.  And,  the  reader  cannot 
fail  to  have  observed,  that  Mitchell  looked  upon  himself  as  in  a  state 
of  hostilities;  and,  considering  Sharp  as  one  of  the  chief  instigators 
of  the  tyranny,  oppression,  and  bloodshed,  with  which  the  country 
was  then  visited,  he  thought  he  had  a  right  to  take  every  opportunity 
of  cutting  him  off,  and  the  more  especially,  as  no  redress  v.  a-  to  he 
found  in  the  courts  of  justice.  This,  however,  furnishes  no  p] 
any  private  person  taking  it  upon  himself  to  avenge  his  wrongs, 
wdiere  access  can  be  had  to  a  lawful  magistrate.  Mitchell,  in  his  own 
vindication,  observes,  "  that  the  seducer,  or  adviser  to  a  false  worship, 
was  to  be  put  to  death,  and  that  by  the  hands  of  the  witness."  Such 
he  considers  to  have  been  his  own  case ;  and  remarks  farther,  "  that 
the  bishops  would  say  what  they  did  was  by  law  and  authority; 
but  what  he  did  was  contrary  to  both;"  and  adds — "The  king 
himself,  and  all  the  estates  of  the  land,  both  were  and  are  obliged,  by 
the  oath  of  God  upon  them,  to  extirpate  the  perjured  prelates  and 
prelacy;  and,  in  doing  so,  to  have  defended  one  another  with  their 
lives  and  fortunes. — The  Covenants,"  he  continues,  "were  made  upon 
these  terms, — after  supplications,  remonstrances,  protestations,  and  all 
other  lawful  means  have  been  used  to  that  effect — as  the  la-t  remedy 
we  took  up  arms;  upon  which  condition,  our  nobility,  and  all  the 
representatives  of  the  nation,  according  to  the  National  Covenant. 
and  Solemn  League  and  Covenant,  gave  to  the  king  both  the  Bword 
and  sceptre,  and  set  the  crown  upon  his  head  ;  and  be  accordingly 
received  them,  and  promised  and  swore  by  the  ever  living  God,  to 
use  and  improve  them  for  the  use  aforesaid  ;  and  especially  in  order 
to  the  performing  of  this  article,  the  extirpation  and  overthro 
prelacy." 

While  in  prison,  he  emitted  a  most  ample  testimony,  which  is  to 
be  found  in  Naphtali,  wherein  he  testifies  against  all  profanity  ;  and. 
as  the  cause  of  all  his  sufferings,  quotes  the  words  of  Elijah,—-' 
have  been  very  zealous  for  the  Lord  of  hosts."     In  testifying  a< 
the  givers  and" receivers  of  the  indulgence,  as  an  encroachment 
Christ's  crown  and  prerogative,  he  protests  before  God,  at 
men,  against  all  acts  derogatory  to  the  work  ofGod  and  reformation  ; 
and  also  against  all  banishments,  tines,  and  imprisonments,  to  which 
the  people  of  God  had  been  subjected  for  many  years.    When  BpeaK 
ing  of  his  own  sufferings,  he  says:—"  Now,  if  the  Lord,  in  his  wise 
and  overruling  providence,  bring  me  to  the  close  of  mv  pilgrimage, 
the  full  enjoyment  of  my  long  looked  for  and  desired  ha]  . 


430  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

him  take  his  own  way  and  time  in  bringing  me  to  it.  And,  in  the 
mean  time,  O  thou,  my  soul !  sing  thou  the  song, — Spring  thou  up,  O 
well  of  my  happiness  and  salvation,  of  my  eternal  hope  and  consola- 
tion!— and  whilst  thou  art  burdened  with  the  clog  of  this  clay  taber- 
nacle, dig  deep  in  it  by  faith,  hope,  and  charity ;  and,  with  all  the 
instruments  that  God  hath  given  thee,  dig  in  it  by  precepts  and  pro- 
mises ;  dig  carefully,  and  dig  continually, — a}^e  and  until  thou  come 
to  the  head  and  source  of  the  Fountain  himself,  from  whence  the 
water  of  life  floweth.  Dig  till  thou  come  to  the  assembly  of  the  first- 
born, where  this  song  is  most  suitably  sung  to  the  praise  and  glory  of 
the  rich  grace  and  mercy  of  the  Fountain  of  life." — When  speaking  of 
his  mortification  to  the  world,  and  other  Christian  experiences,  he 
says  : — "  Although,  O  Lord,  thou  shouldst  send  me  in  the  back  tract 
and  tenor  of  my  life,  to  seek  my  soul's  encouragement  and  comfort 
from  them ;  yet  I  have  no  cause  to  complain  of  hard  dealing  from 
thy  hand,  seeing  it  is  thy  ordinary  way  with  some  of  thy  people, — O 
God,  my  soul  is  cast  down  in  me,  from  the  land  of  Jordan,  and  the 
hill  of  Ilermon, — yea,  though  last,  he  brought  me  to  the  banqueting- 
house,  and  made  love  his  banner  over  me  among  the  cold  Highland 
hills  beside  Kippen,  in  November,  1673,  he  remembered  his  former 
lovingkindness  to  me  ;  but  withal,  he  spoke  in  my  ear,  that  there  was 
a  tempestuous  storm  to  meet  me  in  the  face  which  I  behoved  to  go 
through,  in  the  strength  of  that  provision." — After  reciting  several 
texts  of  scripture,  as  consolatory  to  him  in  his  sufferings,  he  concludes 
at  last  in  the  following  words  : — "  And,  seeing  I  have  not  preferred 
nor  sought  after  my  own  things ;  but  thy-  honour  and  glory ;  the 
good,  liberty,  and  safety,  of  thy  church  and  people, — although  it  be 
now  misconstrued  by  many,  yet  I  hope  that  thou,  O  Lord,  wilt  make 
thy  light  to  break  forth  as  the  morning,  and  thy  righteousness  as  the 
noon-day ;  and  that  shame  and  darkness  shall  cover  all  who  are 
enemies  to  thy  righteous  cause.  For  thou,  O  Lord,  art  the  shield  of 
ray  head,  and  sword  of  my  excellency ;  and  mine  enemies  shall  be 
found  liars,  and  shall  be  subdued.     Amen  and  Amen  !" 

The  sentence  must  be  put  in  execution,  without  delay  ;  and  accord- 
ingly, upon  the  18th  of  January,  he  was  taken  to  the  Grassmarket  of 
Edinburgh,  where  he  sealed  his  adherence  to  the  cause  of  the  Refor- 
mation, with  his  blood — a  victim  to  the  most  cruel  persecution  that 
ever  stained  the  annals  of  any  age  or  country. 


COLONEL    JAMES    WALLACE.  jgj 


COLONEL  JAMES  WALLACE. 


James  "Wallace,  our  next  worthy,  was  a  brave  soldier  and  an  emi- 
nent saint.  He  was  descended  from  an  ancient  and  influential  family 
in  Ayrshire.  Auchans,  in  the  parish  of  Dundonald,  had  long  been 
the  patrimonial  seat  of  the  Wallaces.  The  subject  of  this  mi 
entered  the  army  early  in  life;  and,  by  his  bravery,  and  consistent 
deportment,  rapidly  rose  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel.  His 
brother  officers  in  the  parliamentary  forces  held  him  in  great  respect : 
and  he  was  deservedly  popular  among  the  soldiers.  In  1642,  he  be- 
longed to  the  marquis  of  Argyle's  regiment  which  was  sent  in  thai 
year  to  quell  the  troubles  in  Ireland.  He  was  recalled  in  1045,  to 
oppose  the  victorious  progress  of  Montrose,  and  shortly  after  he  was 
taken  prisoner  at  the  battle  of  Kilsyth.  When  Charles  the  Second 
came  to  Scotland,  in  1650,  the  parliament  ordered  two  regiments  of 
life  guards  to  be  unbodied,  one  of  horse  and  the  other  of  foot.  I; 
conformity  with  special  instructions,  these  regiments  were  formed  of 
the  choicest  troops.  Lord  Lorn  was  appointed  colonel,  and  Wallace 
lieutenant-colonel  of  the  foot  regiment  of  guards.  Our  Worthy  wa- 
present  at  the  battle  of  Dunbar,  so  disastrous  to  the  Scots,  and  be  was 
a  second  time  taken  prisoner.  Lord  Lorn  strongly  recommended  him 
to  the  notice  of  parliament  for  promotion,  as  well  as  an  equitable 
compensation  for  great  losses  which  he  had  sustained.  It  does  not 
appear,  however,  that  government  ever  rewarded  his  patriotic  Bel 
vices,  or  indemnified  his  private  loss. 

Wallace  lived  in  retirement  after  the  Restoration,  till  the  year 
1666,  when  he  came  forth  from  his  seclusion  as  the  determined 
asserter  of  his  country's  liberties.  He  was  placed  at  the  head  of  the 
presbyterian  forces,  who  reluctantly  had  recourse  to  arms  at  the 
battle  of  Pentland. 

"  In  accepting  the  dangerous  post  to  which  he  was  chosen,"  say 
Dr.  M'Crie,  "Wallace  could  be  actuated  only  by  the  most  disinter 
ested  motives.  He  had  no  private  quarrel  to  revenge  ;  he  bad  giver 
no  personal  offence  to  the  government ;  and,  as  he  was  not  involved  ii 
the  circumstances  which  led  to  the  first  rising,  he  had  no  cause  to  b< 
alarmed  for  his  own  safety.  The  prospects,  when  lie  first  engaged  ii 
the  design,  were  far  from  being  flattering,  especially  to  one  of  hie 
knowledge  and  experience  in  military  affairs,  and  lie  had  it  in  hie 
power  to  retire,  as  others  did,  after  he  reached  the  west,  and  saw  tin 
real  state  of  those  who  were  in  arms.  Nor  was  his  conduct,  during 
the  short  time  that  he  commanded,  discreditable  to  bis  military 
31 


4S2  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

talents ;  especially  when  we  take  into  consideration  the  small  num- 
ber of  men  which  he  had  under  him,  the  miserable  manner  in  which 
most  of  them  were  equipped,  and  the  want  of  inferior  officers  to  con- 
duct. '  Wallace  himself  was  a  gentleman  godly  and  resolute ;  but 
such  an  undertaking  was  for  a  man  of  miracles.'  By  the  line  of 
march  which  he  chose,  he  gave  an  opportunity  to  the  friends  of  the 
cause,  in  the  most  populous  counties,  if  they  had  been  disposed,  to 
join  its  standard.  He  prevented  general  Dalziel  from  obtaining  that 
advantage  which  he  sought,  for  attacking  him  during  his  march.  If 
the  government  had  been  disposed  to  suppress  the  insurrection  with- 
out bloodshed,  he  gave  them  an  opportunity  of  accomplishing  this  by 
the  moderate  letter  which  he  sent  to  the  general  of  the  royal  forces. 
The  ground  which  he  chose  on  Bullion  Green,  and  the  disposition 
which  he  made  of  his  men,  was  the  very  best,  when  he  had  to  oppose 
an  enemy  three  times  the  number  of  his  own  troops.  By  fighting  at 
the  time  he  did,  instead  of  delaying,  as  he  knew  he  could  easily  do, 
he  provided  for  the  better  escape  of  his  men,  in  the  event  of  their 
being  worsted  ;  and,  indeed,  the  loss  actually  sustained  was  less  than 
it  would  in  probability  have  been,  if,  without  engaging,  he  had  dis- 
banded his  army  during  the  night.  The  battle  of  Fentland-hills  was 
a  well-fought  field,  not  a  disgraceful  rout,  like  that  which  afterwards 
happened,  under  a  very  different  leader,  at  Bothwell-bridge. 

"  On  the  loss  of  the  battle,  colonel  "Wallace  left  the  field  in  com- 
pany with  Mr.  John  Welsh,  and  escaped  the  pursuit  of  the  enemy. 
After  riding  to  a  sufficient  distance,  they  turned  their  horses  adrift, 
and  slept  during  the  remainder  of  the  night  in  a  barn.  Having  con- 
cealed himself  for  some  time,  Wallace  at  last  got  safely  out  of  the 
kingdom.  The  battle  of  Pentland  was  fought  on  the  28th  of  Novem- 
ber ;  and  on  the  4th  of  December,  the  privy  council  issued  a  procla- 
mation prohibiting  all  persons  from  harbouring  or  corresponding  with 
colonel  Wallace,  or  any  of  those  who  had  been  in  arms  with  him, 
under  the  pain  of  being  treated  as  accessory  to  the  late  rebellion. 
On  the  15th  of  August,  Wallace,  and  six  others  who  had  absconded, 
were  found  guilty,  and  condemned  to  be  executed  as  traitors,  when 
they  shall  be  apprehended,  and  all  their  lands  and  goods  to  be  for- 
feited to  his  majesty's  use.  This  sentence  wras  ratified  by  parliament 
in  1C69  ;  but  was  rescinded  at  the  Revolution." 

Fur  several  years  colonel  Wallace  was  obliged  to  wander  from  one 
part  of  the  continent  to  another  for  the  sake  of  security.  For  the 
same  reason  he  assumed  the  name  of  Forbes.  In  the  year  1670,  he 
was  on  the  borders  of  Germany.  When  he  thought  the  search  after 
him  had  relaxed,  he  settled  in  Holland,  taking  up  his  residence  at 
Rotterdam.  Even  there  he  was  not  permitted  to  remain  unmolested. 
He  attended  the  stated  ministrations  of  Messrs.  Robert  MacAVard  and 
John  Hvg,  of  the  Scottish  Church  in  that  city  ;  and,  to  the  joy  of  his 
expatriated  clerical  and  lay  brethren,  Wallace  was  induced  to  under- 
take the  office  of  elder.  The  congregation,  however,  was  not  to  be 
long  favoured  with  the  acceptable  services  of  colonel  Wallace,  and 
his  beloved  pastor  Mr.  MacWard.  They,  asw7ell  as  Mr.  John  Brown, 
formerly  minister  of  Wamphray,  were  obnoxions  to  Charles,  who 
could  not  brook  the'  idea  that  they  should  be  comfortable  and  re- 


COLONEL    JAMES    WALLACE.  ^gg 

spected  in  the  land  of  their  adoption.  It  is  notorious  that  the  king, 
if  he  did  not  originate,  heartily  entered  into  every  measun 
for  the  annoyance  or  destruction  of  his  nonconforming  preebyterian 
subjects.  It  might  have  been  thought,  now  that  these  good  men 
had  exiled  themselves,  that  the  active  persecution  would  be  Btayed. 
But  it  was  far  otherwise.  The  British  cabinet,  we  verily  believe,  oever 
gave  a  greater  proof  of  its  weakness  and  implacability  than  it  did  in 
the  present  instance.  Spurred  on  by  Sharp,  the  king  wrote  a  holo- 
graph letter  to  the  States-General,  entreating  them  forthwith  to  expel 
from  the  United  Provinces,  Bobert  MacWard,  John  Brown,  and 
colonel  James  Wallace,  whom  he  characterized  as  rebels,  unworthy  of 
the  least  countenance  ;  and  urging  the  States,  if  they  had  any  respect 
for  his  request,  to  lose  no  time  in  complying  with  it,  But  the  Si 
General,  to  their  honour,  were  not  to  be  hurried  into  an  unjustifiable 
measure,  merely  to  gratify  the  resentment  of  the  king  and  his  minis- 
ters. They  properly  viewed  a  compliance  with  the  request  of  Charles 
as  leading  to  encroachments  on  their  prerogative,  and  accordingly 
enjoined  their  ambassador  in  London  to  acquaint  his  majesty,  that 
the  States-General  did  not  feel  at  liberty  to  molest  the  individuals 
referred  to,  or,  indeed,  any  one  who,  for  similar  reasons,  sought  re- 
fuge in  the  Netherlands.  Neither  did  they  wish  to  become  the  in- 
struments of  uncalled-for  oppression  in  the  hand  of  an  English 
monarch,  whose  jurisdiction,  they  conceived,  did  not  extend  into 
foreign  territories,  and  in  whose  unreasonable  demands,  especially, 
they  respectfully,  yet  pointedly,  declined  acquiescing.  Charles,  how- 
ever, was  not  so  easily  to  be  rebuffed.  By  his  extreme  urgency,  and 
the  extravagant  colouring  which  he  gave  the  whole  affair,  repn 
ing  it  as  a  matter  that  involved  his  personal  safety,  and  the  peace, 
of  the  realm,  the  States  were  at  length  induced,  as  mediators,  to  de- 
vise some  measure,  in  order,  if  possible,  to  pacify  his  majesty,  and  to 
convince  the  accused,  that  the  Dutch  government  were  exceedingly 
averse  to  interfere. 

King  Charles  continued  so  to  annoy  the  Dutch  government,  thai 
the  States,  unwilling  to  incur  his  majesty's  threatened  displeasure, 
and  even  hostility,  came  to  the  following  resolution  on  the  6th  Feb- 
ruary, 1677  : — "It  is  found  good  hereby  to  declare,  that  although  the 
aforesaid  three  Scotsmen  have  not  only  not  behaved  and  comported 
themselves  otherwise  than  as  became  good  and  faithful  citizens  of 
these  States,  but  have  also  given  many  indubitable  proofs  of  their 
zeal  and  affection  for  the  advancement  of  the  truth,  which  their  High 
Mightinesses  have  seen  with  pleasure,  and  could  have  wished  that 
tbey  could  have  continued  to  live  here  in  peace  and  security.  I 
sidering  the  risks  they  run,  however,  and  with  what  pressing  e 
ness  his  majesty  had  repeatedly  insisted,  by  three  several  mi 
and  verbally  through  his  envoy  extraordinary,  and  with  great  reason 
apprehending  a  breach  between  his  majesty  and  these  States,  as  Sir 
William  Temple  has  expressed  himself  on  the  Bubject  in  terms  that 
cannot  be  mistaken,  they  feel  themselves  necessitated^  in  order  to 
obviate  so  great  an  evil  at  this  conjuncture,  to  cause  the  foresaid  three 
Scotsmen  to  withdraw  from  this  countrv;  and  that,  conseauentlyjiotice 
shall  be  given  to  the  foresaid  James  Wallace,  Robert  .Mac  AN  aid,  and 


4S4  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

John  Brown,  in  order  that  they  may  be  able  to  avail  themselves  of 
the  good  intentions  of  their  High  Mightinesses,  in  having  their  effects 
properly  disposed  of  before  the  5th  of  March  next ;  and  for  this  end, 
an  extract  of  this  resolution  of  their  H.  M.  shall  be  sent  to  the  coun- 
sellors of  the  States  of  Holland,  and  "West  Friesland,  in  order  that 
due  notification  may  be  given,  and  the  foresaid  Scotsmen  may  regu- 
late their  proceedings  accordingly.  They  shall  also  find  enclosed  for 
their  behoof,  separate  instruments  ad  omnes populos"  &c. 

The  instrument  referred  to  in  the  preceding  decree,  so  far  as  re- 
lated to  colonel  Wallace,  was  in  these  terms  ;  and  Messrs.  MacWard 
and  Brown  had  each  one  to  the  same  purport : — 

"  The  States  General  of  the  United  Netherlands,  to  all  and  every 
one  who  shall  see  or  read  these  presents,  health. 

"  Be  it  known  and  certified,  that  James  Wallace,  gentleman,  our 
subject,  and  for  many  years  inhabitant  of  this  State,  lived  among  us 
highly  esteemed  for  his  probity,  submission  to  the  laws,  and  integrity 
of  manners.  And,  therefore,  we  have  resolved  affectionately  to  request, 
and  hereby  do  most  earnestly  request,  the  Emperor  of  the  Romans,  and 
all  Kings,  Republics,  Princes,  Dukes,  States,  Magistrates,  or  whomso- 
ever else,  our  friends,  and  all  that  shall  see  these  presents,  that  they 
receive  the  said  James  Wallace  in  a  friendly  manner,  whensoever  he 
may  come  to  them,  or  resolve  to  remain  with  them,  and  assist  him  with 
their  council,  help,  and  aid  ;  testifying  that  for  any  obliging,  humane, 
or  kindly  offices  done  to  him,  we  shall  be  ready  and  forward  to  return 
the  favour  to  them  and  their  subjects  whensoever  an  opportunity  offers. 
For  the  greater  confirmation  whereof,  we  have  caused  these  presents 
to  be  sealed  with  our  seal  of  office,  and  signed  by  the  president  of  our 
assembly,  and  have  ordered  them  to  be  countersigned  by  our  first 
secretary,  in  our  assembly,  the  sixth  day  of  February,  1677." 

The  fact  that  the  States  refused  the  demand  of  king  Charles, 
coupled  with  the  above  ample  certificate  in  favour  of  those  whom  he 
bitterly  accused,  convincingly  shows  the  extreme  reluctance  of  the 
Dutch  government  to  comply.  But  the  report  which  Sir  William 
Temple  made  to  his  court  must  not  be  omitted.  His  words  are  re- 
markable : — "  This  business  hath  been  the  hardest  piece  of  negotia- 
tion that  I  ever  yet  entered  upon  here,  both  from  the  particular  in- 
terests of  the  towns  and  provinces  of  Holland,  and  the  general  esteem 
they  have  of  MacWard  being  a  very  quiet  and  pious  man  ;  but  chiefly 
from  the  firm  persuasion  they  have,  of  not  being  obliged  to  it  by  any 
bare  letter  of  his  majesty,  without  any  sentence  having  passed  against 
them  by  which  they  are  adjudged  rebels  and  fugitives.  And,  on  the 
contrary,  after  a  sentence  of  banishment  against  MacWard  and  Brown, 
which,  they  say,  is  by  all  writers  esteemed  wholly  to  extinguish  their 
subjection,  and,  consequently,  his  majesty's  right  of  declaring  them 
rebels  after  they  are  banished  and  become  subjects  to  another  state. 
But  I  found  the  king's  honour  so  far  engaged  in  this  matter,  by  three 
several  letters  which  must  have  been  public,  that  I  have  left  no  sort 
of  arguments  unessayed  with  the  prince,  the  pensioner,  and  deputies, 
both  of  the  provinces  and  towns,  to  procure  his  majesty's  satisfaction, 
and  make  it  pass  for  a  thing  so  necessary  to  despatch,  that  it  hath 
taken  up  two  long  debates  in  the  States  of  Holland  these  two  days 


COLONEL    JAMES  WALLACE.  .  ,. 

I  v 

past,  though  their  meeting  was  intended  bnt  for  five  days  and  f„,  n 

Th?w^b2  !he  lc"es  0f50ne^  ™-  for  Z  :•",'• 

Ihe  Scottish  kirk-session,  at  Kotterdam   recorded  thX  ,,,, r 

Sr ^bei1;?  dT?d  of  coIonel  Wa"c? -*« n ! :  ,a  ;;■ 

useful  elder  they  had   amongst  them."     .Mr.  MacWard  ret  n 

nS  IS  Colone1'  who  wae  Particnlarly  obnoxious  to 

Charles  by  reason  of  the  active  share  which  he  took  against  the  rvl 
cause  at  Pentland,  did  not  consider  himself  safe  e4nTSed«i2S 
society  and  prudent  seclusion  of  his  two  clerical  friends     H 
ore  reluctantly  quitted  them  and  hastened  to  a  more  secure 
merit  on  the  borders  of  France. 

Colonel  Wallace's  name  was  continued  on  the  sessional  roll.* 
Waring  his  seclusion  he  addressed  the  subjoined  letter,  which  throws 
CSnoiVKer  and  circumstances,  to  the  widow  of  William 
Mure  ol  Ualdwell,  then  residing  in  Rotterdam  : 

"Elect  lady,  and  my  worthy  and  dear  sister,— Youn   i  e  to 

my  hand  m  most  acceptable  time.     It  seems  that  all  that  devils  ,„• 
men  these  many  years  have  done  (and  that  has  not  been  little)  against 
you  to  daunt  your  courage,  or  to  make  you  in  the  avowing  of  v 
Master  and  his  persecuted  interests  to  lower  your  sails,  hi 
Bo  little,  that  your  faith  and  courage  is  upon  the  growing  hand 
evidence  indeed  as  to  your  persecutors,  0f  perdition,  but  to 
salvation  and  that  of  God.     It  seems  when  von  al 
took  Christ  by  the  hand   to  be  your  Lord  and  portion,  that   ; 
wist  what  you  did;  and  that,  notwithstanding  of  all  the  hardnew 
you  have  met  with  in  biding  by  him,  your  heart  seems  t  , 
taster  to  him.     This  says  you  have  been  admitted  unto  much  of 
company  and  fellowship.    'My  soul  blesses  God  on  your  behalf,  who 
hath  so  carried  to  you,  that  I  think  you  may  take  those  word 
others  spoken  to  you,  'You  have  continued  with  me  in  my  affli? 
tions  :  I  appoint  unto  you  a  kingdom.'   It  seems,  suffering  for 
losing  anything  for  him,  is  to  you  your  gain.     M  >re  and  more  of 
this  spirit  may  you  enjoy,  that  you  may  be  among  the  few  (as  it  was 
said  of  Caleb  and  Joshua)  that  follow  him  fully,  among  th 
comers,  those  noble  overcomers  mentioned.  Revel,  ii.  and  iii.. 
those  to  whom  only  (as  picked  out  and  chosen  for  that  end)  he  i 
ing,   '^  You  are  my  witnesses.'     Lady,  and  my  dear  sister,  I  am  of 
your  judgment,  and  I  bless  his  name  that  ever  he  counte  1  thy 

to  appear  in  that  roll.   It  is  now  a  good  many  years  since  the  ' ' 

*  "The  Session   (March  IS,  1677,)  taking  into  consideration  the  great  loss  the  otiu'r^a- 
tion  is  at  by  being  deprived  of  their  brother,  Mr.  Wallace,  who  made  it  his  work  tr. .  n 
to  day  to  visit  families,  instructing  in  the  principles  of  religion,  and  exhorting  thi 
exercise  of  family- worship,  and  all  Christian  duties,  appoints  that  some  expedii 
may  be  thought  upon  to  supply  this  great  defect,  which  the  session  dotb  judge 
ilient;  and  that,  because  the  said  Mr.  Wallace,  in  presence  of  all  the  session,  - 
dayes  before  he  went  away,  did  declare,  that  through  mercy  be  bad  found  bis  | 
in  las  visitations  of  families,  and  at  his  own  chamber,  in  some  more  successful, 
expected,  which  he  earnestly  intreated  might  be  intertained.  lest  the  beginoii 
warmth  and  affection  to  the  tru'h  he  had  found  in  many,  might  coole  again." 

The  Session  (January  1678  i  "  unanimously  concluded,  tha 
besides  Mr.  Wallace,  whom  yet  they  own  as  such,  notwithstanding  of  what  is 
and  also  live  deacons." — See  Dr."  Steven's  Hist,  of  the  Scott:- 


486 


SCOTS    WORTHIES. 


was  pleased  to  even  me  to  this,  and  to  call  me  forth  to  appear  for 
him ;  and  it  is  true  those  forty  years  bygone,  (as  to  what  I  have  met 
with  from  the  world,)  I  have  been  as  the  people  in  the  wilderness  ; 
yet  I  may  say  it,  to  this  hour,  I  never  repented  my  engagements  to 
him,  or  any  of  my  ownings  of  him  ;  yea  these  rebuts,  to  say  so,  I  got 
from  men  were  to  me  my  joy  and  crown,  because  I  know  it  was  for 
his  sake  I  was  so  dealt  with  ;  and  this,  it  being  for  his  sake,  I  was 
ready  in  that  case  (as  Christ  says)  when  men  had  taken  me  upon  the 
one  cheek,  for  his  sake,  to  turn  to  them  the  other.  Never  was  I  ad- 
mitted to  more  nearness,  never  was  my  table  better  covered  than  since 
I  left  Rotterdam.  Let  us  take  courage,  and  go  on  as  good  soldiers  of 
Jesus  Christ,  enduring  hardness.  O  for  more  faith  !  O  for  more  faith 
among  his  people  !  As  to  this  people,  there  is  nothing  to  be  seen  in 
their  way  that  is  promising  of  any  good  ;  but  on  the  contrary,  O  !  I 
fear  the  Lord  has  given  them  up  unto  their  own  hearts' lusts.  They 
do  indeed  walk  in  their  own  counsels.  That  same  spirit  of  persecu- 
tion, and  these  same  principles,  that  are  among  you  are  here;  but  as 
God  is  faithful,  they  shall  be  all  broken  to  pieces,  and  turned  back 
with  shame,  that  hate  Zion.  "Wait  but  a  little  ;  they  are  digging  the 
pit  for  themselves.  The  Lord  hath  founded  Zion,  and  the  poor  of  the 
people  shall  trust  it.  Let  us  mind  one  another.  My  love  to  all 
friends  whom  you  know  I  love  in  the  Lord.  God's  grace  be  with 
you,  and  his  blessing  upon  your  little  ones,  whom  he  hath  been  a 
father  to.     In  him  I  rest.     Tours  as  formerly, 

"  Ja.  "Wallace." 

Colonel  "Wallace  returned  to  Rotterdam  in  1678  ;  but,  to  the  un- 
speakable grief  of  the  congregation,  died  there  at  the  close  of  the 
same  year.  In  discharging  the  duties  of  ruling  elder  in  the  Scottish 
Church,  he  was  beyond  all  praise.  Like  his  divine  Master  he  went 
about  continually  doing  good  ;  and  the  spontaneous  testimonies  borne 
to  his  patriotism,  and  his  unwearied  zeal  for  the  furtherance  of  vital 
godliness  among  the  flock  over  whom  he  jointly  presided,  entitle  him 
to  be  held  in  grateful  remembrance.  The  colonel  rightly  viewed  the 
duties  of  an  elder  as  involving  obligations  more  sacred  and  binding 
than  the  world  generally  regards  this  ecclesiastical  office  as  embracing. 
He  studied,  as  every  conscientious  man  will,  who  enters  into  a  simi- 
lar engagement,  to  attend  to  those  apostolic  injunctions  which  St. 
Paul  has  recorded  for  the  direction  of  the  successive  overseers  in  the 
church  of  God.  This  excellent  person  expired  in  the  arms  of  his 
tried  friend,  Mr.  Mac"Ward,  who  has  given  a  particular  account  of  the 
colonel's  triumphant  death  in  the  following  letter  to  the  Rev.  John 
Blackadder,  minister  of  Troqueer  : — "  I  doubt  not  but  you  have 
heard  of  the  removal  of  worthy  and  great  "Wallace,  of  whom  I  have 
no  doubt  it  may  be  said  he  hath  left  no  man  behind  him  in  that 
church,  minister  nor  professor,  who  hath  gone  through  such  a  variety 
of  tentations,  without  turning  aside  to  the  right  hand  or  to  the  left. 
He  died  in  great  serenity  of  soul,  lie  had  lived  abroad  such  an  orna- 
ment to  his  profession,  as  he  was  not  more  lamented  by  us  than  by 
all  the  serious  English  and  Dutch  of  his  acquaintance,  (who  were 
many.)  as  having  lust  the  man,  who  as  a  mean  was  made  use  of  by 


JOHN    WELWOOD. 


the  Lord  to  keep  life  amongst  them;  yea,  the  poor  ignorant  people 
of  the  congregation  of  Rotterdam,  (besides  the  more  Berious  and  know- 
ing amongst  them,)  bemoan  his  death,  and  their  loss  aa  of  a  father. 
And  they  have  good  reason  ;  for  I  must  say,  he  was  the  mosl  faith- 
ful, feckful,  compassionate,  diligent,  and  indefatigable  elder,  in  the 
work  of  the  Lord,  that  ever  I  knew  at  home  or  abroad  :  and  i 
his  care,  solicitude,  and  concernedness,  in  the  work  and  people  of 
God,  I  may  say,  the  care  of  all  the  churches  lay  more  upon  him  than 
upon  hundreds  of  us,  so  that  the  church  of  God  hath  lost  more  in  the 
removal  of  that  man  than  most  will  sulfur  themselves  to  believe. 
Only  we  wTho  know  it,  have  this  to  comfort  ourselves,  that  the  residue 
of  the  Spirit  is  with  him  who  made  him  such,  and  that  the  I  rreat  In- 
tercessor lives  to  plead  his  own  cause,  and  the  causes  of  his  people's 
souls.  I  forgot  to  tell  you,  that  when  the  cause  for  which  he  suffered 
was  mentioned,  when  it  was  scarce  believed  he  understood  or  could 
speak,  there  wras  a  sunshine  of  serene  joy  looked  oui  of  his  counte- 
nance, and  a  lifting  up  of  hands  on  high,  as  to  receive  the  confi — r's 
crowm,  together  with  a  lifting  up  of  the  voice  with  an  Aha,  as  to  sing  the 
conqueror's  song  of  victory.  In  a  word,  he  fell  asleep  in  the  furnace, 
walking  wTith  the  Son  of  God,  and  now  his  bones  will  rise  up  with  the 
bones  of  the  other  great  witnesses  buried  in  a  strange  land,  as  a  testi- 
mony against  the  wrong  done  to  Christ,  and  the  violence  us<  d  against 
his  followers  by  this  wricked  generation,  whom  the  righteous  Lord  in 
his  time,  from  him  who  sitteth  upon  the  throne  to  the  meanest  instru- 
ment that  hath  put  the  mischiefs  he  framed  into  a  law  in  execution, 
will  make  a  generation  of  his  wrath,  of  special  wrath,  which  must 
answer  and  keep  proportion  unto  the  wrongs  done  to  the  Mediator. 


JOHN   WELWOOD. 


nruiner  10  meatus.  nimit,»  «*i«  <,„.*.v^    .. ---, 

in  London.     The  subject  of  this  brief  narrative  was  born  about  tin 
year  1649.     After  having  gone  through  a  regular  course  of  traininj 
fur  the  ministry,  he  received  his  license;  but,  on  account   of  the  tui 
bulence  of  the  times,  it  does  not  appear  that  he  was  ever  orda ined to 
any  particular  incumbency.     Mention  is  indeed  made  o 


4S8  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

preached  five  or  six  times  for  his  father,  in  the  parish  of  Tindergarth. 
On  these  occasions  his  sermons  are  said  to  have  been  blessed  with 
more  marked  effects  of  good  among  the  people  there,  than  had  been 
discernible  in  the  labours  of  his  father  during  the  whole  course  of  his 
ministry. 

Besides  his  eminent  piety  and  faithfulness  in  preaching,  Welwood 
was  singularly  fervent  in  pressing  home  the  duties  of  the  Christian 
life;  and  particularly,  in  instituting  and  encouraging  fellowship  and 
social  meetings  for  prayer  and  conference,  which  he  frequently 
attended  himself.  Upon  one  occasion,  among  many  others,  at  New- 
house,  in  the  parish  of  Livingstone,  the  night  being  far  advanced,  he 
said,  "  Let  some  one  pray,  and  be  short,  that  we  may  get  to  our 
apartments  before  it  be  light !"  It  happened,  however,  to  be  the  turn 
of  a  person  who  excelled  in  the  gift  of  prayer;  and,  before  he  was 
done,  daylight  had  shone  into  the  house.  "  James,  James,"  said 
"Welwood,  "  your  gifts  have  the  start  of  your  graces  !"  and  to  the  rest 
his  counsel  was  : — "  Be  advised,  all  of  you,  not  to  follow  him  at  all 
times,  and  in  all  things,  otherwise  there  will  be  many  outs  and  ins  in 
your  tract !" 

In  1677,  there  was  held  an  Erastian  meeting  of  the  actually 
indulged  and  non-indulged  ministers,  got  up  by  the  indulged  party, 
in  order,  as  they  pretended,  to  bring  about  and  establish  a  union 
between  the  parties ;  but  rather,  in  reality,  a  conspiracy  without  the 
smallest  semblance  of  honour,  or  veracity.  "Welwood,  Mr.  Cameron, 
and  another  minister,  were  called  before  the  meeting,  and  threatened 
with  deposition,  for  their  freedom  in  preaching  up  separation  from 
the  actually  indulged  ;  but  these  men  declined  their  jurisdiction,  as 
being  no  lawful  judicatory  of  Jesus  Christ ;  composed  as  it  was  of 
men  against  whom  they  had  lifted  up  a  testimony.  At  this  crisis, 
some  of  the  indulged  party  waited  upon  Mr.  Hog,  who  had  not  been 
at  the  meeting,  to  ask  his  advice  regarding  Welwood ;  to  whom  Mr. 
Hog  returned  the  following  laconic  reply  : — "  His  name  is  "Welwood  ; 
bnt  if  you  take  the  injudicious  step  of  deposing  him,  he  may  perhaps 
turn  out  the  Torwood  in  the  end." 

Soon  after  this,  it  would  appear  that  Welwood  had  received  a  call 
from  the  parish  of  Tarbolton,  in  Ayrshire  ;  or,  to  adopt  the  language 
of  the  dominant  party  of  the  day — "  had  intruded  upon  that  parish 
and  congregation."  Information  to  that  effect,  says  Wodrow,  was 
lodged  against  him,  before  the  council  at  Edinburgh,  on  the  1st  of 
November,  who  immediately  appointed  lords  Glencairn  and  Eothes  to 
see  that  he  was  turned  out  and  apprehended;  but  what  was  the  result 
cannot  now  be  learned,  as  Wodrow  makes  no  farther  mention  of  it. 
It  has  been  ascertained,  however,  that  he  continued  to  preach  ;  and 
the  following  are  the  principal  gleanings  that  have  been  picked  up. 

When  going  to  preach  one  Sabbath  morning,  the  laird,  on  whose 
ground  the  tent  had  been  erected,  caused  it  to  be  removed,  and  set 
up  on  the  property  of  another  proprietor.  "Welwood  having  observed 
this,  remarked  very  coolly, — that  in  a  short  time  that  same  laird  would 
not  have  a  furrow  of  land  that  he  could  call  his  own  : — "  Let  alone  a 
little,"  said  he,  "  and  he  Mill  turn  out  in  his  true  colours !" — and  so  it 
actually  happened  ;  for,  having  soon  after  been  convicted  of  adultery, 


JOHN    WELWOOD. 

he  became  most  contenipril.lL>  and  miserable,  being,  as  was  Baid  at 
the  time,  one  of  York's  four-pound  papists. 

About  two  years  after  this,  perceiving  the  indications  of  a  bright 
day   about  to  dawn   upon  the   persecuted  church,  he  said  to 

William   Nicholson,  a  native   of  Fife : — "Ye   shall    have    a    : 
summer  of  the  gospel  this  year ;  and  f!  >r  your  further  enc<  inrag 
even  an  old  man  or  woman  may  live  to  see  the  bishops  down, 
yet  the  church  not  delivered  :  but  ere  all  he  done,  wo  will  gi  I 
faithful  ministers  in  Scotland.     But  keep  still  amongst  the  faithful 
mourning  remnant  that  is  for  God;  for  there  is  a  cloud  comii 
church  of  Scotland,  the  like  of  which  was  never  heard  of;  !'■  i 
most  part  will  turn  to  defection.     But  I  see,  on  the  other  side 
the  church's  delivery,    with  ministers  and  Christians,  such  as 
would  be  ashamed  to  open  your  mouth  before  !" 

Among  his  last  public  appearances,  he  preached  at  Boulterhall  in 
Fife,  from  these  words, — "  Not  many  wise  men  after  the  fli 
many  mighty,  not  many  noble,  are  called  ;"*  in  which  he  wi 
that  all  the  Lord's  people,  whom  he  had  placed  in  stations  of  die 
tion  both  there  and  everywhere,  would  express  their  thankful 
that  the  words  not  many  were  not  not  any,  and  that  the  wkdU  of 
them  were  not  excluded.     Towards  the  close  of  the  senium,  he 
"  If  that  unhappy  prelate,  Sharp,  die  the  death  of  all  men,  God  i 
spoke  by  me."     The  archbishop  had  a  servant,   who,  upon  lil 
from  his  master  on  Saturday  night,  had  gone  to  visit  his  brother,  who 
was  a  servant  to  a  gentleman  near  Boulterhall.     Next  day  he  ac 
panied  his  brother  to  church,  and  Wei  wood,  having  observed  a  per- 
son with  Sharp's  livery,  he  desired  him  to  stand  up;  for  he  had 
something  to  say  to  him.     "  I  desire  you,"  said  he,  "before  all  these 
witnesses,  when  thou  goest  home,  to  tell  thy  master,  that  his  treachery, 
tyranny,  and  wicked  life,  are  near  an  end;  and  his  death  shall   be 
both  sudden,  surprising,  and  bloody,  and  as  he  hath  thirsted 
and  shed  the  blood  of  the  saints,  he  shall  not  go  to  his  gra 
peace!"     After  he  had  returned  home,  the  bishop  asked  the  young 
man  at  supper  if  he  had  been  at  a  conventicle;  to  which  he  replied. 
lie  had;  and,  having  told  his  master  the  text,  and  several  thin- 
nected  with  the  discourse,  he  at  length  particularly  delivered  the 
message  with  which  he  had  been  intrusted.     Sharp  pretended  to 
treat  it  lightly ;  but  his  wife  said,  "  I  advise  you  to  take  more  notice 
of  that ;  for  1  hear  that  these  men's  words  are  not  vain  words." 

Soon  after  this  Welwood  went  to  visit  Perth,  where  he  lodgi 
the  house  of  one  John  Barclay.     This  it  appears  was  his  last  journey 
in  the  service  of  his  Master.     Being  naturally  of  a  delicate  constitu- 
tion, and  having,  previously,  been  exposed  to  many  privations,  added 
to  a  deep  concern  about  the  state  of  his  soul  and  those  of  others 
sides  being  greatly  depressed  in  spirit  on  account  of  the  afflicted  -tat. 
of  the  church,  a  gradual  decay  began  to  steal  upon  him.  in  which  tie 
lino-ered  until  the  beginning  of  April,  when  death  relieved  {no 
bis  earthly  cares  and  sufferings.    During  the  time  of  his  illness,  so  long 

as  he  was  able  to  speak,  he  laid  himself  out  fur  the  B I  ol 

None  but  such  as  were  looked  upon  to  be  friend,  to  the  | 

*  1  Cor.  i.  26. 


490  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 

cause  knew  that  he  was  in  town  ;  and  his  practice  was  to  call  them 
in,  one  family  after  another,  at  different  times,  and  discourse  to  them 
about  their  spiritual  state.  His  conversation  was  convincing,  edify- 
ing, and  comforting.  Many  came  to  visit  him  ;  and,  among  the  rest, 
one  Ayton,  younger  of  Inchdarney  in  Fife,  a  pious  youth  about 
eighteen  years  of  age,  to  whom,  on  his  giving  him  an  account  of  the 
great  tyranny  and  wickedness  of  prelate  Sharp,  "Welwood  said  : — 
"  You  will  shortly  be  quit  of  him :  and  he  will  get  a  sudden  and 
xharj)  off-going ;  and  you  will  be  the  first  that  will  take  the  good 
news  of  his  death  to  heaven  !"  This  literally  came  to  pass  the  May 
following. 

About  the  same  time,  he  said  to  another  person  who  came  to  visit 
him  : — "  That  many  of  the  Lord's  people  should  be  in  arms  that, 
summer  for  the  defence  of  the  gospel ;  but  he  was  fully  persuaded 
they  would  work  no  deliverance ;  and  that,  after  the  fall  of  that 
party,  the  public  standard  of  the  gospel  should  fall  for  some  time,  so 
that  there  should  not  be  a  faithful  minister  in  Scotland,  excepting 
two,  to  whom  they  could  resort,  to  hear  or  converse  with  anent  the 
state  of  the  church  ;  and  they  would  also  seal  the  testimony  with 
their  blood — that  after  this  there  should  be  a  dreadful  defection  and 
apostasy  ;  but  God  would  pour  out  his  wrath  upon  the  enemies  of 
his  church  and  people,  when  many  who  had  made  defections  from 
his  way,  should  fall  among  the  rest  in  this  common  calamity;  but 
this  stroke,  he  thought,  would  not  be  long ;  and,  upon  the  back 
thereof,  there  would  be  the  most  glorious  deliverance  and  reformation 
that  ever  was  in  Britain,  after  which  the  church  should  never  be 
troubled  any  more  with  prelacy." 

When  drawing  near  his  end,  in  conversation  with  some  friends,  he 
used  frequently  to  communicate  his  own  exercise  and  experience, 
with  the  assurance  he  had  obtained  of  his  interest  in  Christ ;  saying, 
I  have  no  more  doubt  of  my  interest  in  Christ,  than  if  I  were  in 
heaven  already."  At  another  time  he  said  : — "  Although  I  have 
been  for  some  weeks  without  sensible  comforting  presence,  yet  I  have 
not  the  least  doubt  of  my  interest  in  Christ :  I  have  often  endeavoured 
to  pick  a  hole  in  my  interest,  but  cannot  get  it  done."  On  the  morn- 
ing of  his  death,  when  he  observed  the  light  of  day,  he  said  : — "  Now 
eternal  light,  and  no  more  night  and  darkness  for  me  ;"  and,  that 
night,  he  exchanged  a  weak  body,  a  wicked  world,  and  a  weary  life, 
for  an  immortal  crown  of  glory,  in  that  heavenly  inheritance  which 
is  prepared  and  reserved  for  such. 

The  night  after  his  death,  the  body  was  removed  from  John  Bar- 
clay's house  into  a  private  room,  belonging  to  one  Janet  Hutton,  till 
his  friends  might  consult  about  his  funeral ;  that  Barclay  might  not 
be  put  to  trouble  for  concealing  him.  A  report  was  quickly  spread, 
that  an  intercommuned  preacher  had  died  in  town,  upon  which  the 
magistrates  ordered  a  messenger  to  go  and  arrest  the  corpse.  Next 
•  lay,  a  considerable  number  of  his  friends,  from  Fife,  came  to  town 
to  attend  his  burial ;  but  the  magistrates  would  not  suffer  him  to  be 
interred  in  Perth.  In  support  of  their  authority  they  ordered  the 
town  militia  to  be  called  out,  and  imprisoned  John  Bryce,  boxmaster 
or  treasurer  to  the  guildry,  for  refusing  to  give  out  their  arms.    How- 


WILLIAM  GORDON  OF   EARLSTOUN.  .j;ij 

ever,  they  at  length  gave  his  friends  leave  to  carry  the  body  out  of 
town,  and  bury  it  beyond  the  precincts,  in  any  place  they  chose;  but 
any  of  the  inhabitants  who  were  observed  accompanying  the  funeral, 
were  imprisoned.  After  they  had  gone  out  of  town,  his  friende  Bent 
two  men  to  Drone,  not  far  from  Perth,  to  prepare  a  grave  in  the 
church-yard  of  that  place.  These  men  went  to  Mr.  Pitcairn  the 
minister — one  of  the  old  resolutioners — and  desired  the  keys  <>!'  ihc- 
church-yard  gate  of  the  parish,  but  he  refused  to  give  them.  They 
went  over  the  wall,  however,  and  dug  a  grave  ;  and  there  repose  in 
peace  the  ashes  of  this  zealous  servant  of  God. 

Only  one  of  his  sermons  has  appeared  in  print,  said  to  have  been 
preached  at  Bogle's-hole,  a  farm  in  the  upper  ward  of  Lanarkshire, 
from  the  words  of  Peter, — "  And  if  the  righteous  scarcely  be  Baved, 
where  shall  the  ungodly  and  the  sinner  appear  I" 

It  is  said  that  a  few  of  his  religious  letters  to  pious  friends  and 
accpuaintances  are  yet  extant,  in  manuscript ;  but  nothing  remarkable 
may  now  be  expected,  either  in  the  writings  of  Welwood,  or  any  of 
the  succeeding  Worthies.  The  times  in  which  they  lived  were  so 
peculiarly  harassing,  owing  to  the  persecutions  that  were  instituted 
against  them,  by  being  hunted  from  place  to  place,  that  they  could 
neither  find  time  nor  opportunity  for  writing;  and,  not  anfrequently, 
any  small  fragments  they  might  from  time  to  time  have  collected, 
having  been  intrusted  to  the  hands  of  timid  or  false  friends,  were  by 
them  either  destroyed  or  lost. 


WILLIAM  GORDON  OF  EARLSTOUN. 


William  Gordon  of  Earlstoun  was  son  to  the  renowned  reformer, 
Alexander  Gordon  of  Earlstoun,  and  was  lineally  descended  from 
the  well-known  Alexander  Gordon  who  entertained  the  iol  owerB  01 
John  Wickliffe,  and  who,  having  a  New  Testament  mEnglJJ ,  uflea 
to  read  it  at  their  meetings  at  the  wood  of  Airds,  in  the  vicinity 
Earlstoun.     Having  thus  had  the  advantage  of  a  re hgiotw  edw 
he  began  very  early  to  follow  Christ.     In  1637,  Mx.  Rnthe   .... 
letter? thus  admonishes  him:-" Sir,  lay  the  foundation  to,  and  ve 
shall    not    soon  shrink    nor    be    shaken;    make  &ght  worK   «  ™ 
bottom,  and  your  ship  shall  ride  against   all  Btprms,-if  Withal   > 
anchor  be  fastened  on  good  ground,  I  mean  Within  the  vail  I       An 


492 


SCOTS    WORTHIES. 


indeed,  l).y  the  blessing  of  God,  lie  began,  when  quite  a  youth,  to 
distinguish  himself  by  his  piety  and  religion,  as  well  as  by  a  firm 
attachment  to  Presbytery,  and  the  covenanted  work  of  Keformation  ; 
in  which  he  continued  steadfast  and  immovable,  till  he  lost  his  life  in 
the  honourable  cause. 

What  hand  he  had  in  public  affairs,  during  Cromwell's  usurpation, 
cannot  now  well  be  said  ;  but  we  may  suppose  him  to  have  been  on 
the  side  of  the  remonstrants.  The  first  public  testimony  he  gave,  after 
the  restoration  of  Charles  II.,  recorded  in  history,  was  about  1663, 
when  some  commissioners,  appointed  by  the  council  to  inquire  into 
the  opposition  then  made  by  the  people  to  the  settlement  of  curates 
at  Kircudbright  and  Irongray — knowing  Gordon's  attachment  to  the 
presbyterian  interest — were  determined  either  to  compel  his  acqui- 
escence in  settling  an  episcopalian  incumbent  in  the  parish  of  Dairy 
in  Galloway,  where,  by  the  once  established  laws,  he  had  some  right 
in  presenting  ;  or,  if  he  refused  to  concur,  which  they  had  every 
reason  to  suspect  he  would,  to  bring  him  to  further  trouble.  Accord- 
ingly, the  commissioners  wrote  him  a  letter  in  the  following  tenor : — 
"  Finding  the  church  of  Dairy  to  be  one  of  those  to  which  the  bishop 
hath  presented  an  actual  minister,  Mr.  George  Henry,  fit  and  qualified 
for  the  charge,  and  that  the  gentleman  is  to  come  to  your  parish  this 
Sabbath  next,  to  preach  to  that  people,  and  that  you  are  a  person  of 
special  interest  there,  we  do  require  you  to  cause  this  edict  to  be 
served,  and  the  congregation  to  convene  and  countenance  him,  so  as 
to  be  encouraged  to  prosecute  his  ministry  in  that  place.  Your 
loving  friends  and  servants, 

"  Linlithgow,     Galloway, 
"  Annandale,    Drumlanakk." 

To  this  letter  Earlstoun  returned  a  very  respectful  answer,  showing, 
upon  solid  reasons,  why  he  could  not  comply  with  their  unjust 
demand  : — "  I  ever  judged  it  safest  to  obey  God,  and  stand  at  a 
distance  from  whatsoever  doth  not  tend  to  God's  glory,  and  the 
edification  of  the  souls  of  his  scattered  people,  of  which  that 
congregation  is  a  part.  And  besides,  my  lords,  it  is  known  to  many 
that  I  pretend  to  lay  claim  to  the  right  of  patronage  of  that  parish, 
and  have  already  determined  therein,  with  the  consent  of  the  people, 
to  a  truly  worthy  and  qualified  person,  that  he  may  be  admitted  to 
exercise  his  gifts  among  that  people  ;  and  for  me  to  countenance  the 
bearer  of  your  lordships'  letter,  were  most,  impiously  and  dishonour- 
ably to  wrong  the  majesty  of  God,  and  violently  to  take  away  the 
Christian  liberty  of  his  afflicted  people,  and  enervate  my  own 
right."* 

This  was  just  what  they  wanted ;  for,  on  the  30th  of  July 
following,  "  The  lords  of  Council  ordered  letters  to  be  directed,  to 
charge   William  Gordon  of  Earlstoun  to  compear  before  them,  to 

*  Here  observe,  that  though  this  gentleman  mentions  the  right  of  patronage,  3ret  it  was 
with  this  proviso  or  limitation, — the  choice  or  consent  of  the  people,  otherwise,  says  he, 
it  would  wrong  the  majesty  of  God,  take  away  the  Christian  liberty  of  the  people,  and 
invalidate  his  own  right :  and  how  unlike  is  this  to  the  species  of  patronage  and  claim  of 
patrons  at  this  time,  when  nothing  but  absolute  power  and  arbitrary  measures  will  satisfy 
them. 


WILLIAM    GORDON    OF    EARLSTOUN. 

answer  for  his  seditious  and  factious  carriage:"  in  other  words, 
his  refusing  to  comply  with  prelacy;  to  hear' the  curates;  and  for 
favouring  and  hearing  the  ousted  ministers.  And  farther,  on 
November  24th  of  the  same  year,— "The  council  being  informed 
that  the  laird  of  Earlstoun  kept  conventicles  and  private  meetings  in 
his  house,  do  order  letters  to  be  directed  against  him,  to  compear 
before  this  council,  to  answer  for  his  contempt,  under  pain  "t 
rebellion."  All  this,  however,  damped  not  the  courage  of  this 
faithful  confessor  of  Christ,  in  adhering  to  his  persecuted  gospel ; 
but  his  enemies  passed  a  still  more  severe  and  rigorous  act  against 
him,  in  which  it  was  exhibited,  that  he  had  been  at  several  conven- 
ticles— as  they  were  pleased  to  call  these  meetings — where  Mr. 
Gabriel  Semple,  a  deposed  minister,  had  preached  in  the  woods  of 
Corsack  and  Airds ;  and  heard  texts  of  scripture  explained,  b<>tli  in 
his  mother's  and  in  his  own  house,  by  ousted  ministers : — "  And 
being  required  to  enact  himself  to  abstain  from  all  such  meetings  in 
time  coming,  and  to  live  peaceably  and  orderly,  conform  to  law,'* 
he  refused  to  do  so.  They  therefore  sentenced  him  to  be  banished, 
and  to  depart  forth  of  the  kingdom  within  a  month,  and  not  to  re- 
turn under  pain  of  death  ;  and,  during  that  time  to  live  peaceably, 
under  the  penalty  of  £10,000,  or  otherwise  to  enter  his  person  in  prison. 

This  sentence,  however,  it  would  appear,  Earlstoun  altogether  dis- 
regarded,— and  though  -we  have  no  particular  account  of  his  future 
sufferings,  we  are  certainly  informed  that  he  was  subjected  to 
many  vexatious  hardships.  In  1667,  he  was  turned  out  of  his  house, 
which  was  converted  into  a  garrison  for  Bannatyne  and  his  party. 
Almost  every  subsequent  year  brought  with  it  fresh  troubles,  until  the 
22d  or  23d  of  January,  1679,  when  he  emerged  out  of  them 
all,  arrived  at  the  haven  of  everlasting  rest,  and  obtained  his 
glorious  reward,  in  the  following  manner. 

Having  some  business  to  settle,  perhaps  with  a  view  never  to  return, 
he  was  prevented  from  joining  that  suffering  handful  who  were  then 
in  arms  near  Bothwell ;  but  sent  his  son,  who  took  part  in  the  action. 
With  all  possible  expedition  he  hastened  to  their  assistance;  but  nut 
having  heard  of  the  Covenanters'  disaster,  he  was  met  near  the  field 
of  battle  by  a  party  of  English  dragoons  who  were  in  pursuit  of  the 
sufferers.  Like  a  valiant  champion  of  Christ,  he  refused  to  surrender, 
or  comply  with  their  demands.  He  was  therefore  put  to  death  upon 
the  spot.  His  friends  not  being  able  to  obtain  his  slaughtered  body, 
and  his  son  being  among  the  fugitives,  it  was  interred  in  the  church- 
yard of  Glassford,  remote  from  the  tombs  of  his  ancestors.  Although 
a  pillar  or  monument  was  erected  over  his  grave;  "yet,  neither 
'•sculptured  urn  nor  animated  bust"  pointed  it  out,  because  of  the 
severity  of  the  times.* 

*  His  son  Alexander  Gordon  here  narrowly  escaped  being  taken,  by  means  of  one  of  his 
tenants,  who,  knowing  him  as  he  rode  through  Hamilton,  made  him  dismount,  | 
women's  clothes,  and  rock  the  cradle.     After  this,  he  went  over  to  his  brother-la. 
Hamilton,  to  represent  the  low  case  of  the  united  societies  to  the  churches  o    toe 
lands;  he  was  by  them  called  home,  and  when  returning  back  be  was  api  renended    • 
enemy,  and  put  to  the  torture;  but  by  means  of  his  friend   the  Duke  ol  Gordon,  I, 
was  spared.     However,  he  was  sent  to  the  Bass,  and  from  thence,  to  Btackoess,  o  1683, 
where   he  continued  till  he  was   liberated  at  the  Revolution.     It  is  to  be  lam.-i.tr...  that 
neither  he,  after  this,  nor  his  son  Sir  Thomas,  fully  followed  the  steps  of  their  ancestors. 


494  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

Thus  fell  a  renowned  Gordon  ;  a  gentleman  of  high  and  honourable 
attainments,  devoted  to  religion  and  godliness,  and  an  unyielding 
supporter  of  the  presbyterian  interest  in  that  part  of  the  country 
where  he  dwelt.  It  may  very  truly  be  said  of  him,  that  he  lived  a 
patriot,  a  Christian,  a  confessor ;  and  died  a  martyr  for  the  cause  of 
Christ. 


JOHN  KING  AND  JOHN  KIDD. 


Nothing  more  seems  to  be  known  of  these  distinguished  martyrs 
than  a  brief  account  of  their  sufferings,  comprising  the  period  between 
the  years  1670  and  1679  ;  and,  it  is  very  probable  that  their  names 
might  have  been  lost  in  oblivion,  or  at  least  passed  over  in  compara- 
tive obscurity,  had  they  not  been  thought  worthy  to  seal  their  testi- 
mony with  their  blood.  In  the  times  of  which  we  treat,  hundreds, 
who  suffered  the  loss  of  all  things  for  the  cause  of  Christ,  are  now 
altogether  unknown,  except  in  the  imperfect  traditionary  chronicles 
of  the  families  from  which  they  were  descended.  Hundreds,  too, 
finished  their  mortal  pilgrimage  in  foreign  climes,  of  whom  no  ac- 
count was  ever  transmitted  to  the  land  of  their  birth ;  but  the  two 
eminent  individuals,  united  in  this  brief  memoir,  will  live  on  the  page 
of  history,  so  long  as  time  endures. 

The  earliest  account  we  have  of  King  is,  that  he  was  for  some  time 
chaplain  to  lord  Cardross,  and  that  he  was  apprehended  and  com- 
mitted to  prison,  in  the  year  1674 ;  from  which,  however,  he  was 
liberated,  upon  a  bond  and  security  for  5000  merks,  to  appear  when 
called.  Next  year  he  was  again  taken  into  custody,  having  been 
apprehended  in  Cardross  house;  but  he  was  soon  rescued  by  a  few 
country  people  who  had  profited  by  his  ministry.  He  was  afterwards 
taken,  a  third  time,  near  Hamilton,  with  about  seventeen  others,  and 
marched  to  Evan  dale,  where  they  were  all  retaken  by  the  victorious 
Covenanters  at  Drum  clog,  whither  they  had  been  conveyed  by 
Claverhouse.  From  that  time  he  devoted  himself  to  the  service  of 
his  Master,  by  preaching  to  the  persecuted  party  till  their  defeat  at 
Both  well.  The  circumstances  attending  his  final  capture  are  some- 
what romantic  ;  but  as  there  is  nothing  improbable  in  the  account, 
we  give  it  upon  the  testimony  of  a  person,  who  vouched  for  its  accu- 
racy : — "  King  having  been  on  a  visit  to  the  laird  of  Blair,  in  the 
parish   of  Dairy,  near  Kilwinning,  to  whom  he  had  been  formerly 


KID    AND    KING. 


chaplain,  one  Bryce  Blair,  a  former,  who  had  been  groom  there  while 
King  Mas  in  the  family,  came  and  desired  a  visit  als  I  -went 
accordingly  ;  and  delivered  a  short  discourse  on  the  Saturday  night 
following.  On  the  Sabbath  morning,  a  party  of  the  enemy—said  to 
beCrichton's  dragoons — being  in  quest  of  him,  two  of  them,  in  dis- 
guise, came  to  an  old  man  feeding  cattle  near  Blair's  house,  and 
asked  him  if  he  knew  where  that  godly  minister,  Mr.  Kim  . 
they  were  .afraid  he  should  be  taken,  as  the  enemy  were  in  pursuitof 
him;  and  if  they  knew  where  he  was  they  would  secure  him  from 
them.  The  old  man,  overjoyed,  cried,  'I'll  run  and  tell  him.'  The 
men^  followed  hard  after,  and,  finding  one  of  the  family  servanta 
waiting  on  King  and  his  servant's  horses,  they  immediately  dis- 
mouted  ;  and,  having  driven  their  omui  horses  into  the  Btanding  corn, 
threatened  the  servant  not  to  stir  from  the  spot,  upon  pain  of  death. 
One  of  them  immediately  took  his  own  saddle,  and.  putting  it  on 
King's  horse,  said,  '  Many  a  mile  I  have  rode  after  thee,  but  I 
ride  upon  thee  now  !' 

"  By  this  time  the  rest  of  the  party  had  surrounded  the  house; 
and,  King  and  his  servant  being  in  bed,  they  immediately  command- 
ed them  to  rise.  "While  the  servant  was  putting  on  his  master's 
spurs,  one  of  the  soldiers  damned  him,  saying,  was  he  putting  a  spur 
on  aprisoner?  The  servant  replied  he  would  put  on  what  he  pleased, 
for  which  he  received  a  blow  from  the  soldier,  who,  in  his  turn,  was 
also  assailed  by  one  of  his  companions,  with  an  oath,  reproving  him 
for  striking  a  prisoner  while  offering  no  resistance.  Thus  King  and 
the  servant  were  both  inarched  off  for  Glasgow,  attended  by  one 
David  dimming,  a  native  of  the  parish,  as  guide.  For  this  man  the 
party  pressed  a  horse  that  they  might  get  forward  the  more  speedily  ; 
but  they  had  not  proceeded  far,  when  the  animal  became  quite  furious 
and  unmanageable,  so  that  Cumming  was  obliged  to  dismount  and 
walk  the  rest  of  the  road.  It  is  added,  that  the  horse  became  quite 
calm  and  docile,  at  soon  as  he  understood  that  he  was  on  the  way 
home."  In  reference  to  his  apprehension,  the  following  very  striking 
account  has  also  obtained  currency  : — "  A  party  of  English  dragoons 
are  said  to  have  been  there  at  the  time,  and  one  of  them,  on  horse- 
back, having  called  for  some  ale,  drank  to  the  confusion  of  the  Cov- 
enanters. One  of  his  companions  having  asked  him  at  the  Btable- 
green  port,  where  he  was  going,  was  answered, — 'To  carry  King  to 
hell.'  But  the  wicked  wretch^  had  proceeded  only  a  Bhort  way,  in 
high  merriment,  when  his  carbine  went  off  and  shot  him  dead  on  the 
spot."  "God  shall  shoot  at  them  with  an  arrow:  suddenly  shall 
they  be  wounded."* 

It  would  appear  that  Kid  had  been  apprehended  at  the  same  time. 
"Whether  he  had  ever  been  ordained,  or  was  only  a  probationer,  there 
is  no  certain  account.  His  presence,  however,  with  the  cc 
party,  was  deemed  sufficient  to  infer  the  highest  penalty  of  the  law, 
and  he  was  accordingly  indicted  along  with  King,  for  having 
in  the  rebellion,  and  for  having  preached  at  field  conventicles.  They 
were  both  brought  before  the  council  at  Edinburgh,  on  the  9th  of 
July.     King  at  once  acknowledged  that  he  had  been  with  those  who 

•  Ps.  lxiv.  7. 


490 


SCOTS    WORTHIES. 


had  taken  up  arms  in  defence  of  their  rights  ;  Kid  confessed  that  he 
had  preached  in  the  fields ;  but  only  in  two  places  where  there  were 
men  in  arms.  Both  signed  their  confession,  which  was  afterwards 
produced  in  evidence  against  them.  Kid  was  again  examined  before 
the  council,  on  the  12th,  and  put  to  the  torture.  It  is  said,  indeed, 
that  he  was  more  than  once  in  the  boots,  which  he  bore  with  ex- 
emplary patience  and  meekness.  King  was  re-examined  on  the  16th 
before  the  court  of  justiciary,  and  Kid  on  the  day  following.  On  the 
22d,  they  were  served  with 'indictments,  and  their  trial  came  on  upon 
the  28th.  Counsel  were  allowed  to  appear  in  their  defence ;  but  no 
exculpatory  proof  was  admitted.  Immediately  after  their  indictments 
were  read,  the  king's  advocate  produced  their  confession  in  evidence, 
when,  after  the  pleadings,  and  a  petition  in  behalf  of  King  had 
been  read  and  refused,  they  were  both  brought  in  Guilty,  and  sen- 
tenced to  be  hanged  at  the  market-cross  of  Edinburgh,  on  Thursday, 
the  14th  of  August,  and  to  have  their  heads  and  right  hands  cut  off, 
and  disposed  of  at  the  pleasure  of  the  council.  _ 

It  was  on  the  forenoon  of  this  day  that  the  king's  act  of  indemnity 
was  published  ;  and,  to  grace  the  solemnity,  these  two  noble  martyrs. 
who  were  denied  a  share  in  it,  were  brought  forth  in  the  forenoon, 
for  execution.  It  is  related  by  an  eyewitness,  that  as  they  approached 
the  fatal  spot,  walking  arm  in  arm,  Kid,  looking  at  his  fellow-martyr 
with  a  cheerful  countenance,  said  : — "  I  have  often  heard  and  read 
of  a  Md  sacrifice  !"  Upon  the  scaffold  they  exhibited  a  very  remark- 
able degree  of  magnanimous  serenity,  and  submitted  to  their  sentence 
with  muck  placidity  and  joy — a  joy  with  which  none  of  their  perse- 
cutors could  intermeddle.  Their  heads  were  cut  off  on  another  scaf- 
fold prepared  for  the  purpose.* 

Thus  ended  the  lives  of  these  two  worthy  ministers  and  martyrs  of 
Jesus  Christ,  after  having  owned  their  allegiance  toZion's  King,  and 
having  given  a  faithful  testimony  against  popery,  prelacy,  Erastian- 
ism,  and  for  the  covenanted  work  of  Reformation  in  its  different 
parts  and  periods. 

*  Their  heads  and  hands  were  cut  off,  and  affixed  to  the  Netherbow  Port  of  Edinburgh, 
beside  that  of  Mr.  Guthrie. 


JOHN    BROWN.  |(<- 


JOHN   BROWN. 


John  Bkown,  the  well-known  author  of  several  highly  prized  works 
on  practical  divinity,  is  the  next  Worthy  that  claims  our  respectful 
notice.  Much  obscurity  hangs  over  his  early  history.  His  mother, 
an  intelligent  and  pious  person,  had  the  honour  to  rank  among  her 
correspondents  the  famous  Samuel  Rutherford.  In  writing  to  Mrs. 
Brown  from  Aberdeen  on  the  13th  March,  1637,  Rutherford  thus  re 
fers  to  the  subject  of  this  memoir,  who  was  then  a  mere  youth  : — "  I 
rejoice  to  hear  your  son  John  is  coming  to  visit  Christ,  ami  to  taste 
of  his  love.  I  hope  he  shall  not  lose  his  pains,  or  rue  that  choice. 
I  had  always,  '  as  I  said  often  to  you,'  a  great  love  to  dear  Mr.  John, 
because  I  thought  I  saw  Christ  in  him  more  than  in  his  brethren. 
Fain  would  I  write  to  him  to  stand  by  my  sweet  Master;  and  I  wish 
you  would  let  him  read  my  letter,  and  the  joy  I  have,  if  he  will  ap- 
pear for,  and  side  with  my  Lord  Jesus."  In  another  letter  t"  a  dif- 
ferent correspondent,  Rutherford  also  expresses  himself  as  follows  :  — 
"  Remember  me  to  Mr.  John  Brown  ;  I  could  never  get  my  love  oil' 
that  man,  I  think  Christ  hath  something  to  do  with  him." 

On  completing  his  academical  studies,  he  was  ordained  ministei 
of  Wamphray,  in  the  presbytery  of  Lochmaben.  He  was  indefati- 
gable in  his  pastoral  labours  in  that  parish,  as  well  as  throughout 
Annandale.  He  continued  at  Wamphray  till  after  the  restoration  of 
Charles  the  Second.  For  the  conscientious  and  bold  stand  which  he- 
made  against  the  introduction  of  prelacy  he  was  cruelly  treated,  ami 
deprived  of  his  benefice.  On  the  6th  November,  1662,  he  was  placed 
at  the  bar  of  the  council,  charged  with  "  abusing  and  reproaching 
some  ministers  for  keeping  the  diocesan  synod  with  the  archbishop 
of  Glasgow,  calling  them  perjured  knaves  and  villains.  lie  ackm>\\ 
ledged  that  he  called  them  false  knaves  for  so  doing,  because  the; 
had  promised  the  contrary  to  him.  The  council  ordained  him  t.»  hi 
secured  a  close  prisoner  in  the  tolbooth  till  further  orders." 

In  consequence  of  the  severities  to  which  he  was  subjected,  b) 
being  confined  in  a  damp  cell  during  the  winter  of  1662,  lie  was  in- 
duced to  send  in  a  representation  to  the  council,  setting  forth,  "  that 
he  had  been  kept  close  prisoner  these  five  weeks  by-past,  am!  si 


that 


his 


crazy 


by  want  of  free  air  and  other  necessaries,  for  maintaining  In, 

y  body,  he  is  in  hazard  to  lose  his  life  ;  therefore,  humbly  desir 

6  warrant  to  be  put  at  liberty,  upon  caution,  to  enter  bis  | ■■ 

when  he  should  be  commanded."    The  lords  of  council  "  ordain  th< 

suppliant  to  be  put  at  liberty  forthwith  of  the  tolbooth.  he  first  oblig- 

32 


493  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

ing  himself  to  remove  and  depart  off  the  king's  dominions,  and  not 
to  return  without  license  from  his  majesty  and  council,  under  pain  of 
death."  The  alternative  was  a  hard  one,  but  rather  than  pine  away 
in  a  dungeon,  he  chose  to  bid  a  last  adieu  to  his  beloved  flock  and 
his  numerous  friends  in  Scotland,  and  repair  to  Rotterdam,  where 
Bevera]  of  his  acquaintance  had  already  taken  refuge.  Brown  was 
allowed  two  months,  from  the  11th  of  December,  to  prepare  for  his 
final  departure  from  his  native  country ;  and,  in  the  spring  of  1663, 
he  landed  on  the  continent.  He  resided  partly  at  Utrecht  and  partly 
at  Rotterdam.  Though  he  preached  frequently  in  both  places,  he  was 
never  admitted  minister  of  any  congregation  abroad.  In  the  year 
1073,  the  English  congregation  at  Middleburg,  in  Zealand,  were  de- 
sirous to  have  him  as  their  pastor.  He  remained,  however,  at  Rot- 
terdam, where,  in  1676,  he  was  brought  forward  as  a  candidate  along 
with  his  friend  Mr.  Mac  Ward,  when  the  Dutch  government  gener- 
ouslv  agreed  that  a  second  minister  should  be  appointed  for  the 
Scottish"  Church  in  that  city.  Both  candidates,  being  men  of.  tried 
worth  and  ability,  found  strenuous  supporters  in  the  congregation. 
The  consistory,  by  a  majority  of  votes,  elected  Mr.  MacWard. 

Brown  was  extremely  useful  at  Rotterdam.  He  assisted  the 
ministers  of  the  Scottish  Church,  not  merely  in  the  pulpit,  but  also 
in  regularly  visiting  their  people.  For  a  while  he  peaceably  en- 
joyed the  Christian  society  of  his  expatriated  brethren,  and  consoled 
by  his  printed  writings  and  private  letters,  the  dear  friends  among 
whom  he  now  dwelt,  as  well  as  those  whom  he  had  been  forced  to 
leave  behind.  But  this  peace  was  soon  broken  in  upon  by  the  un- 
worthy interference  of  King  Charles.  He  insisted  that  the  States 
General  should  remove  from  the  United  Provinces,  colonel  Wallace, 
John  Brown,  and  Robert  Mac  Ward,  because  they  were  obnoxious 
to  his  Majesty.  The  States,  with  great  reluctance,  interposed  in  this 
delicate  matter;  and,  as  we  have  already  fully  stated  in  our  Life  of 
Colonel  Wallace,  persuaded  rather  than  forced  these  three  Worthies, 
to  withdraw  from  Holland.  This  occurred  in  February,  1677.  For 
a  short  period  they  were  in  Germany  ;  but  it  was  not  long  till  they 
were  permitted  to  recross  the  frontiers  of  Holland,  and  take  up  their 
abode  in  the  vicinity  of  Utrecht. 

Mr.  Mac  Ward,  when  corresponding  wTith  his  session  about  a  suc- 
cessor,  thus  speaks  of  Brown,  who  was  at  this  time  living  with  him 
in  prudent  retirement: — "  The  Lord  hath  suffered  men  to  rob  you  of 
Mr.  Brown,  of  whom  I  have  confidence  to  say,  for  a  conjunction  of 
great  learning,  soundness  in  the  faith,  fervent  zeal  for  the  interests  of 
( Jhrist,  and  the  souls  of  men,  together  with  his  unwearied  painfulness 
while  upon  the  brink  of  the  grave,  spending  his  life  to  give  light  to 
others,  and  laying  out  his  great  receivings  for  the  vindication  of  pre- 
cious truth  ;  contradicted  and  blasphemed  by  adversaries,  I  know  no 
minister  alive  (though  the  residue  of  the  Spirit  be  with  him)  that 
would  fill  his  room  if  he  were  removed ;  and,  whatever  particular 
churches  or  persons  may  think,  Mr.  Brown  would  be  missed  out  of 
the  church  of  God  at  this  time,  that  the  greatest  men  he  left  behind 
would  count  themselves  obliged  to  mourn  over  that  miss.  Yea, 
■whatever  others  may  think,  it  is  beyond  debate  with  me,  if  our  capti- 


JOHN    BROWN. 


499 


vity  were  this  day  returned,  that  this  Mr.  Brown,  imw  removed  from 
the  Scottish  congregation  of  Rotterdam,  would,  by  a  General  A 
bly,  be  pitched  upon  to  fill  the  most  famous  place  in  the  Church  of 
Scotland." 

In  the  following  year  Brown  returned  to  Rotterdam,  and  was  re- 
ceived by  his  attached  friends  with  open  arms.  His  Bojourn  in  this 
world  was  now  drawing  to  a  close.  Having  gone  to  Amsterdam  on 
a  visit,  he  died  there  in  the  month  of  September,  1679. 

Of  Brown  it  may  with  the  greatest  truth  be  affirmed,  that  his  heart 
was  m  his  work*  Deeply  impressed  with  the  responsibility  of  the 
ministerial  office,  it  seemed  ever  his  grand  and  primary  aim,  faith- 
fully and  affectionately  to  discharge  "its  important  duties.  Rather 
than  violate  conscientious  scruples,  or  relax  in  his  firm  adherence  to 
the  sacred  cause,  he  willingly  "  suffered  the  loss  of  all  things  ;"  and, 
like  numbers  of  his  brethren  equally  minded,  he  meekly  ami  cheer- 
fully bore  many  indignities  and  privations,  which  a  despotic  prince, 
by  means  of  fiend  like  emissaries,  cruelly  delighted  to  inflict.  The 
subjoined  extract  is  from  a  sketch  of  his  character  which  was  written, 
immediately  after  his  decease,  by  Mr.  MacWard  to  a  friend  in 
land  : — f 

"  During  all  the  space  we  were  together  in  the  country,  1 
him,  (his  chamber  being  just  above  mine,)  tube  as  much  in  prayer 
and  communion  with  God  as  I  ever  observed  any,  yea,  more,  inso- 
much that  my  esteem  for  him  grew  above  what  it  had  been,  tl 
I  had  good  cause.  There  was  no  minister  now  alive  in  the  I  'hur.-h 
of  Scotland,  in  the  same  class  with  him  in  my  esteem  and  account  of 
abilities,  fixedness,  faithfulness,  and  pure  zeal  according  to  know- 
ledge ;  and  to  sum  up  all,  I  must  say,  alas  ! — the  witness  of  the 
Church  of  Scotland  ;  the  man  who  withstood  the  present  court 
desertion  ;  the  man  who,  in  resisting  the  adversaries  of  the  truth  of 
all  sorts  and  sizes,  was  helped  to  do  valiantly,  and  made  able  to  do 
exploits  for  his  God  ;  the  man  who,  while  the  archers,  (his  brethren, 
I  mean,  for  they  were  the  bowmen,)  have  sorely  grieved  him  and 
shot  at  him  and  hated  him,  yet  his  bow  abode  in  its  strength,  and  the 
arms  of  his  hands  were  made  strong  to  his  very  grave;  ay,  by  the 
hands  of  the  mighty  God  of  Jacob. — How  hateful  soever  it  may  ren- 
der us  to  such  who  hated  a  man  so  greatly  beloved  of  his  Lord  ami 
Master,  to  have  the  reasons  of  what  1  said  rendered,  yet  as  the  Lord 
may,  and  I  hope  shall,  prepare  me  to  bear  the  load  above  the  burden 
they  have  already  laid  upon  my  loins,  so  they  must  prepare  them- 
selves to  hear  these  set  before  them.  And,  my  friend,  1  give  you 
warrant  moreover  to  let  as  many  know  as  you  please,  that  nowever 
some  were  pleased  to  give  it  out  that  there  was  a  difference  and  dry- 
ness betwixt  us,  (because  many  wish  it,  and  would  have  ii  had 
so,)  yet  it  pleased  the  Lord  to  keep  us,  till  death  hath  now  made  a 
separation,  of  the  same  sort  and  sentiments  in  all  things  relatu 

*  "  Mr.  Russell  shewed  to  the  Session.  (Oct.  12,  1679.)  that  Mr.  John  Brown,  bel 
death,  had  appointed  100  guilders  to  be  given  to  the  Session,  for  use  of  the  poor,  after  the 
selling  of  his  books." — Consist.  Regist.  vol.  ii.  (Jan.  1675. — Oct.  L697,  p.  6.) 

t  Wodrow  MSS.,  Advocates'  Library,  Edinburgh,  vol.  lviii.  art.  108. 


500 


SCOTS    WORTHIES. 


the  public  work  and  interest  of  Christ,  yea,  we  were  more  so  than 
over." 

Brown  was  famous  for  learning  and  faithfulness,  warm  zeal,  and 
true  piety.  He  was  an  able  preacher;  in  controversy,  he  was  acute, 
masculine,  and  strong;  in  history,  plain  and  comprehensive;  in 
divinity,  substantial  and  correct;  the  first  he  discovers  in  his  Latin 
work  against  the  Socinians,  and  in  his  treatise  De  Causa  Dei  contra 
Anti-Sabbatarios,  which  is  greatly  valued  by  the  learned.  There  is 
also  a  large  manuscript  history,  entitled,  Apologia  fro  JEcdesia,  c&c, 
anno  Domini  1660,  consisting  of  1600  pages  in  4to,  which  he  gave 
to  Mr.  Charles  Gordon,  sometime  minister  at  Dalmeny,  to  be  by  him 
presented  to  the  first  free  General  Assembly  of  the  Church  of  Scot- 
land, and  which,  accordingly,  was  presented  to  the  General  Assembly 
of  1692.  Of  this  history,  the  Apologetical  Relation  seems  to  be  an 
abridgment.  His  letters  and  other  papers,  particularly  the  history  of 
the  Indulgence,  written  and  sent  home  to  his  native  country, 
manifest  his  great  and  fervent  zeal  for  the  cause  of  Christ.  And  his 
other  practical  pieces,  such  as  that  on  Justification  ;  on  the  Romans  ; 
Quakerism  the  Way  to  Paganism ;  the  Hope  of  Glory ;  and  Christ 
the  Way,  the  Truth,  and  the  Life ;  the  first  and  second  parts  of  his 
Life  of  Faith  ;  and  Enoch's  Testament  opened  up,  &c. ; — all  evidence 
his  solid  piety,  and  real  acquaintance  with  God  and  godliness. 

The  Dutch  entertained  a  high  opinion  of  Brown's  theological 
attainments.  Professors  Leydecker  and  Spanheim,  and  Messrs. 
Borstius,  a  Brakel  and  Koelman,  distinguished  native  divines,  were 
his  intimate  friends  ;  and,  by  their  united  and  individual  commenda- 
tions and  labours,  were  instrumental  in  extensively  disseminating  the 
able  treatises  on  practical  religion,  written  by  Brown,  during  his 
exile.  It  is  not  our  intention  to  analyze  the  numerous  books  of  which 
he  was  the  author.  We  may  here  mention,  as  not  generally  known, 
that  several  of  his  more  popular  writings  were  circulated  in  Holland, 
some  years  previous  to  being  printed  in  the  English  language,  by 
means  of  the  translation  of  Mr.  James  Koelman,  who  obtained  the 
manuscripts  from  the  author,  and  rendered  them  into  Dutch  with  ex- 
treme fidelity.  We  have  seen  seven  editions  of  this  foreign  version 
of  Brown's  "  Christ  the  Way,  the  Truth,  and  the  Life,"  and  different 
impressions  of  some  of  his  other  productions,  which  are  still  prized  in 
Holland.  This  eminent  person  is  repeatedly  styled,  in  the  register  of 
the  Scottish  Church  at  Rotterdam,  "  a  painful  helper  "  in  the  cause 
of  their  divine  Master.  Did  our  limits  permit,  we  would  willingly 
dilate  on  his  acknowledged  erudition,  and  the  ability  and  singular 
zeal  by  which  he  was  distinguished  both  at  Wamphray  and  Rotter- 
dam. His  memory  let  us  devoutly  cherish  !  By  the  grace  of  God 
he  was  what  he  was  ;  and  in  studying  the  writings  and  life  of  Brown, 
we  cannot  fail  to  admire  his  enlightened  piety,  and  earnestly  desire 
to  follow  bim  as  he  followed  Christ.* 

*  For  an  account  of  the  Rev.  John  Brown,  and  a  complete  chronological  list  of  his  works, 
see  Edinburgh  Christian  Instructor,  vol.  xxi.  pp.  659-668 ;  vol.  xxiii.  pp.  827-831  ;  also,  the 
numbers  for  November  and  December,  1840,  of  the  New  Series  of  that  periodical,  from  the 
pen  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Burns  of  Paisley.  Among  the  latest  public  acts  of  Mr.  Brown,  may 
be  mentioned  the  ordination  of  the  martyr,  Mr.  RicLard  Cameron,  which  took  place  in  the 
Scottish  Church,  Rotterdam,  in  the  year  1679  ;  Messrs.  Mac  Ward  and  Koelman  assisting  on 
that  solemn  occasion. — Consist.  Papers  of  Scottish  Clt.  Rott. 


HENRY  HALL  OF  HAUGH-HEAD. 


501 


HENRY  HALL  OF  HAUGH-HEAD. 


The  subject  of  this  brief  memoir  was  a  native  of  the  parish  of  Eckford, 
in  Tiviotdale.  Having  had  a  religious  education,  lie  began  very  early 
to  mind  a  life  of  holiness,  in  all  manner  of  godly  conversation.  In 
his  younger  years  he  was  a  most  zealous  opposerof  the  public  resolu- 
tions that  took  place  in  1651;  insomuch  that,  when  the  minister  of 
Eckford  complied  with  that  course,  he  refused  to  hear  him,  and  went 
often  to  Ancrum  to  Mr.  John  Livingstone.  After  the  restoration  of 
Charles  II.,  being  harassed  by  the  malicious  persecutions  of  the 
curates  and  other  malignants  for  his  nonconformity,  he  was 
to  leave  his  native  country  and  go  to  England,  in  1665,  wher< 
made  himself  singularly  useful  in  propagating  the  gospel,  by  in- 
structing the  ignorant,  and  procuring  ministers  to  preach  among  the 
people,  who,  before  his  coming,  were  very  rude  and  barbarous.  In 
1666,  he  was  taken  prisoner  on  his  way  to  Pentland,  to  assist  his 
covenanted  brethren,  and  imprisoned  with  some  others,  in  Cessford 
castle.  By  divine  providence,  however,  he  soon  escaped,  through 
the  favour  of  his  friend  the  Earl  of  Roxburgh,  a  relation  of  his,  to 
whom  the  castle  then  belonged.  He  retired  now  to  Northumber 
land,  where,  from  that  time  till  1679,  he  lived,  much  beloved  by  all 
who  knew  him,  for  his  care  and  anxiety  in  propagating  the  gospel  of 
Christ  in  that  country;  so  that  his  blameless  life  and  conversation 
drew  love,  reverence,  and  esteem,  even  from  his  enemies.  About 
1678,  the  severity  of  the  persecution  in  Scotland  compelled  many  to 
wander  about  in  ^Northumberland,  as  one  Col.  Struthers  was  violently 
pursuing  all  Scotsmen  in  those  places.  Haugh-head  was  present  at 
the  skirmish  near  Crookham,  where  Thomas  Kerr  of  Hayhop,  one  of 
his  nearest  intimates,  a  gallant  and  religious  gentleman,  fell.  Upon 
this  he  was  obliged  to  return  to  Scotland,  where  he  wandered  ui>  and 
down  in  the  hottest  of  the  persecution,  mostly  with  Mr.  Donald 
Cargill  and  Mr.  Richard  Cameron.  During  that  time,  besides  his 
many  other  Christian  virtues,  he  signalized  himself  by  an  anient 
in  defence  of  the  persecuted  gospel  in  the  fields.  He  was  one  of 
those  four  elders  of  the  Church  of  Scotland,  who,  at  the  council  of 
war  at  Shawhead-muir,  June  18,  1669,  were  chosen,  with 
Cargill,  Douglas,  King,  and  Barclay,  to  draw  up  the  "  Causes  "I'  the 
Lord's  Wrath  against  the  Land,"  which  were  to  be  the  causes  of  a 
fast  on  the  day  following.  He  had,  indeed,  an  active  hand  in  the 
most  part  of  the  transactions  among  the  Covenanters  at  that  time,  as 


5Q2  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

being  one  of  the  commanding  officers  in  that  army,  from  the  skirmish 
at  Druroclog,  to  their  defeat  at  Bothwell-bridge. 

After  this,  being  forfeited,  and  diligently  searched  for  and  pur- 
sued, to  eschew  the  violent  hands  of  his  indefatigable  persecutors,  he 
was  forced  to  go  over  to  Holland — the  only  refuge  then  of  our  Scots 
sufferers.  But  he  had  not  remained  there  lung,  until  his  zeal  for  the 
persecuted  interest  of  Christ,  and  his  tender  sympathy  for  the  afflicted 
remnant  of  his  covenanted  brethren,  who  were  then  wandering  in 
Scotland  through  the  desolate  caves  and  dens  of  the  earth,  drew  him 
home  again,  choosing  rather  to  undergo  the  utmost  severity  of  the 
persecutors'  fury,  than  live  at  ease  in  the  time  of  Joseph's  affliction  ; 
making  the  generous  choice  of  Moses,  who  preferred  to  the  momen- 
tary enjoyment  of  earthly  pleasures,  affliction  with  the  people  of  God. 
Nor  was  he  very  much  concerned  about  the  riches  of  this  world  ;  for 
he  hesitated  not  to  give  his  ground  to  hold  field-preachings  on,*  when 
few  or  none  else  would  do  it ;  for  he  was  still  a  true  lover  of  the  free 
and  faithful  preached  gospel,  and  was  always  against  the  Indul- 
gence. 

About  a  quarter  of  a  year  after  his  return  from  Holland,  he  was 
for  the  most  part  with  Mr.  Cargill,  lurking  as  privily  as  they  could 
about  Borrowstounness,  and  other  places  on  this  and  other  side  of  the 
Firth  of  Forth.  At  last  they  were  taken  notice  of  by  these  two 
bloody  hounds,  the  curates  of  Borrowstounness  and  Carriden,  who 
soon  smelled  out  Mr.  Cargill  and  his  companion,  and  presently  sent 
information  to  Middleton,  governor  of  Blackness  castle,  who  was  a 
papist.  After  consultation  he  commenced  immediate  pursuit,  and 
having  ordered  his  soldiers  to  follow  him  at  a  distance,  in  order  to 
avoid  suspicion,  he  with  his  man  rode  after  them  till  they  came  to 
Queensferry  ;  where,  perceiving  the  house  where  they  alighted,  he 
sent  his  servant  off  in  haste  for  his  men,  and  after  putting  up  his 
horse  in  another  house,  he  came  to  them  as  a  stranger,  and,  pretend- 
ing a  great  deal  of  kindness  to  them  both,  recpiested  the  pleasure  of 
having  a  glass  of  wine  with  them.  After  each  had  partaken  of  a 
glass  and  were  in  some  friendly  conference,  the  governor,  wearying 
that  his  men  came  not  up,  threw  off  the  mask,  and  laid  hands  on 
them,  saying,  they  were  his  prisoners,  commanding  the  people  of  the 
house  in  the  king's  name  to  assist ;  but  they  all  refused  except  one 
Thomas  George,  a  waiter,  by  whose  assistance  he  got  the  gate  shut. 
In  the  mean  while,  Haugh-head,  being  a  bold  and  brisk  man, 
struggled  hard  with  the  governor  until  Cargill  got  off;  and  after  the 
scuffle,  as  he  was  going  off  himself,  having  got  clear  of  the  governor, 
Thomas  George  struck  him  on  the  head  with  a  carbine  andVounded 
him  mortally.  However,  he  got  out ;  and  by  this  time  the  women 
of  the  town,  who  were  assembled  at  the  gate  to  the  rescue  of  the 
prisoners,  conveyed  him  out  of  town.  He  walked  some  time  on  foot, 
I >ut  scarcely  spoke,  save  only  to  cast  some  little  reflection  upon  a 

*  The  Rev.  Mr.  George  Barclay,  who  was  very  public  at  this  time,  and  had  his  hand  at 
many  a  good  turn,  and  was  a  blessed  instrument  to  the  edification  of  many  souls,  but  got  a 
waff  of  that  murdering  east-wind,  in  the  year  1679,  said,  "The  best  days  that  ever  he  had 
in  preaching  of  the  gospel  were  in  ihe  bounds  belonging  to  the  laird  ol'Haujrh-head,  worthy 
Henry  Hall,  &c."  " 


RICHARD    CAMERON. 

woman  whose  interposition  had  prevented  him  from  killing  the  go\ 
ernor, — an  event  which  would  have  tended  greatly  to  facilitate  his 
escape.  At  last  he  fainted,  and  was  carried  to  a  country  house  near 
Echlin  ;  and  although  surgeons  were  speedily  brought  yet  lie  never 
recovered  the  use  of  his  speech  afterward.  Dalziel,  living  near  by, 
was  soon  apprized  of  the  circumstance,  and  came  quickly  with  a 
party  of  the  guards,  and  seized  him;  and,  although  every  one  saw 
the  gentleman  just  dying,  yet  such  was  Dalziel's  inhumanity,  that  la- 
carried  him  to  Edinburgh.  But  he  died  on  the  way  thither,  and 
made  an  end  of  his  earthly  pilgrimage  to  receive  his  heavenly  crown. 
His  corpse  was  carried  to  the  Canongate  tolbooth,  where  it  lay  three 
days  without  burial :  and  even  then,  though  his  friends  convened  for 
that  end,  it  could  not  be  granted.  At  last  they  caused  him  to  In- 
buried  clandestinely  in  the  night;  for  such  was  the  fury  of  t!. 
limbs  of  antichrist,  that  after  they  had  slain  the  witnesses,  they  would 
not  suffer  them  to  be  decently  interred,  which  is  another  lasting  evi- 
dence of  the  cruelty  of  these  times. 

Thus  this  worthy  gentleman,  after  he  had  in  an  eminent  manner 
served  his  day  and  generation,  fell  a  victim  to  prelatic  fury.  Upon 
him  was  found,  when  he  was  taken,  a  rude  draught  of  an  unsubscrib- 
ed paper,  afterwards  called  the  Queensferry  Paper  ;  which  the  reader 
will  find  inserted  at  large  in  Wodrow's  History,  vol.  ii.  Appendix, 
No.  56  ;  the  substance  of  which  is  contained  in  Crookshank's  His- 
tory, and  in  the  Appendix  to  the  Cloud  of  Witnesses. 


RICHARD  CAMERON. 


This  devoted  Worthy  was  born  in  Falkland,  in  the  shire  of  Fife, 
where  his  father  was  a  merchant.  He  was  of  the  episcopal  persua- 
sion at  first;  but  after  he  had  completed  his  course  of  learning,  he 
was  for  some  time  thereafter  schoolmaster  and  precentor  to  the  curate 
of  Falkland.  He  sometimes  attended  the  sermons  of  the  Indulged, 
as  he  had  opportunity  ;  but  at  last  it  pleased  the  Lord  to  incline  him 
to  go  out  and  hear  the  field  preaching;  which  the  curates  understand- 
ing, they  endeavoured  partly  by  flattery  and  partly  by  threats,  and 
at  last  by  more  direct  persecution,  to  make  him  forbear.  But  Buch 
was  the  wonderful  working  of  the  Lord  by  his  powerful  Spirit  upon 
him,  that  having  got  a  lively  discovery  01  the  sin  and  hazard  i 
lacy,  he  deserted  the  curates  altogether;  for  no  sooner  was  he  en- 
lightened anent  the  evil  of  prelacy,  than  he  began  more  narrowly  to 


504  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

search  into  the  state  of  things,  that  he  might  know  what  was  his 
proper  and  necessary  duty.  The  Lord  was  pleased  to  discover  to  him 
the  sinfulness  of  the  Indulgence,  as  flowing  from  the  ecclesiastical 
supremacy  usurped  by  the  king ;  and  being  zealous  for  the  honour 
of  Christ,  he  longed  for  any  opportunity  to  give  a  testimony  against 
the  Erastian  acknowledgment  of  the  magistrate's  usurped  power  over 
the  church.  This  made  him  leave  Falkland,  and  go  to  Sir  Walter 
Scott  of  Harden,  who  attended  the  indulged  meetings.  Here  he  took 
the  opportunity,  notwithstanding  of  many  strong  temptations  to  the 
contrary,  to  witness  in  his  station  against  the  Indulgence.  Particu- 
larly on  Sabbath,  when  called  to  attend  the  lady  to  church,  he  re- 
turned from  the  entry,  refusing  to  go  that  day ;  spending  it  in  his 
chamber,  where  he  met  with  much  of  the  Lord's  presence,  as  he  him- 
self afterwards  testified,  and  got  very  evident  discoveries  of  the  na- 
ture of  these  temptations  and  suggestions  of  Satan,  which  threatened 
to  prevail  with  him  before  ;  and  upon  Monday  when  he  gave  a 
reason  to  the  said  Sir  Walter  and  his  lady  why  he  went  not  to  church 
with  them,  he  took  occasion  to  be  plain  and  express  in  testifying 
against  the  Indulgence  in  its  origin  and  nature.  After  which,  find- 
ing his  service  would  be  no  longer  acceptable  to  them,  he  went  to  the 
south,  where  he  met  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  John  Welch.  lie  staid  some 
time  in  his  company,  and  Mr.  Welch  finding  him  a  man  every  way 
qualified  for  the  ministry,  pressed  him  to  accept  a  license  to  preach  : 
this,  however,  he  for  some  time  refused,  because  having  obtained 
such  clear  discoveries  of  the  sinfulness  of  the  Indulgence,  he  foresaw 
that  he  would  be  required  to  testify  explicitly  against  it,  as  he  should 
have  opportunity  to  preach  the  gospel  in  public.  But  the  force  of  his 
objections  being  answered  by  Mr.  Welch's  serious  solicitations,  he 
was  prevailed  on  to  accept  of  a  license  from  the  ejected  ministers, 
who  were  then  preaching  in  the  fields,  and  had  not  yet  complied 
with  the  Indulgence.  Accordingly  he  was  licensed  by  Mr.  Welch 
and  Mr.  Semple,  at  Haugh-head,  in  Tiviotdale,  at  the  house  of  Henry 
Hall.  Here  he  told  them,  he  would  be  a  bone  of  contention  among 
them  ;  for  if  he  preached  against  a  national  sin  among  them,  it 
should  be  against  the  Indulgences,  and  for  separation  from  the  In- 
dulged. 

After  he  was  licensed,  they  sent  him  at  first  to  preach  in  Annan- 
dale.  He  said,  how  could  he  go  there  ?  He  knew  not  what  sort  of 
people  they  were.  But  Mr.  Welch  said  : — "  Go  your  way,  Ritchie, 
and  set  the  fire  of  hell  to  their  tails  ?"  He  went,  and  the  first  day 
he  preached  upon  that  text : — "  How  shall  I  put  thee  among  the 
children,"  &g.  In  the  application  he  said,  "  Put  you  among  the 
children,  the  offspring  of  robbers  and  thieves  ;  many  have  heard  of 
Annandale  thieves  !"  Some  of  them  got  a  merciful  cast  that  dav, 
and  told  it  afterwards,  that  it  was  the  first  field-meeting  that  ever 
they  attended  ;  and  that  they  went  out  of  curiosity  to  see  how  a 
minister  could  preach  in  a  tent,  and  people  sit  on  the  ground.  After 
this,  he  preached  several  times  with  Mr.  Welch,  Mr.  Semple,  and 
others,  until  1677,  that  he  and  Mr.  Welwood  were  called  before  that 
Erastian  meeting  at  Edinburgh,  to  be  deposed,  for  their  freedom  and 
faithfulness  in  preaching  against  the  sinful  compliance  of  that  time. 


RICHARD    CAMERON. 

After  this  he  preached  at  Maybole,  were  many  thousands  of  people 
were  assembled  together,  it  being  the  first  time  that  the  Bacrament  of 
the  Lord's  Supper  was  there  dispensed  in  the  open  fields.*     At  I 
time  he  used  much  more  freedom  in  testifying  against  the  Binfulni 
the  Indulgences,  for  which  he  was  called  before  another  meeting  of 
the  indulged  in  Galloway;  and  alittle  thereafter,  he  was  again  called 
before  a  presbytery  of  them,  at  Sundewall  in  Dnnscore  in  Nithsdale. 
This  was  the  third  time  they  had  designed  to  take  his  license  from 
him.     Here  it  was  that  Robert  Gray,  a  Northumbrian,  who  Buffered 
afterwards  in  the  Grassmarket,  in  1682,  Robert  Nelson,  and  others, 
protested  against  them  for  such  conduct.     At  this  meeting  they  pre- 
vailed with  him  to  give  his  promise,  that  fur  Borne  Bhort  time  he 
should  forbear  such  an  explicit  way  of  preaching  against  the  Indul- 
gence and  separation  from  them  who  were  indulged  ;  which  promi 
lay  heavy  on  him  afterwards,  as  will  appear  in  its  own  proper  pli 

After  giving  this  promise,  and  finding  himself  by  virtue  thereof 
bound  up  from  declaring  the  whole  counsel  of  God,  he  turned  Bome- 
what  melancholy  ;  and  to  pass  the  period  of  time  specified  by  I 
promise  in  the  end  of  the  year  1678,  he  went  over  to  Holland,  wh< 
he  conversed  with  Mr.  Mac  Ward,  and  others  of  our  banished  Worthii 
In  his  private  conversation  and  exercise  in  families,  hut  especially  in 
his  public  sermon  in  the  Scots  Kirk  of  Rotterdam,  he  was  most  re- 
freshing to  many  souls.     In  this  sermon  he  dwelt  chiefly  upon  con- 
version, his  text  being  : — "  Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that  labour  and  a 
heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest."     His  sermon  was  both  sal 
fying  and  agreeable  to  Mr.  MacWard,  Mr.  Brown,  and  others,  who 
had  been  sadly  misinformed  by  the  Indulged,  respecting  his  charac- 
ter and   mode  of  preaching ;  for  in  this  instance  he  touched  on  no 
public  matters  in  reference  to  the  church,  except  in   prayer,  when 
lamenting  the  deplorable  case  of  Scotland  by  defection  and  tyranny. 
About  this  time  Mr.  MacWard  said  to  him :— «  Richard,  the  public 
standard  is  now  fallen  in  Scotland  ;  and,  if  I  know  any  thing  of 
mind  of  the  Lord,  you  are  called  to  undergo  your  trials  before  us  ; 
therefore  go  home,  and  lift  the  fallen  standard  and  display  it  publicly 
before  the  world  ;  but  before  ye  put  your  hand  to  it,  go  to  as  many 
of  the  field-ministers— for  so  they  were  yet  called— as  ye  can  find, 
and  give  them  your  hearty  invitation  to  go  with  you;  and  if  they 
will  not  go,  go  alone,  and  the  Lord  will  go  with  you  I" 

Accordingly  he  was  ordained  by  Mr.  MacWard,  Mr.  Brown,  and 
Roleman,  a  famous  Dutch  divine.  'When  their  hands  were  taken  off 
his  head,  Mr.  MacWard  continued  his  still,  and  cried  out:—-  Be- 
hold all  ye  beholders;  here  is  the  head  of  a  faithful  minister  and 
servant  of  Jesus  Christ,  who  shall  lose  the  same  for  his  Master's  in- 
terest, and  shall  be  set  up  before  sun  and  moon,  in  the  view  of  the 
world!"  n     ,     ,      . 

In  the  beginning  of  1680,  he  returned  to  Scotland,  where  he 
some  time  in  going  to  such  ministers  as  had  formerly  kept  up  the 
public  standard  of  the  gospel  in  the  fields,  but  all   in  vain  ;  for  the 
persecution  after  Bothwell  was  then   so  hot  against    all   who 

*  Those  who  dispensed  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Sapper  here,  w. 
bald  Riddle,  John  Welch,  Andrew  Morton,  Patrick  Warner,  George  Barclay,  and  others. 


506  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

not  accepted  the  Indulgence  and  indemnity,  that  none  of  them  would 
venture  upon  that  hazard  except  Donald  Cargill  and  Thomas  Douglas, 
who  came  together,  and  kept  a  public  fast  day  in  Darmeid-muir,  be- 
twixt Clydesdale  and  Lothian  ;  one  of  the  chief  causes  of  which  was 
the  reception  of  the  duke  of  York,  that  sworn  vassal  of  antichrist, 
into  Scotland,  after  he  had  been  excluded  from  England  and  several 
other  places  Having  met  several  times  among  themselves  to  form 
a  declaration  and  testimony,  they  at  last  agreed  upon  one,  which  was 
published  at  the  market-cross  of  Sanquhar,  June  22,  1680;  from 
which  circumstance  it  is  commonly  called  the  Sanquhar  Declaration. 
After  this  they  were  obliged  for  some  time  to  separate  one  from  an- 
other, and  go  to  different  corners  of  the  land  ;  and  that  not  only 
upon  account  of  the  urgent  call  and  necessity  of  the  people,  who  were 
then  in  a  most  starving  condition,  with  respect  to  the  free  and  faith- 
ful preached  gospel,  but  also  on  account  of  the  indefatigable  scrutiny 
of  the  enemy,  who,  for  their  better  encouragement,  had,  by  procla- 
mation, offered  5000  merks  for  apprehending  Cameron,  3000  for  Mr. 
Cargill  and  Mr.  Douglas,  and  100  for  each  of  the  rest,  who  were  con- 
cerned in  the  publication  of  the  foresaid  declaration. 

After  parting,  Cameron  went  to  Swine-knowe  in  New  Monkland, 
where  he  had  a  most  confirming  and  comforting  day,  upon  that  soul- 
refreshing  text : — "  And  a  man  shall  be  a  hiding  place  from  the  wind 
and  a  covert  from  the  tempest ;  as  rivers  of  water  in  a  dry  place  ;  as 
the  shadow  of  a  great  rock  in  a  weary  land."  In  his  preface  he  said, 
he  was  fully  assured  that  the  Lord,  in  mercy  to  this  church  and  nation, 
would  sweep  the  throne  of  Britain  of  that  unhappy  race  of  the  name 
of  Stuart,  for  their  treachery  and  tyranny,  but  especially  their  usurp- 
ing the  royal  prerogatives  of  Christ ;  and  this  he  was  as  sure  of  as 
his  hands  were  upon  that  cloth  ;  yea,  and  more  sure,  for  he  had  that 
by  sense,  but  the  other  by  faith. 

"When  he  came  to  preach  about  Cumnock,  he  was  much  opposed 
by  the  Lairds  of  Logan  and  Horsecleugh,  who  represented  him  as  a 
bad  character  and  Jesuit.  But  yet  some  of  the  Lord's  people,  who 
had  retained  their  former  faithfulness,  gave  him  a  call  to  preach  in 
that  parish.  W7hen  he  began,  he  exhorted  the  people  to  remember 
that  they  were  in  the  sight  and  presence  of  a  holy  God,  and  that  all 
of  them  were  hastening  to  an  endless  state  of  well  or  wo.  One  An- 
drew Dalziel  who  Mas  in  the  house,  it  being  a  stormy  day,  cried  out, 
k'  Sir,  we  neither  know  you  nor  your  God  !"  Cameron,  musing  a 
little,  said  : — "  You,  and  all  who  do  not  know  my  God  in  mercy, 
aUall  know  him  in  his  judgments,  which  shall  be  sudden  and  sur- 
prising in  a  few  days  upon  you ;  and  I,  as  a  sent  servant  of  Jesus 
Christ,  whose  commission  I  bear,  and  whose  badge  I  wear  upon  nay 
breast,  give  you  warning,  and  leave  you  to  the  justice  of  God  !*" 
Accordingly,  in  a  few  days  after,  the  said  Andrew,  being  in  perfect 
health,  took  his  breakfast  plentifully,  and  before  he  rose  fell  a  vomit- 
ing, and  vomited  his  heart's  blood  'into  the  very  vessel  out  of  which 
he  _  had  taken  his  breakfast,  and  died  in  a  most  frightful  manner. 
This  admonishing  passage,  together  with  the  power  and  presence  of 
the  Lord  going  along  with  the  gospel  dispensed  by  him,  during  the 
little  time  he  was  there,  made  the  foresaid  two  lairds  desire  a  confer- 


RICHARD    CAMERON'. 

encewith  him  ;  to  winch  lie  readily  assented.  After  which  the)  were 
obliged  to  acknowledge  that  they  had  wronged  him.  and  desired 
forgiveness.  He  said,  from  his  heart  he  forgave  the  wrongs  they  had 
done  to  him;  but  for  those  which  thev  had  dour  to  the  interest  of 
Christ,  it  was  not  his  to  forgive,  adding,  that  he  waa  j  ersuaded  they 
would  be  remarkably  punished  for  it.  'To  tin-  laird  of  Logan  he  said, 
that  he  should  be  written  childless;  and  to  Horsecleugh,  that  he 
should  sutler  by  burning,— both  of  which  afterward-  came  to  | 

Upon  the  fourth  of  July  following,  being  eighteen  days  before  hie 
death,  he  preached  at  the  Grass-water-side  near  Cumnock.  In  hie 
preface  that  day,  he  said  : — "  There  are  three  or  lour  things  1  hfl 
to  tell  you  this  day,  which  I  must  not  omit,  because  I  will  be  but  a 
breakfast  or  four-hours  to  the  enemy  some  day  or  other  shortly  ;  and 
then  my  work  and  my  time  will  both  be  finished.  1.  As  for  king 
Charles  II.  who  is  now  upon  the  throne  of  Britain,  after  him  thi 
shall  not  be  a  crowned  king  of  the  name  of  Stuart  in  Scotland.*  %. 
There  shall  not  be  an  old  Covenanter's  head  above  ground,  that 
ywore  these  covenants  with  uplifted  hands,  ere  ye  got  a  right  refor- 
mation set  up  in  Scotland.  3.  A  man  shall  ride  a  day's  journey  in 
the  shires  of  Galloway,  Ayr,  and  Clydesdale,  and  not  Bee  a  reeking 
house  nor  hear  a  cock  crow,  ere  ye  get  a  right  reformation;  and 
several  other  shires  shall  be  little  better.  4.  The  rod  that  the  Lord 
will  make  instrumental  in  this,  will  be  the  French  and  other  foreifi 
ers,  together  with  a  party  in  this  land  joining  them  ;  but  ye  that 
stand  to  the  testimony  in  that  day,  be  not  discouraged  at  the  few- 
ness of  your  number;  for,  when  Christ  conies  to  raise  up  his  own 
work  in  Scotland,  he  will  not  want  men  enough  to  work  for  him." 

In  the  week  following,  he  preached  in  the  parish  of  Carluke,  from 
these  words,  "  Shall  the  prey  be  taken  from  the  mighty,  or  the  law- 
ful captive  delivered  ?"  And  the  Sabbath  following,  at  Eind-Bottom, 
near  Crawforcljohn,  he  preached  from  these  wurds,  "  Ye  will  not 
come  to  me  that  ye  may  have  life."  During  sermon  he  was  .-em  to 
weep,  and  the  greater  part  of  his  hearers  also,  so  that  lew  dry  cheeks 
were  to  be  seen  in  the  assembly.  After  this  to  the  day  of  his  death 
he  for  the  most  part  kept  his  chamber  door  shut  until  night  ;  for  the 
mistress  of  the  house  where  he  staid,  having  been  several  timee  at  the 
door,  got  no  admission.  At  last  she  forced  it  \\y  ;  and.  finding  him 
very  melancholy,  earnestly  desired  to  know  how  it  was  with  him. 
He  said  : — "  That  weary  promise  I  gave  to  these  ministers  ha-  lain 
heavy  upon  me,  and  for  which  my  carcass  shall  dung  the  wilderness, 
and  that  ere  it  be  long!"     Being  now  near  his  end,  he  had  Bucb  a 


appoi 


n ted  time 


The  last  sabbath  he  preached  was  with  Mr.  Cargill  in  Clydesdale, 
from  these  words,  "  Be  still,  and  know  that  I  am  God  ;  I  will  he  ex 
alted  among  the  heathen,  I  will  be  exalted  on  the  earth.       That  day 
he  said,  he  was  sure  that  the  Lord  would  lift  up  a  standard   a 
antichrist  that  would  go  to  the  gates  of  Borne,  and  burn  it  with  tire, 

*  Kin"  James  II.  never  took  the  coronation  oath  of  Scotland. 


503  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

and  that  "  blood"  should  be  their  sign,  and  "  no  quarter"  their  word  ; 
and  earnestly  wished  that  it  might  begin  in  Scotland.  At  their  part- 
ing, they  concluded  to  meet  the  second  sabbath  after  this  at  Craig- 
mead  ;  but  he  was  killed  on  the  Thursday  thereafter.  And  the 
sabbath  following,  Mr.  Cargill  preached  in  the  parish  of  Shotts,  from 
that  text, — "  Know  ye  not  that  there  is  a  prince  and  a  great  man 
fallen  this  clay  in  Israel  ?" 

The  last  night  of  his  life,  he  was  in  the  house  of  William  Mitchell 
of  Meadowhead,  at  the  water  of  Ayr,  where,  about  twenty-three  horse 
and  forty  foot  had  continued  with  him  that  week.  That  morning  a 
woman  gave  him  water  to  wash  his  face  and  hands;  and  having 
washed,  and  dried  them  with  a  towel,  he  looked  at  his  hands,  and 
laid  them  on  his  face,  saying  : — "  This  is  their  last  washing,  I  have 
need  to  make  them  clean,  for  there  are  many  to  see  them  !"  At  this 
the  woman's  mother  wept,  when  he  said  : — "  Weep  not  for  me,  but 
for  yourself  and  yours,  and  for  the  sins  of  a  sinful  land,  for  ye  have 
many  melancholy,  sorrowful,  and  weary  days  before  you." 

The  people  who  remained  with  him  wTere  in  some  hesitation, 
whether  they  should  abide  together  for  their  own  defence,  or  disperse 
and  shift  for  themselves.  But  that  day,  being  the  22d  of  July,  they 
were  surprised  by  Bruce  of  Earlshall ;  who  having  got  command  of 
Airley's  troop  and  Strachan's  dragoons,  upon  notice  given  him  by 
Sir  John  Cochran  of  Ochiltree,*  came  furiously  upon  them  about 
four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  when  lying  on  the  east  end  of  Ayr's- 
Moss.  When  they  saw  the  enemy  approaching,  and  no  possi- 
bility of  escaping,  they  all  gathered  round  Cameron  while  he  deli- 
vered a  short  prayer  in  which  this  expression  occurred  three  times  : 
— "  Lord,  spare  the  green,  and  take  the  ripe !"  When  ended,  he 
said  to  his  brother,  with  great  intrepidity  : — "  Come,  let  us  fight  it 
out  to  the  last ;  for  this  is  the  day  that  I  have  longed  for,  and  the 
day  that  I  have  prayed  for,  to  die  fighting  against  our  Lord's  avowed 
enemies  ;  this  is  the  day  that  we  will  get  the  crown  !"  And  to  the 
rest  he  said  : — "  Be  encouraged,  all  of  you,  to  fight  it  out,  valiantly, 
for  all  of  you  that  fall  this  day  I  see  Heaven's  gates  open  to  receive 
you." 

But  the  enemy  approaching,  they  immediately  drew  up  eight 
horse,  with  Cameron  on  the  right;  the  rest,  with  valiant  Hackston 
on  the  left,  and  the  foot  in  the  centre;  where  they  all  behaved  with 
much  bravery,  until  overpowered  by  a  superior  number.  At  last, 
Hackston  was  taken  prisoner,  as  will  afterwards  be  more  fully  nar- 
rated. Cameron  was  killed  on  the  spot,  and  his  head  and  hands  cut 
off  by  one  Murray,  and  taken  to  Edinburgh.  The  headless  body  was 
thrown  into  a  hole  in  Ayr's  Moss.  Upon  a  green  hillock  in  the 
Moss,  a  simple  tombstone  marks  his  grave.  Solemn  recollections 
have  often  been  elicited  at  Cameron's  grave,  and  sublime  expressions 

*  It  is  said  Earlshall  got  £500,  and  Ochiltree  10,000  merks.  However,  some  time 
after,  one  morning  about  break  of  day,  a  fiery  pillar  of  a  bloody  colour,  seemingly  about 
two  yards  long,  was  seen  hanging  about  that  house.  The  same  day,  about  two  o'clock 
afternoon,  the  castle  took  fire,  and  was,  with  charters,  plate,  and  all,  burnt  down  to  the 
ground.  The  son  said  to  the  father  while  it  was  burning,  "  This  is  the  vengeance  of 
Cameron's  blood  !'  That  house  was  never  built— forthe  new  house,  estate,  and  all,  are  gone 
lrom  that  race  to  others. 


M 


RICHARD    CAMERON.  509 

uttered  on  the  hallowed  spot.  Here  a  little  afterwards,  did  Peden 
sit  down.  He  meekly  raised  his  eyes  to  heaven,  and  ejaculated, 
11  Oh  to  be  wi  Ritchie!"  Peden,  too,  had  his  full  Bhare  <»f  troubles, 
and  when  these  were  over,  his  ashes  at  length  reposed  Dot  far  from 
Cameron's. 

His  father  being  in  prison  for  the  same  cause,  they  carried  the 
head  and  hands  to  him,  to  add  grief  unto  his  former  sorrow,  inquiring 
if  he  knew  them.  Taking  his  son's  head  and  hands,  which  were 
very  fair — being  a  man  of  a  fair  complexion,  like  himself— he  kissed 
them  and  said: — "I  know,  I  know  them;  they  are  my  son's,  my 
own  dear  son's  ;  it  is  the  Lord  ;  good  is  the  will  of  the  Lord,  who 
cannot  wrong  me  nor  mine,  but  has  made  goodness  and  mercy  to 
follow  us  all  our  days  !"  After  which,  by  order  of  the  Council,  our 
"Worthy's  head  was  fixed  upon  the  Nether-bow  port,  and  his  hand- 
beside  it,  with  the  fingers  upward. 

Thus  this  valiant  soldier  and  minister  of  Jesus  Christ  came  to  his 
end,  after  he  had  been  not  only  highly  instrumental  in  turning  many 
souls  unto  God,  but  also  in  lifting  up  a  faithful  standard  for  his  royal 
Lord  and  Master,  against  all  his  enemies,  and  the  defections  and 
sinful  compliances  of  that  time.  One  of  his  and  Christ's  declared 
enemies,  when  he  looked  at  his  head  at  Edinburgh,  gave  him  this 
testimony  : — "  There's  the  head  and  hands  of  a  man  who  lived  pray- 
ing and  preaching,  and  died  praying  and  fighting."  And  wherever 
the  faithful  contendings  of  the  once  famous  covenanted  chunh  of 
Scotland  are  honourably  made  mention  of,  this,  to  his  honour,  shall 
be  recorded  of  him. 

After  he  was  slain,  there  was  found  upon  him  a  short  paper,  or 
bond  of  mutual  defence,  which  the  reader  will  find  inserted  in 
Wodrow's  History,  and  in  the  xlppendix  to  the  Cloud  of  "Wit; 
There  are  some  few  of  his  letters  now  published  with  Mr.  Renwick's 
Collection  of  Letters,  but  the  only  sermon  of  his  that  appeared  in 
print  formerly,  is  the  one  preached  at  Carluke,  entitled,  Good  News 
to  Scotland,  published  in  1733.  He  wrote  also  in  Defence  of  the 
Sanquhar  Declaration,  but  we  can  give  no  account  of  its  ever  being 
published.  Some  more  of  his  sermons  have  lately  been  given  to  the 
world. 


51q  SCOTS   WORTHIES. 


DAVID  HACKSTON  OF  RATHILLET. 


David  Hackston  of  Rathillet,  in  Fifeshire,  is  said  in  his  younger 
years  to  have  given  no  symptom  of  religious  feeling,  until  it  pleased 
the  Lord,  in  his  infinite  goodness,  to  incline  him  to  hear  the  gospel 
then  preached  in  the  fields,  in  consequence  of  which  he  became 
such  a  true  convert,  that  after  a  mature  deliberation  upon  the  contro- 
verted points  of  the  principles  of  religion  in  that  period,  he  at  last 
embarked  himself  in  that  noble  cause,  for  which  he  afterwards  suf- 
fered, with  a  full  resolution  to  stand  and  fall  with  the  despised,  per- 
secuted people,  cause,  and  interest,  of  Jesus  Christ. 

Hackston  does  not  seem  to  have  distinguished  himself  by  any  pub- 
lic appearance,  until  the  3d  of  May,  1679,  when  we  find  him,  with 
other  eight  gentlemen,  going  in  quest  of  one  Carmichael,  who  had 
been  commissioned  by  the  archbishop  to  harass  and  persecute  all  he 
could  find  in  the  shire  of  Fife,  for  nonconformity ;  but  not  finding 
him,  when  they  were  ready  to  drop  the  search,  they  providentially 
met  with  their  arch  enemy  himself.  So  soon  as  they  descried  his 
coach,  one  of  them  said,  "  It  seems  that  the  Lord  had  delivered  him 
into  our  hands  ;"  and  proposed  that  they  should  choose  one  for  their 
leader,  whose  orders  the  rest  were  to  obey.  Upon  this  Hackston  was 
chosen  for  their  commander,  but  he  refused,  in  consequence  of  a  dif- 
ference subsisting  betwixt  Sharp  and  him  in  a  civil  process,  wherein 
he  judged  himself  to  have  been  wronged  by  the  primate;  which 
deed  he  thought  would  give  the  world  ground  to  think  it  was  out  of 
personal  pique  and  revenge.  They  then  chose  another,  and  came  up 
with  the  coach,  got  the  bishop  out,  and  wounded  him.  When  he 
fell  to  the  ground,  they  ordered  him  to  pray  ;  but  instead  of  that, 
seeing  Iiatlrillet  at  some  distance, — having  never  alighted  from  his 
horse, — he  crept  towards  him  on  his  hands  and  his  feet,  and  said, 
"  Sir,  I  know  you  are  a  gentleman,  you  will  protect  me." — To  which 
lie  answered,  "  I  shall  never  lay  a  hand  on  you."  At  last  he  was 
killed  ;  after  which  every  one  approved  or  condemned  the  action 
just  as  their  inclination  moved  them.  However,  the  deed  was 
wholly  charged  upon  him  and  his  brother-in-law,  Balfour  of  Kinloch, 
although  he  had  no  active  hand  in  it. 


DAVID    HACKSTON    OF    RATHILLET. 


511 


About  the  latter  end  of  the  same  month  of  May.  that  he  might  not 
be  found  wanting  to  the  L&rd's  cause  upon  any  emergency,   Hack 
stoft,  with  some  Friends  from  Fifeshire,  made  eommon  cause  with  a 
few  Covenanters  at  Evandale,  where,  after  the  declaratioi  . 
quently  called  the  Rutherglen  Declaration,  had  been  drawn   np  by 
himself  and  Mr.  Hamilton,  he  repaired  along  with   Mr.  I> 
the  market-cross  of  that  same  town,  and  upon  the  annivers; 
the  29th  of  May,  where  they  extinguished  the  bonfires,  and  publish- 
ed the  said  testimony,  they  returned  to  Evandale,  where  they  were 
attacked  by  Claverhouse,  upon  the  first  of  June,  near    Di  m  clog. 
Hackston  was  on  this  occasion  appointed  one  of  the  commanding- 
officers,- —Mr.  Hamilton  being  commander-in-chief,  where  be  behaved 
with  much  valour  and  gallantry  during  that  skirmish.     After  this, 
Hackston  was  a  very  useful  instrument  among  thai  faithful  remnant, 
to  which  his  repeated  protests  against  the  corrupt  and  Erastian  party 
bear  witness.     He  had  also  an  active  hand  in  the  most  part  of  the 
public  transactions  among   them,  until  that   fatal  day,  the  22d  of 
June,  where  he  and  his  troop  of  horse  were  the  last  upon  the  held  of 
battle  at  Bothwell-bridge. 

But  this  worthy  and  religious  gentleman  being  now  declared  a 
rebel  to  the  king — though  no  rebel  to  Zion's  King — and  a  proclama- 
tion issued  out,  offering  a  reward  of  10,000  merks  to  any  who  could 
inform  against,  or  apprehend,  either  him,  or  any  of  those  concerned 
in  the  death  of  the  archbishop  of  St.  Andrew's,  he  was  obliged  to  re- 
tire out  of  the  way  for  about  a  year,  during  which  time  he  did  nut 
neglect  to  attend  the  gospel  in  the  fields,  wherever  he  could  hear  it 
faithfully  preached.  But  it  could  not  be  expected  that  this  should 
continue  long;  and  accordingly,  upon  the  22d  of  July,  1680,  having 
been  a  few  days  with  that  Tittle  party,  who  attended  Mr.  Richard 
Cameron  at  Ayr's-Moss,  they  were  surprised  by  Bruce  of  Earlshall, 
Airley's  troop,  and  Strachan's  dragoons. 

Being  commander-in-chief  of  that  little  Viand,  when  lie  Baw  the 
enemy  "approaching  fast,  he  rode  off,  followed  by  the  rest,  for  the 
purpose  of  securing  proper  vantage-ground;  but  seeing  that  this 
could  not  be  obtained,  they  turned  hack,  and  drew  up  quickly,  eiaht 
horse  being  on  the  right,  and  fifteen  on  the  left,  and  the  foot,  who 
were  but  ill-armed,  in  the  centre.  He  then  asked  it*  they  were  all 
willing  to  fight;  and,  receiving  a  favourable  answer, both  armies  ad- 
vanced. A  strong  party  of  the  enemy's  horse  coming  hard  upon 
them,  our  horsemen  fired,  killing  and  wounding  several  of  them,  both 
horse  and  foot.  Upon  this  they  advanced  to  the  enemy's  ver)  fact  s, 
where,  after  giving  and  receiving  fire,  Hackston  being  in  front,  and 
finding  the  horse  behind  him  in  disorder,  galloped  in  among  them. 
but  escaped  without  any  damage;  however,  being  assailed  by  several, 
with  whom  he  fought  a  long  time,  he  at  length  stack  in  a  bog  ;  when 
the  foremost  of  them,  one  Ramsay,  an  old  acquaintance,  followed  him 
in,  and  being  on  foot,  they  fought  for  some  time  with  Bmall  Bwords, 
with  but  little  advantage  on  either  side.  Closing  at  length,  he  was 
struck  down  by  three  of  the  dragoons,  who,  coming  behind  h 
wounded  him  severely  on  the  head.  After  this  he  was  with  thi 
of  the  prisoners  carried  to  the  rear,  where  they  gave  them  all 


512  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

character*  of  brave,  resolute  men.  He  was  next  brought  to  Douglas, 
and  from  thence  to  Lanark,  where  Dalziel  threatened  to  roast  him 
alive  for  not  satisfying  him  with  answers.  After  which  he  and  other 
three  prisoners  were  taken  to  Edinburgh,  where,  by  order  of  the 
council,  they  were  received  by  the  magistrates  at  the  Watergate. 
Ilackston  was  set  on  a  horse's  bare  back,  with  his  face  backward,  and 
the  other  three  laid  on  a  bar  of  iron,  and  carried  up  the  street,  with 
Mr.  Cameron's  head  on  a  halbert  before  them,  to  the  Parliament 
Close,  where  Ilackston  was  taken  down,  and  the  rest  loosed  by  the 
hands  of  the  hangman. 

Pie  was  immediately  brought  before  the  council,  where  his  indict- 
ment was  read  by  the  chancellor,  and  himself  examined  ;  which  ex- 
amination, and  his  answers  thereto,  being  elsewheref  inserted  at 
large,  it  may  suffice  here  to  observe,  that  being  asked  if  he  thought 
the  bishop's  death  murder?  he  told  them,  that  he  was  not  obliged  to 
answer  such  questions  ;  yet  he  would  not  call  it  so,  but  rather  say,  it 
was  not  murder.  Being  further  asked,  if  he  owned  the  king's  authori- 
ty, he  replied  : — "  That  though  he  was  not  obliged  to  answer,  yet  as 
as  he  was  permitted  to  speak,  he  would  say  something  to  that; — 1. 
That  there  could  be  no  lawful  authority  but  what  was  of  God,  and 
that  no  authority  stated  in  a  direct  opposition  to  God,  could  be  of 
God,  and  that  he  knew  of  no  authority  nor  justiciary  this  day  in  these 
nations,  but  what  were  in  a  direct  opposition  to  God,  and  so  could 
neither  be  of  God,  nor  lawful ;  and  that  their  fruits  were  evincing  it, 
because  they  were  setting  murderers,  sorcerers,  and  such  others,  at 
liberty  from  justice,  and  employing  them  in  their  service,  and  mak- 
ing it  their  whole  work  to  oppress,  kill,  and  destroy  the  Lord's  peo- 
ple." Bishop  Paterson  asked,  "  If  ever  Pilate  and  that  judicature 
who  were  direct  enemies  to  Christ,  were  disowned  by  him  as  judges  V 
to  which  he  said,  "he  wrould  answer  no  perjured  prelate  in  the  na- 
tion." Paterson  replied,  "  He  could  not  be  called  perjured,  since  he 
never  took  that  sacrilegious  covenant."  Ilackston  answered,  "  That 
God  would  own  that  Covenant,  wrhen  none  of  them  were  to  oppose 
it."  Notwithstanding  these  bold,  free,  and  open  answers,  they 
threatened  him  with  torture  ;  but  this  he  altogether  disregarded. 

Being  brought  again  before  the  council  on  the  20th,  his  answers 
were  much  to  the  same  purpose.  The  chancellor  called  him  a  vicious 
man  :  he  replied,  "  that  while  he  was  so,  he  had  been  acceptable  to 
him ;  but  now,  when  otherwise,  it  was  different."  Being  asked 
whether,  "  if  set  at  liberty,  he  would  own  that  cause  with  his  blood," 
he  answered,  "  that  both  their  fathers  had  owned  it  with  the  hazard 
of  their  blood  before  him."  Then  he  was  called  by  all  a  murderer. 
He  answered,  "  God  should  decide  it  betwixt  them,  to  whom  he  re- 
ferred it,  who  were  the  greatest  murderers  in  his  sight."     Bishop 

*  Some  of  these  blood}' enemies  said,  that  that  handful  were  men  of  the  greatest  courage 
that  ever  they  set  their  faces  to  fight  against,  al'hough  they  had  been  at  battles  abroad: 
and  that  if  they  had  been  as  well  trained,  horsed,  and  armed,  as  they  were,  they  would 
surely  have  been  put  to  (light.  Few  of  them  escaped  ;  for  their  shots  and  strokes  were 
deadly,  of  which  few  recovered  ;  for  though  there  were  but  nine  of  the  Covenanters  killed, 
yet  there  were  twenty-  eight  of  the  enemy  killed,  or  died  of  their  wounds  in  a  few  days.— 
Walkers  Memoirs,  p.  56. 

t  See  his  Letters  and  Answers  in  the  Cloud  of  Witnesses. 


DAVID    HACKSTON    OF    RATIIILLET.  513 

Paterson's  brother,  in  conference,  told  him,  that  the  whole  council 
found  that  he  was  a  man  of  great  parts,  and  also  of  good  birth. 
Hackston  said,  for  his  birth  he  was  related  to  the  best  in  the  king- 
dom, which  he  thought  little  of;  and  for  his  parts,  they  were  ven 
small ;  yet  he  trusted  so  much  to  the  goodness  of  that  cause  for  which 
he  was  a  prisoner,  that  if  they  would  give  God  that  justice  as  to  let 
his  cause  be  debated,  he  doubted  not  to  plead  it  with  all  that  Bpake 
against  it. 

Upon  the  27th  he  was  taken  before  the  court  of  justiciary,  where 
he  declined  the  king's  authority  as  an  usurper  of  the  prerogative  of 
the  Son  ot  God,  whereby  he  had  involved  the  land  in  idolatry,  per- 
jury, and  other  wickedness;  and  declined  them,  as  exercising  under 
him  the  supreme  power  over  the  church,  usurped  from  Jesus  ( Ihrist, 
and  therefore  durst  not,  with  his  own  consent,  sustain  them  as  com 
petent  judges;  regarding  them  as  open  and  stated  enemies  to  the 
living  (rod,  and  competitors  for  his  throne  and  power,  belonging  to 
him  only. 

On  the  29th  he  was  brought  to  trial,  when  the  council,  in  a  most 
unprecedented  way,  appointed  the  manner  of  his  execution  ;  for  they 
well  knew  his  judges  would  find  him  guilty.  Upon  Friday  the  30th. 
being  brought  again  before  them,  and  asked  if  he  had  any  more  to 
say  ;  he  answered, — "  What  I  have  said  I  will  seal."  They  then  told 
him  they  had  somewhat  to  say  to  him,  commanding  him  to  sit  down 
and  receive  his  sentence.  He  complied,  but  at  the  same  time,  told 
them  they  were  all  murderers;  for  all  they  had  was  derived  from 
tyranny ;  and  that  these  years  bygone,  they  had  not  only  tyrannized 
over  the  church  of  God,  but  also  grinded  the  faces  of  the  poor;  so 
that  oppression,  perjury,  and  bloodshed,  were  to  be  found  in  their  skirts. 

Upon  this  he  was  removed  from  the  bar,  drawn  backward  on  a 
hurdle  to  the  place  of  execution  at  the  cross  of  Edinburgh.  None 
were  suffered  to  attend  him  but  two  bailies,  the  executioner,  and  his 
servants.  He  was  permitted  to  pray  to  God,  but  not  to  speak  t<>  the 
people.  Having  reached  the  scaffold,  his  right  hand  was  struck  off. 
and  a  little  after  his  left;  which  he  endured  with  great  firmness  and 
constancy.  The  executioner  being  long  in  cutting  oil'  the  right  hand. 
he  desired  him  to  strike  on  the  joint  of  the  left;  which  being  done, 
he  was  drawn  up  to  the  top  of  the  gallows  with  a  pulley,  and  suffered 
to  fall  dawn  from  a  considerable  height  upon  the  lower  scaffold,  three 
times,  with  his  whole  weight,  and  then  fixed  at  the  topof  the  gibbel  : 
after  which  the  executioner,  with  a  large  knife  cut  open  his  breast, 
and  pulled  out  his  heart  before  he  was  dead  ;  for  it  moved  when  it 
fell  on  the  scaffold.  The  monster  then  stuck  his  knife  in  it,  and 
showed  it  on  all  sides  to  the  people,  crying.  "  Here  is  the  heart  of  a 
traitor!"  At  last  he  threw  it  into  a  fire  prepared  for  that  purpose: 
and,  having  quartered  his  body,  his  head  was  fixed  on  the  Nether 
Bow;  one  of  his  quarters,  with"  his  hand-,  at  St.  Andrew's  ;  another 
at  Glasgow  ;  a  third  at  Leith,  and  the  fourth  at  Burntisland.— Thu^ 
fell  this3 champion  for  the  cause  of  Christ,  a  sacrifice  to  prelatic  fury, 
to  gratify  the  lust  and  ambition  of  wicked  and  bloody  men.  Bui 
Hackston's  memory  still  lives;— though  whether  his  courage,  con- 
stancy, or  faithfulness,  had  the  pre-eminence,  it  is  hard  to  determine 
33 


514  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 


ROBERT  KER  OF  KERSLAND. 


The  subject  of  this  brief  memoir,  having  been  born  and  educated  in 
a  very  religions  family,  began  early  to  discover  more  than  an  ordi- 
nary zeal  for  religion.  His  first  public  appearance  was  in  1666,  about 
November  26,  when  he,  Caldwell,  and  some  others  of  the  Renfrew 
gentlemen,  gathered  themselves  together,  and  marched  eastward  to 
join  colonel  Wallace,  and  that  little  handful  who  renewed  the  Cove- 
nants at  Lanark.  Having  heard  that  general  Dalziel  was  by  that 
time  got  betwixt  them  and  their  friends,  they  were  obliged  to  dis- 
miss. This  could  not  escape  the  knowledge  of  the  managers  ;  for 
the  laird  of  Blackstown,  one  of  their  own  number,  upon  a  promise  of 
pardon  informed  against  the  rest,  and  ensured  his  own  safety  by  ac- 
cusing his  neighbour. — But  of  this  he  had  nothing  to  boast  of  after- 
wards. 

Kersland  was  after  this  obliged  to  remove  out  of  the  way  ;  and  next 
year  he  was  forfeited  in  his  life  and  fortune,  and  his  estate  given  to 
lieutenant-general  Druminond  of  Cromlie,  and  his  lands  in  Beith  to 
William  Blair  of  that  Ilk ;  which  estate  they  unjustly  held  till  the 
Revolution.* 

After  this,  to  elude  the  storm  he  went  over  to  Holland,  and  there 
chose  to  live  with  his  family  at  Utrecht,  where  he  had  the  advantage 
of  hearing  the  gospel,  and  other  excellent  conversation.  In  that  place 
he  continued  nearly  three  years.  But  his  friends  thinking  it  neces- 
sary that  he  should  return  home  to  settle  some  of  his  affairs, — if  pos- 
sible,— his  lady  arrived  in  the  end  of  1669,  and  himself  soon  after. 
To  his  unspeakable  grief,  however,  he  found,  when  he  reached  Edin- 
burgh, that  she  was  in  bad  health,  in  the  house  of  a  woman  who  was 
friendly  to  the  sufferers.  And  though  he  lodged  in  a  more  private 
place,  and  used  only  to  visit  his  lady  in  the  evenings,  one  Cannon  of 
Mardrogate,  who  had  not  altogether  cast  off  the  mask — at  least  his 
treachery  and  apostasy  were  not  then  discovered — having  got  notice 
of  it,  gave  information  to  the  chancellor.  Orders  were  immediately 
procured  from  Lauderdale,  who  was  then  in  town,  to  search  that 
house,  on  pretence  that  Mr.  Welch  was  holding  conventicles  in  lady 
Kersland's  chamber ;  but  their  design  was  for  Kersland  himself,  as 
will  afterwards  appear.  Accordingly  a  party  came  ;  and,  finding  no 
conventicle,  were  just  about  to  retire,  when  one  Murray  from  Mar- 
drogate, receiving  particular  information  that  when  any  company  came 
to  the  room,  Kersland  in  the  evening  used  to  retire  behind  a  be<J  ; 
*  For  a  particular  account  of  this  gift,  see  Samson's  Riddle,  &c,  pp.  139,  144. 


ROBERT   KER   OF   KERSLAND. 

and    having  a  torch  in  his  hand,  provided  for  that  end,  said  he  be- 
noved   to  search  the  room;   and,  going  Btraight   behind   the   ' 

brought  him  out  and  charged  him  to  surrender  his  arms      foreland! 
told  him  he  had  no  arms  but  the  Bible,  which  was  then  in  hia  band 
—a  spectacle  which  was  sufficient  to  condemn  him  in  these  times.— 
On  parting  with  his  lady  she  showed  much  calmness  an. I  compoenre 
exhorting  him  to  do  nothing  that  might  wound  his  conscience,  out  •■? 
regard  to  her  or  her  children,  and  repeated  thai  Scripture  :— 

"  No  man  having  put  his  hand  to  the  plough,  and  looking  back,  is  fit 
for  the  kingdom  of  God." 

He  was  forthwith  taken  to  the  guard-house,  and  from  thence  to  the 
Abbey,  where  a  number  of  the  council,  that  same  night,  were 
assembled  for  his  examination.  When  brought  before  them,  they 
asked  him  concerning  the  lawfulness  of  the  appearing  ;it  Pentland  • 
which  he,  in  plain  terms,  owned  to  be  lawful  and  what  lie  thought 
duty;  upon  which  he  was  immediately  imprisoned.  When  going 
away,  the  chancellor  upbraided  him  with  what  had  passed  bet* 
him  and  his  lady ;  but  he  bore  it  with  great  patience. 

He  was  nearly  three  months  prisoner  in  Edinburgh  ;  after  which 
he  was  sent  to  Dumbarton  castle,  where  he  Mas  confined  near  a  year 
and  a  half.  He  was  afterwards  ordered  to  Aberdeen,  where  be  was 
kept  close  prisoner,  without  fire,  for  three  months,  in  the  dead  of 
winter.  From  Aberdeen,  he  was  brought  to  Stirling  castle,  where 
he  was  detained  some  years.  He  was  a  second  time  sent  back  to 
Dumbarton,  and  there  kept  till  October  1677.  During  the  severe 
sufferings  to  which  Ker  was  subjected  for  a  long  series  of  years,  his 
constancy  remained  unshaken.  By  the  grace  of  God  he  was  enabled 
to  maintain  his  allegiance  to  Christ's  persecuted  cause,  even  to  such 
a  degree,  that  the  utmost  rigours  of  a  prison  could  not  extort  from 
him  a  single  complaint.  Like  Paul  and  Silas  he  sang  praises  to  God 
amidst  the  gloom  of  his  dungeon,  assuring  himself  that  God  would  at, 
length  work  out  his  deliverance.  It  was  therefore  with  a  joyful  heart, 
he  received  orders  at  this  time  to  remove  to  Irvine,  and  that  he  was 
to  be  permitted  to  take  with  him  his  family,  who  were  then  in  Glas- 
gow  ;  but  he  was  allowed  only  a  short  time  to  transport  himself  and 
family  to  that  place. 

In  Glasgow  he  was  waited  upon  by  many  friends  and  acquaint- 
ances, but  on  the  very  night  he  visited  his  family,  after  such  a  Ion-  and 
painful  absence,  when  walking  in  company  with  lady  Caldwell  and 
her  family,  he  was  taken  prisoner  by  a  party  of  the  town-guards  and 
detained  'in  custody  till  next  day,  when  the  commanding-officer  would 
have  set  him  at  liberty,  but  durst  not,  till  he  had  consulted  the  arch- 
bishop. Unfortunately  the  application  was  unfavourable,  and  In-  was 
immediately  ordered  to  the  tolbooth.  The  archbishop  took  horse  soon 
after  for  Edinburgh  ;  lady  Kersland  followed,  if  possible,  to  prevent 
misinformation.— In  the  mean  time,  a  fire  breaking  out  in  Glasgow, 
the  tolbooth  being  in  danger,  and  the  magistrates  refusing  to  let  out 
the  prisoners,  the" well-affected  people  of  the  town  got  long  huh;. 
and  set  them  free,  and  among  the  rest  Kersland,  after  he  had  been 
eight  years  in  confinement.  After  the  bustle  was  over,  ho  in 
to  surrender  himself  anew,  but  hearing  from  his  lady  ot   the  arch- 


515  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

bishop's  design,  he  kept  under  hiding  all  that  winter  *  In  the  spring 
and  summer  following,  he  joined  himself  to  the  persecuted  ministers, 
heard  the  gospel  preached  in  the  fields,  and  attended  communions, 
particularly  that  at  Maybole.  About  the  beginning  of  autumn,  1678, 
he  returned  to  Utrecht,  where  he  remained  till  the  day  of  his  death. 

"When  near  his  departure,  his  dear  acquaintance  Sir  Robert  Hamil- 
ton being  with  him,  and  signifying  to  him  that  he  might  be  spared 
as  another  Caleb  to  see  the  good  land  when  the  storm  was  over ;  he 
said  to  him  among  his  last  words,  "  What  is  man  before  the  Lord  ? 
— yea,  what  is  a  nation  ? — as  the  drop  of  a  bucket  or  the  small  dust 
in  the  balance  ;  yea,  less  than  nothing  and  vanity.  But  this  much 
I  can  say  in  humility,  that  through  free  grace  I  have  endeavoured  to 
keep  the  post  that  God  had  assigned  me.  These  fourteen  years  I 
have  not  desired  to  lift  the  one  foot,  before  God  showed  me  where  to 
set  down  the  other," — and  so,  in  a  few  minutes  he  finished  his  course 
with  joy,  and  fell  asleep  in  Jesus,  November  14,  1680,  leaving  his 
wife  and  five  children,  in  a  strange  land. 

It  would  be  superfluous  to  insist  here  upon  the  character  of  the 
thrice  renowned  Ker.  It  is  evident  to  all  that  he  was  a  man  of  a 
great  mind,  far  above  a  servile  and  mercenary  disposition. — He  was, 
for  a  number  of  years,  hurried  from  place  to  place,  and  guarded  from 
prison  to  prison.  All  this,  however,  he  endured  with  undaunted 
courage. — He  lost  a  good  estate  for  the  cause  of  Christ ;  and  though 
he  got  not  the  martyr's  crown,  yet  he  beyond  all  doubt  obtained  the 
sufferer's  reward. 


DONALD  CARGILL. 


The  precise  period  of  Cargill's  birth  is  not  exactly  known,  but  it  is 
supposed  to  have  been  about  the  year  1610.  He  was  eldest  son 
of  a  much  respected  family  in  the  parish  of  Rattray.  After  he  had 
been  some  time  at  school  in  Aberdeen,  he  went  to  St.  Andrew's, 
where,  having  completed  his  course  of  philosophy,  his  father  pressed 
him  much  to  study  divinity,  in  order  for  the  ministry  ;  but  he,  from 
conscientious  motives,  constantly  refused,  telling  his  father  that  the 
work  of  the  ministry  was  too  great  a  burden  for'his  weak  shoulders. 
But  his  father  still  continuing  to  urge  him,  he  resolved  to  set  apart  a 

*  It  would  appear,  says  Wodrow,  that  he  was  retaken  about  the  end  of  that  year,  but 
liberated  without  conditions, — a  thing  very  uncommon  in  those  times. 


DONALD    CARGILL. 


.-17 


day  for  private  fasting,  to  seek  the  Lord's  mind  therein.  And  after 
much  wrestling  with  the  Lord  in  prayer,  the  third  chapter  of  E 
and  chiefly  these  words  in  the  first  verse,  "Son  of  man,  eat  thatthon 
findest ;  eat  this  roll,  and  go  speak  unto  the  house  of  Israel,"  made  a 
strong  impression  upon  his  mind,  so  that  he  durst  no  longer  refuse  bis 
father's  desire,  but  dedicated  himself  wholly  to  that  office. 

After  this  he  got  a  call  to  the  Barony  church  of  <  Hasgow.     It  was 
so  ordered  by  divine  providence,  that  the  very  first  text  appointed 
him  by  the  presbytery  was  these  words  in  the  third  of  Ezekiel,  ai 
mentioned,  by  which  he  was  more  confirmed,  that  he  had  God' 
to.  the  ministerial  work.     This  parish  had  been  long  vacant,  by  ri 
of  two  ministers  of  the  Eesolution  party,  viz.,  Messrs.  Young  and 
Blair,  having  always  opposed  the  settlement  of  such  godly  men  as 
had  been  called  by  the  people.    In  reference  to  Cargul's  call,  they 
were,  however,  in  God's  providence,  much  shaken  in  their  former  re- 
solutions.    Cargill,  perceiving  the  light  and  unconcerned  behaviour 
of  the  people  under  the  word,  was  so  much  discouraged  that  he  re- 
solved to  return  home,  and  not  accept  the  call.     The  ministers  soli- 
cited him  to  stay,  but  in  vain.     When  his  horse  was  brought  out, 
however,  and  he  just  going  to  begin  his  journey,  a  certain 
woman  said  to  him,  "  Sir,  you  have  promised  to  preach  on  Tin 
and  have  you  appointed  a  meal  for  poor  starving  people,  and  will 
you  go  away  and  not  give  it?     If  you  do,  the  curse  of  God  will 
go  with  you."     This  so  moved  him,  that  he  durst  not  go  away 
intended  ;  but  sitting  down,  desired  her  and  others  to  pray  for  him. 
So  he  remained  and  was  settled  in  that  parish,  where  be  continued 
to  exercise  his  ministry  with  great  success,  until  that,  by  the  unhappy 
Restoration  of  Charles  II.,  prelacy  was  again  restored. 

Upon  the  29th  of  May  following,  the  day  consecrated  in  comme- 
moration of  the  said  Restoration,  Cargill  having  occasion  to  preach 
in  his  own  church, — it  being  his  ordinary  week-day  preaching, — an 
unusual  throng  of  people  came  to  hear  him,  imagining  that  he 
preached  in  compliance  with  the  solemnity.  They  were  soon  unde- 
ceived, however;  for,  in  entering  the  pulpit,  he  said.  "  We  are  nol 
come  here  to  keep  this  day  upon  the  account  for  which  other-  keep 
it.  We  thought  once  to  have  blessed  the  day  wherein  the  king  came 
home  again,  but  now  we  think  we  shall  have  reason  to  curse  it ;  and 
if  any  of  you  have  come  here  in  order  to  solemnize  this  day.  '  we 
desire  you  to  remove.' "    And  enlarging  upon  these  words  in  the  9th 


under  a  pot;  it  will'soon  be  turned  to  mourning  ;  he— meaning  the 
king — will  be  the  most  woful  sight  that  ever  the  poor  Church  of 
Scotland  saw  ; — Wo,  wo,  wo  unto  him,  his  name  shall  stink  while  the 
world  stands,  for  treachery,  tyranny,  and  lechery  I'1 

This  extremely  enraged  the  malignant  party  against  him.  BO  that 
he  was  obliged  to  abscond,  remaining  sometimes  in  private  bouses, 
and  sometimes  lying  all  night  without,  yet  never  neglecting  any  pro- 
per occasion  of  private  preaching,  catechizing,  visiting  ol   ran 
and  other  ministerial  duties.     The  churches  being  all   racat© 


518 


SCOTS    WORTHIES. 


Presbyterians  by  an  act  of  council,  1662,  Middleton  sent  a  baud  of 
soldiers  to  apprehend  Cargill,  who  for  this  purpose  came  to  the 
church,  but  did  not  find  him,  he  having  providentially  just  stepped 
out  of  the  one  door  a  minute  before  they  came  in  at  the  other ;  upon 
-which  they  took  the  keys  of  the  church  door  with  them  and  departed. 
In  the  mean  time  the  council  passed  an  act  of  confinement,  banishing 
him  to  the  north  side  of  the  Tay,  under  the  penaltyof  being  im- 
prisoned, and  prosecuted  as  a  seditious  person, — but  this  sentence  he 
disregarded. 

In  ""October,  1665,  they  made  a  public  search  for  him  in  the  city  ; 
of  which  receiving  information,  he  took  horse,  and  rode  out  of  town. 
At  a  narrow  pass  of  the  way,  he  met  a  number  of  soldiers,  one  of 
whom  asked  him,  "  Sir,  what  o'clock  is  it  ?"  Cargill  answered,  "  It 
is  six.  Another  of  them  knowing  his  voice,  said,  "  That  is  the  man 
we  are  seeking."  Upon  hearing" this  he  put  spurs  to  his  horse  and 
escaped. 

For  about  three  years  he  usually  resided  in  the  house  of  one 
Margaret  Craig,  a  very  godly  woman,  where  he  lectured  morning 
and  evening  to  such  as  came  to  hear  him  ;  and,  though  a  strict  search 
was  still  kept  up,  through  the  kindness  of  Providence  he  was  enabled 
to  avoid  discovery.  One  sabbath,  going  to  "Woodside  to  preach,  as 
he  was  about  to  mount  his  horse,  having  one  foot  in  the  stirrup,  he 
turned  about  to  his  servant,  and  said,  I  must  not  go  yonder  to-day, 
— and  in  a  little  a  part}'  of  the  enemy  came  in  quest  of  him  ;  but 
missing  their  mark,  they  fell  upon  the  people,  by  a2)prehending  and 
imprisoning  several  of  them. 

At  another  time  when  a  search  was  made  for  Cargill  in  the  city, 
they  came  to  his  chamber,  but  found  him  not,  he  fortunately  being  in 
another  house  at  the  time.  One  day  when  preaching  privately  in  the 
house  of  Mr.  Callander,  they  came  and  surrounded  the  doors,  but  the 
people  put  him  and  another  into  a  window,  which  they  closed  up 
with  books.  The  search  was  so  strict,  that  they  searched  the  very 
ceiling  of  the  house,  until  one  of  them  fell  through  the  lower  loft. 
Had  they  removed  but  one  of  the  books,  they  would  certainly  have 
found  him.  But  the  Lord  so  ordered  that  they  did  it  not ;  for,  as 
one  of  the  soldiers  was  about  to  take  up  one  of  them,  the  maid  cried 
to  the  commander,  that  he  was  going  to  take  her  master's  books,  and 
he  was  ordered  to  let  them  alone.  Thus  narrowly  he  escaped  this 
danger. 

Thus  he  continued  until  the  23d  of  November,  1667,  that  the  coun- 
cil, upon  information  of  a  breach  of  his  confinement,  cited  him  to 
appear  before  them  on  the  11th  of  January  thereafter.  Being  appre- 
hended, he  was  brought  before  the  council  and  strictly  examined  ; 
but  by  the  interposition  of  some  persons  of  rank,  however,  his  own 
friends,  and  his  wife's  relations,  he  was  dismissed.  He  returned  im- 
mediately to  Glasgow,  where  he  performed  all  the  ministerial  duties 
in  his  own  church  as  formerly,  notwithstanding  the  diligence  of  per- 
secutors in  searching  for  him. 

Some  time  before  Bothwell,  notwithstanding  the  search  made  for 
him  by  the  enemy,  which  was  both  strict  and  frequent,  he  preached 
publicly  for  eighteen  Sabbath-days,  to  audiences  consisting  of  several 


DONALD    CARGILL.  f,pj 

thousands,  within  little  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  the  cil 
Glasgow;  yea,  so  near  it,  mat  the  psalms,  when  singing,  were  heard 
through  several  parts  of  it ;  and  vet  all  this  time  uninterrupted. 

At  Both  well,  being  taken  by  the  enemy,  and  struck  down  to  the 
ground  with  a  sword,  he  saw  nothing  but  present  death,  as  he  had 
already  received  several  dangerous  wounds  in  the  head.  One  of  the 
soldiers  asked  his  name;  he  told  him  it  was  Donald  Oargill;  another 
asked  him  if  he  was  a  minister  ?  he  answered  be  was ;  whereupon 
he  let  him  go.  When  his  wounds  were  examined,  be  feared  to  ask 
if  they  were  mortal,  desiring  in  submission  to  God  to  live,  judging 
that  the  Lord  had  yet  further  work  for  him  to  accomplish. 

Some  time  after  the  battle  at  Both  well,  he  was  pursued  from  his 
own  chamber  out  of  town,  and  forced  to  go  through  several  thorn 
hedges  ;  but  he  was  no  sooner  out  than  he  saw  a  troop  of  dragoons 
just  opposite  to  him.  Back  he  could  not  go,  soldiers  being  posted 
everywhere  to  catch  him  ;  upon  which  he  advanced  near  to  the  troop, 
who  looked  at  him,  and  he  at  them,  until  he  got  past.  But,  coming 
to  a  place  of  the  water  at  which  he  intended  to  cross,  he  saw  another 
troop  standing  on  the  other  side,  who  called  to  him.  Without  mak- 
ing any  answer  he  went  about  a  mile  up  the  water  and  escaped, 
preaching  next  Sabbath  at  Langside  without  any  interruption.  At 
another  time,  being  in  a  house  beset  with  Boldiers,  he  went  through 
the  midst  of  them,  they  thinking  it  was  the  goodman  of  the  hoi 

Some  time  after  the  beginning  of  the  year  1GS<»,  be  n 
toward  the  Firth  of  Forth,  where  he  continued  until  thai  Bcuffle  at 
Queensferry,  where  worthy  Ilaugh-head  was  killed,  and  ('argil  1 
sorely  wounded.  But,  escaping,  he  was  found  by  a  woman  in  a 
private  place,  to  the  south  of  the  town,  who  tied  up  hia  wounds  with 
her  head-dress,  and  conducted  him  to  the  house  of  one  Robert  Pon 
ton,  in  Carlowrie,  where  a  surgeon  dressed  them.  Mrs.  Ponton  gave 
him  some  warm  milk  and  he  lay  in  their  barn  all  night.  From  thence 
he  went  to  the  south,  and  preached  at  Cairnhill,  somewhere  adjacent 
to  Loudon,  in  his  blood  and  wounds;  for  no  danger  could  Bton  him 
from  going  about  doing  good.  His  text  was  in  ELeb.  xi.  32.  ">A"" 
what  shall  I  more  say,  for  time  would  fail  me  to  tell  oi  Gideon,  <fcc. 
At  night,  some  persons  said  to  him,  "  We  think,  Sir,  preaching  and 
praying  go  best  with  you  when  your  danger  and  distress  are  great 
est."  He  said  it  had  been  so,  and'  be  hoped  it  would  be  so;  the  more 
that  enemies  and  others  did  thrust  at  him  that  he  might  fail,  the  more 


sensibly  the  Lord  had  helped  him;  and  then— as  it  had  been  to 
himself— he  repeated  these  words,  "The  Lord  is  my  strength  and 
song,  and  has  become  my  salvation.'— in  the  llSth  I  salm,  wnicn 


of  September  x, 

wood,  near  Stirling,  where  he  pronounced  the  sentence  oi  excommu- 

*  It  appears  that  it  was  about  this  time  that  he  went  over  to  Holland,  bul 
certain  account  where  or  whnt  time  he  staid  there ;  but  from  the  -quel,  U  .  duU  not  oa 
long. 


50Q  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

nication  against  some  of  the  most  violent  persecutors  of  that  day,  as 
formally  as  the  state  of  things  could  then  permit.  Some  time  before 
this,  it  is  said  he  was  very  reserved,  and  spoke  very  little  in  com- 
pany ; — only  to  some  he  said,  he  had  a  blast  to  give  with  the  trumpet 
that  the  Lord  had  put  in  his  hand,  that  would  sound  in  the  ears  of 
many  in  Britain,  and  other  places  in  Europe  also.  It  is  said*  that 
no  person  knew. what  he  was  to  do  that  morning,  except  Mr.  Walter 
Smith,  to  whom  lie  imparted  the  thoughts  of  his  heart.  When  he 
began,  some  friends  feared  he  would  be  shot.  His  landlord,  in  whose 
house  he  had  been  that  night,  cast  his  coat  and  ran  for  it.  In  the 
forenoon,  he  lectured  on  Ezek.  xxi.  25,  &c,  and  preached  on  1  Cor. 
v.  13,  and,  having  discoursed  some  time  on  the  nature  of  excommu- 
nication, he  proceeded  to  the  sentence  ;  after  which,  in  the  afternoon, 
he  preached  from  Lam.  iii.  31,  32. — "  For  the  Lord  will  not  cast  off 
for  ever,"  &c. 

The  next  Lord's  day,  he  preached  at  Fallow-hill,  in  the  parish  of 
Livingstone.  In  the  outset  he  said,  "  I  know  I  am  and  will  be  con- 
demned by  many  for  excommunicating  those  wicked  men,  but  con- 
demn me  who  will,  I  know  I  am  approved  of  by  God,  and  am  per- 
suaded that  what  I  have  done  on  earth  is  ratified  in  heaven  ;  for,  if 
ever  I  knew  the  mind  of  God,  and  was  clear  in  my  call  to  any  piece 
of  my  generation-work,  it  was  that.  And  I  shall  give  you  two  signs, 
that  ye  may  know  I  am  in  no  delusion.  1 — If  some  of  these  men  do 
not  find  that  sentence  binding  upon  them,  ere  they  go  off  the  stage, 
and  be  obliged  to  confess  it,  &c.  2. — If  these  men  die  the  ordinary 
death  of  men,  then  God  hath  not  spoken  by  me."f 

About  the  22d  of  October  following,  a  long  and  severe  proclama- 
tion was  issued  out  against  him  and  his  followers,  wherein  a  reward 
of  5000  merks  was  offered  for  apprehending  him. — !N"ext  month,  gov- 
ernor Middleton,  having  been  frustrated  in  his  design  upon  Cargill  at 
<^ueensferry,  laid  another  plot  for  him,  by  consulting  one  James 
Henderson  there,  who,  by  forging  and  signing  letters,  in  the  name  of 
Bailie  Adam  in  Culross,  and  some  other  serious  Christians  in  Fife, 
for  Cargill  to  come  over  and  preach  to  them  at  the  Hill  of  Beith. 
Accordingly  Henderson  went  to  Edinburgh  with  the  letters,  and, 
after  a  most  diligent  search,  found  him  in  the  West  Bow.  Cargill 
being  willing  to  obey  the  call,  Henderson  proposed  to  go  before,  and 
have  a  boat  ready  at  Queensferry  when  they  came ;  and,  that  he 
might  know  them,  he  desired  to  see  Cargill 's  cloth,  Mr.  Skeen  and 
Mr.  Boig  being  in  the  same  room.  In  the  mean  time  he  had  Mid- 
dleton's  soldiers  lying  at  Muttonhole,  about  three  miles  from  Edin- 
burgh. Mr.  Skeen,  Archibald  Stuart,  Mrs.  Muir,  and  Marion  Har- 
vey, took  the  way  before  on  foot, — Cargill  and  Mr.  Boig  being  to 
follow  on  horseback.  As  soon  as  the  former  came  up  the  soldiers 
spied  them  ;  but  Mrs.  Muir,  suspecting  treachery,  returned  and 
stopped  Cargill  and  Mr.  Boig,  who  fled  back  to  Edinburgh. 

*  See  Walker's  Remarkable  Passages  of  the  Life  of  Cargill,  &c,  p.  8. 

t  The  first  of  these  was  clearly  verified  in  the  case  of  Lord  Rothes,  and  the  second  was 
verified,  in  the  remembrance  of  some  yet  alive.  Every  person  knows  that  Charles  II.  was 
poisoned.  His  brother,  the  duke  of  York,  died  at  St.  Germain's  in  France.  The  duke  of 
Monmouth  was  executed  at  London.  The  duke  of  York  died,  raving  under  the  dreadful 
terror  of  that  sentence.  Eloody  Sir  George  M'Kenzie  died  at  London,  all  the  passages  of 
his  body  running  blood.  General  Dalziel  died  with  a  glass  of  wine  at  his  mouth,  in  per- 
fect health.     See  Walkers  Remarks,  p.  10 


DONALD    CARGILL.  -  n 


After  tins  remarkable  escape,  Car-ill,  seeing  nothing  bnt  t! 
lent  flames  of  treachery  against  him,  retired  for  about  three  months 
to  England,  where  theLord  blessed  his  labours  to  the  conviction  and 
edification  of  many.    In  the  time  of  his  absence  thai  delusion 

Gibbites  arose,  from  one  John  Gib,  sailor  in  Bonowstounness,  whi  . 
with  other  three  men,  and  twenty-six  women,  invented  and  main- 
tained the  most  strange  delusions.  Some  time  after,  Car-ill  returned 
from  England,  and  was  at  no  small  pains  to  reclaim  them,  but  with 
little  success.  After  his  last  conference  with  them,*  at  Dan. 
in_  Cambusnethan  parish,  ho  came  next  Babbath,  and  preached  at 
Kirkfieldbank  wood,  below  Lanark,  and  from  thence  to  Loudon-hill, 
where  he  preached  upon  a  fast-day,  being  the  5th  of  May.  Here  he 
intended  onlv  to  have  preached' once,  and  to  have  baptized 
children.  His  text  was,— "  No  man  that  hath  followed  me  in  the 
regeneration,"  &c.  When  sermon  was  over,  and  the  children  bap- 
tized, more  children  came  up;  upon  which  his  friends  pressed  him 
to  preach  in  the  afternoon,  which  he  did,  from  these  words,  — "  W  ■ 
not  for  me,"  &c.  In  the  mean  while  the  enemy  at  Glasgow  getting 
notice  of  this  meeting,  seized  all  the  horses  in  and  about  the  town 
that  they  could  obtain,  and  mounted  in  quest  of  him  ;  and  such  was 
their  haste  and  fury,  that  one  of  the  soldiers,  who  happened 
behind  the  rest,  riding  furiously  down  the  street  called  the  5 
well,  at  mid-day,  rode  over  a  female  child,  and  killed  her  on  the 
spot.  Just  as  Cargill  was  praying  at  the  close,  a  lad  alarmed  them 
of  the  enemy's  approach.  They  having  no  sentinels  that  day,  con- 
trary to  their  usual  custom,  were  thrown  into  sudden  surprise;  and. 
with  the  confusion,  Cargill  was  running  straight  on  the  enemy,  when 
Gavin  Wotherspoon  and  others  haled  him  to  the  Moss,  to  which  the 
people  had  all  fled.  The  dragoons  fired  hard  upon  them  ;  but  there 
were  none  either  killed  or  taken  that  day. 

About  this  time,  some  spoke  to  Cargill  of  his  short  sermone 
prayers.     They  said,  "  O,  Sir,  it  is  long  betwixt  meals,  and  we  are  in 
a  starving  condition;    all  is  good,  sweet,  and  wholesome  thai 
deliver,  but  why  do  you  so  straiten  us?"     He  said,  "Ever  since  I 
bowed  a  knee  in  good  earnest  to  pray,  I  never  durst  preach, and  pray 
with  my  gifts;  and  when  my  heart  is  not  affected,  and  comes  not  up 
with  my  mouth,  I  always  think  it  time  to  quit  it.     AVhat  i 
from  the  heart,  I  have  little  hope  it  will  go  to  the  hearts  of  other-." 
Then  he  repeated  these  words  in  the  51st  Psalm,— "Then  I  will  teach 
transgressors  thy  way,"  &c. 

From  Loudondiillhe  took  a  tour  through  Ayrshire  to  Garrick  and 
Galloway,  preaching,  baptizing,  and  marrying  some  people;  but 
stayed  not  long  until  he  returned  to  Clydesdale,  lie  designed,  after 
his  return,  to  have  preached  one  day  at  Tinto-hill,  but  the  lady  of  St. 
John's  lurk  circulated  a  report  that  it  was  to  be,  at  Eome  common. 
Being  in  the  house  of  John  Liddel,  near  Tinto,  he  went  out  to  - 
the  Sabbath  morning  by  himself;  and,  seeing  the  people  passing  by, 

*  About  this  time  the  Gibbites  were  all  taken  and  imprisoned  in  the  tolbootfa  and  cor- 
rection-house of  Edinburgh,  but,  by  the  Duke  of  York  and  hu  fachi  m  be- 
rated ■  alter  which  four  men  and  two  women  went  west  to  the    I  rost-moss,  betw 

and  Stirling,  where  they  burnt  the   Holy  Bible,  every  one  of  them  01 

that  horrid  action  which  are  fearful  to  utter. 


522  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

lie  inquired  the  reason  ;  and,  being  told,  he  rose  and  followed  them 
for  the  space  of  five  miles.  Here  he  lectured  on  the  6th  of  Isaiah, 
and  preached  on  these  words,  "  Be  not  high  minded,  but  fear,"  &c. 
This  occurred  in  the  heat  of  summer,  and  many  people  were  assem- 
bled before  his  arrival,  so  he  had  just  time  to  take  the  only  refresh- 
ment he  had  got  that  day — a  drink  of  water  from  a  stream,  handed 
to  him  in  an  old  man's  blue  bonnet.  Thus  simply  refreshed,  he 
preached  all  day,  and,  in  the  course  of  his  sermon,  gave  a  most 
weary  look  to  Tinto-hill,  crying,  "  He  feared  many  places  of  Scotland 
would  yet  be  as  waste  as  that  dreary  hill." 

The  next  Sabbath  he  preached  at  the  3enry -bridge,  betwixt 
Clydesdale  and  West  Lothian,  and  either  in  the  parish  of  Carnwath 
or  that  of  West  Calder.  There  he  lectured  from  Zechariah,  chapter 
iii.,  on  Joshua  standing  before  the  angel ;  and  preached  from  Psalm 
xlv.,  3,  "Gird  thy  sword  upon  thy  thigh,  O  thou  most  Mighty,  with 
thy  glory  and  thy  majesty."  From  the  Benry-bridge  he  went  to 
Fife,  and  baptized  many  children,  and  preached  only  one  Sabbath  at 
the  Lomond  Hills,  from  which  place  he  hastened  back  to  Clydesdale, 
and  came  to  the  Benty-ridge  in  Cambusnethan,  where  were  two 
friends  sent  from  the  societies  in  Galloway,  to  call  him  back  there  to 
baptize.  The  next  Sabbath,  after  he  went  from  the  foresaid  Benty- 
ridge,  he  preached  at  Auchingilloch.  He  then  returned  to  preach 
his  last  sermon  on  Dnnsyre  common,  between  Clydesdale  and  Lo- 
thian, upon  that  text,  Is.  xxvi.,  20, — "Come,  my  people,  enter  thou 
into  thy  chambers,  and  shut  thy  doors  about  thee  :  hide  thyself  as  it 
were  for  a  little  moment,  until  the  indignation  be  overpast." 

Some  time  that  night,  through  the  persuasion  of  Mr.  Smith  and 
Mr.  Boig,  he  went  with  the  lady  of  St.  John's  Kirk,  as  far  as  Coving- 
ton-mill,  to  the  house  of  one  Andrew  Fisher.  In  the  mean  time, 
James  Irvine  of  Bonshaw,  having  got  a  general  commission,  marched 
with  a  party  of  dragoons  from  Kilbride,  and  next  morning  by  sun- 
rise, came  to  St.  John's  Kirk,  when,  after  searching  it,  he  proceeded 
for  a  similar  purpose  to  the  house  of  one  Thomson,  and  then  came  to 
Covington-mill,  and  there  apprehended  Cargill,  along  with  Mr. 
Smith  and  Mr.  Boig.  Having  found  them,  the  ruffian  exclaimed, 
"  O  blessed  Bonshaw !  and  blessed  day  that  ever  I  was  born !  that 
has  found  such  a  prize  !  a  prize  of  5,000  merks  for  apprehending 
Cargill  this  morning  !"  They  marched  speedily  to  Lanark,  where 
they  were  put  in  jail,  until  they  got  some  refreshment,  and  then 
bringing  them  out  in  haste,  procured  horses  and  set  the  prisoners  on 
their  bare  backs.  Bonshaw  tied  Cargill's  feet  below  the  horse's 
belly,  with  his  own  hands,  so  very  cruelly  that  Cargill  looking  down, 
said,  "  Why  do  you  tie  me  so  hard,  your  wickedness  is  great  ?  You 
will  not  long  escape  the  just  judgment  of  God;  and,  if  I  be  not  mis- 
taken, it  will  seize  you  in  this  very  place :"  which  accordingly  next 
year  came  to  pass  ;  for,  having  got  this  price  of  blood,  one  of  his 
comrades,  in  a  rage,  ran  him  through  with  a  sword  at  Lanark;  and 

his    last  words  were,  "  G— d  d n    my  soul  eternally,  for  I  am 

gone  !" — Mischief  shall  hunt  the  violent  man." 

They  came  to  Glasgow  in  haste,  fearing  a  rescue  of  the  prisoners 
and,  while  waiting  at  the  tolbooth  till  the  magistrates  came  to  receive 


DONALD    CARGILL. 

them,  one  John  Nisbet,  the  archbishop's  factor,  said  to  Cargill  in 
ridicule,  three  times  over,  u  Will  you  give  as  one  word  moi 
alluding  to  an  expression  Cargill  used  Bometiraea  when  preachii 
to  whom  Cargill  said  with  regret,  "  Mock  Dot,  lest  jrour  Land's  be 
made  strong!  The  day  is  coming^ when  you  shall'  not  have  one 
word  to  say,  though  you  would."  'This  also  came  quickly  to  pass; 
for,  not  many  days  after,  he  fell  suddenly  ill,  and  for  three  days  his 
tongue  swelled  ;  and,  though  he  was  most  earnest  to  speak,  yet  he 
could  not  command  one  word,  and  died  in  great  torment,  and  Beem- 
ing  terror. 

From  Glasgow  they,  were  taken  to  Edinburgh,  and,  upon  the  L5th 
of  July,  they  were  brought  before  the  council.  Chancellor  Rothes 
— being  one  of  those  whom  he  excommunicated  at  Torwood  -  i 
against  him,  threatening  him  with  torture  and  a  violent  deal 
whom  he  said,  "  My  lord  Eothes,  forbear  to  threaten  me,  for,  die 
what  death  I  will,  your  eyes  shall  not  see  it;"  which  accordingly 
came  to  pass,  for  he  died  the  morning  of  the  same  day  on  which 
Cargill  was  executed. 

When  before  the  council,  he  was  asked  "  if  he  acknowledged  the 
king's  authority,1'  to  which  he  replied,  "  that  he  denied  the  m 
trate's  authority  as  now  established  by  act  of  parliament,  and  ex- 
planatory act."  Being  also  examined  anentthe  excommunication  at 
Torwood,  he  declined  to  answer,  as  being  an  ecclesiastical  matter, 
and  they  a  civil  judicatory.  He  owned  the  lawfulness  of  defensive 
arms,  in  cases  of  necessity,  and  denied  that  those  who  rose  at  1  loth- 
well,  &c,  were  rebels  ;  and,  being  interrogated  anent  the  Sanquhar 
Declaration,  he  declined  to  give  his  judgment  until  he  had  more  time 
to  consider  the  contents  thereof,  lie  further  declared  he  could  not 
express  his  sentiments  in  reference  to  the  killing  of  the  bishop  ;  but. 
that  the  Scriptures  say,  upon  the  Lord's  giving  a  call  to  a  private 
man  to  kill,  he  might  do  it  lawfully  ;  and  gave  the  instances  of  Jael 
and  Phinehas.  These  were  the  most  material  points  on  which  he 
was  examined.* 

While  he  was  in  prison,  a  gentlewoman  who  visited  him,  told  him, 
weeping,  "  That  these  Heaven-daring  enemies  were  contriving  a 
most  violent  death  for  him  ;  some,  a  barrel  with  pikes  to  roll  him  in  ; 
others  an  iron  chair,  red-hot,  to  roll  him  in,"  &c. ;  but  be^said,  "  Le1 
you  nor  none  of  the  Lord's  people  be  troubled  for  these  things,  for  all 
that  they  will  get  liberty  to  do  to  me,  will  be  to  knit  me  up,  cat  me 
down,  and  chop  off  my  old  head,  and  then  fare  them  well ;  they  have 
done  with  me,  and  I  with  them  for  ever." 

Cargill  was  again  brought  before  the  council  on  the  19th,  but  re- 
fused to  answer  their  questions,  except  anent  the.  excommunication. 
There  was  some  motion  made  to  spare  him,  as  he  was  an  old  man, 
and  send  him  prisoner  to  the  Bass  during  life  ;  which  motion  being 
put  to  a  vote,  was,  by  the  casting  vote  of  the  Earl  of  Rothes,  rejected, 
who  doomed  him  to  the  gallows,  there  to  die  like  a  traitor. 

Upon  the  26th  he  was  brought  before  the  justiciary,  and  in  I 
in  common  form.    His  confession  being  produced  in  eviden 
him,  he  was  brought  in  guilty  of  high  treason,  and  condemned,  with 
*  See  his  examination,  &c,  at  largo  in  \Vodro\v"s  Hist.  Vol.  ii.  p.  184. 


524: 


SCOTS    WORTHIES. 


the  rest,  to  be  hanged  at  the  cross  of  Edinburgh,  and  his  head  placed 
on  the  Nether  Bow.  When  they  came  to  these  words  in  his  indict- 
ment, viz.,  "  having  cast  off  all  fear  of  God,  &c,"  he  caused  the 
clerk  to  stop,  and,  pointing  to  the  advocate,  Sir  George  M'Kenzie, 
said,  "  The  man  that  hath  caused  that  paper  to  be  drawn  up,  hath 
done  it  contrary  to  the  light  of  his  own  conscience,  for  he  knoweth 
that  I  have  been  a  fearer  of  God  from  mine  infancy  ;  but  that  man, 
I  say.  who  took  the  Holy  Bible  in  his  hand,  and  said,  It  would  never 
be  well  with  the  land,  until  that  book  be  destroyed,  &c,  I  say,  he  is 
the  man  that  hath  cast  off  all  fear  of  God."  The  advocate  stormed 
at  this,  but  could  not  deny  the  truth  thereof. 

When  he  got  his  sentence  announced  by  sound  of  trumpet,  he 
said,  "  That  is  a  weary  sound  ;  but  the  sound  of  the  last  trumpet 
will  be  a  joyful  sound  to  me,  and  all  that  will  be  found  having  on 
Christ's  righteousness." 

Being  come  to  the  scaffold,  he  stood  with  his  back  to  the  ladder, 
and  desired  the  attention  of  the  numerous  spectators ;  and,  after 
singing  from  the  16th  verse  of  the  118th  psalm,  he  began  to  speak  to 
three  sorts  of  people ;  but,  being  interrupted  by  the  drum,  he  said 
with  a  smiling  countenance,  "  Ye  see  we  have  no  liberty  to  speak 
what  we  would,  but  God  knoweth  our  hearts."  As  he  proceeded, 
he  was  again  interrupted.  Then,  after  a  little  pause  or  silence,  he 
began  to  exhort  the  people,  and  to  show  his  own  comfort  in  laying 
down  his  life,  in  the  assurance  of  a  blessed  eternity,  expressing  him- 
self in  these  words  : — "  Now,  I  am  sure  of  my  interest  in  Christ,  and 
peace  with  God,  as  all  within  this  Bible  and  the  Spirit  of  God  can 
make  me ;  and  I  am  fully  persuaded,  that  this  is  the  very  way  for 
which  I  suffer,  and  that  he  will  return  gloriously  to  Scotland  ;  but  it 
will  be  terrifying  to  many  ;  therefore,  I  entreat  you,  be  not  dis- 
couraged at  the  way  of  Christ  and  the  cause  for  which  I  am  to  lay 
down  my  life,  and  step  into  eternity,  where  my  soul  shall  be  as  full 
of  him  as  it  can  desire  to  be ;  and  now  this  is  the  sweetest  and  most, 
glorious  day  that  ever  mine  eyes  did  see.  Enemies  are  now  enraged 
against  the  way  and  people  of  God,  but  ere  long  they  shall  be  en- 
raged one  against  another,  to  their  own  confusion."  Here  the  drums 
did  beat  a  third  time.  Then  setting  his  foot  on  the  ladder,  he  said, 
"  The  Lord  knows  I  go  on  this  ladder  with  less  fear,  and  perturba- 
tion of  mind,  than  ever  I  entered  the  pulpit  to  preach." — When  up. 
he  sat  down  and  said  : — "  Now  I  am  near  the  getting  of  the  crown, 
which  shall  be  sure,  for  which  I  bless  the  Lord,  and  desire  all  of  }tou 
to  bless  him,  that  he  hath  brought  me  here,  and  made  me  triumph 
over  devils,  men,  and  sin.  They  shall  wound  me  no  more.  I  for- 
give all  men  the  wrongs  they  have  done  to  me  ;  and  I  pray  the  suf- 
ferers may  be  kept  from  sin,  and  helped  to  know  their  duty."  Then 
having  prayed  a  little  within  himself,  he  lifted  up  the  napkin  and 
said,  "  Farewell  all  relations  and  friends  in  Christ ;  farewell  ac- 
quaintances and  earthly  enjoyments ;  farewell  reading  and  preach- 
ing, praying  and  believing,  wanderings,  reproach,  and  sufferings  ! 
Welcome  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost ;  into  thy  hands  I  commit 
my  Spirit !"    Then  he  prayed  a  little,  and  the  executioner  turned  him 


WALTER    SMITH. 


525 


over  as  he  was  praying.    Tims  he  finished  his  course,  and  the  minis- 
try that  he  had  received  of  the  Lord. 

Take  his  character  from  SirEobert  Hamilton  of  Preston,  who  was 
his  contemporary.  He  was  affectionate,  affable,  and  tender  hearted, 
to  all  such  as  he  thought  had  anything  of  the  image  of  God  in  them  ; 
sober  and  temperate  in  his  diet,  saying  commonly,  M  It  was  well  won 
that  was  won  off  the  flesh ;"  generous,  liberal,  and  most  charitable  tu 
the  poor;  a  great  hater  of  covetousness ;  a  frequent  visitor  of  the 
sick  ;  much  alone,  loving  to  be  retired  ;  but  when  about  his  Mi 
public  work,  laying  hold  of  every  opportunity  to  edify  ;  in 
tion,  still  dropping  what  might  minister  grace  to  the  hearers;  bifl 
countenance  was  edifying  to  beholders;  often  sighing  with 
groans;  preaching  in  season  and  out  of  season,  upon  "all  hazards; 
ever  the  same  in  judgment  and  practice.  From  his  youth  he  was 
much  given  to  the  duty  of  secret  prayer  for  whole  nights  together  ; 
wherein  it  was  observed,  that  both  in  secret  and  in  families,  he 
always  sat  straight  upon  his  knees,  with  his  hands  lifted  up  ;  and  in 
this  posture — as  some  took  notice — he  died  with  the  rope  about  his 
neck. 

Besides  his  last  speech  and  testimony,  and  several  other  religious 
letters,  with  the  lecture,  sermon,  and  sentence  of  excommunication  at 
Torwood,  which  are  all  published,  there  are  also  several  other  ser- 
mons, and  notes  of  sermons,  interspersed  among  some  people's  hands, 
in  print  and  manuscript,  some  of  which  have  been  published.  Yet 
if  we  may  believe  Walker  in  his  "Remarkable  Passages,"  who  heard 
several  of  them  preached,  they  are,  however  pathetic,  far  inferior  to 
what  they  would  have  been,  had  they  been  corrected  by  the  author 
himself. 


WALTER  SMITH. 


Little  more  is  known  of  the  early  history  of  this  eminent  scholarand 
Christian,  than  that  he  was  son  of  Walter  Smith  in  the  parish  ol   Bt 
Ninian's,  in  Stirlingshire.     Going  over  to  Holland  early  m  life,  he 
studied  some  time  under  the  famous  Leusden,  who  had  a  great  esti 
and  value  for  him,  as  being  one  both  of  high  attainment  and  m 
experience  in  the  serious  exercise  and  solid  practice  ot  <  hnstiani 
In  1679,  we  find  that  he  made  no  mean  figure  among  that  little 


526  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

handful  of  the  Lord's  suffering  remnant  who  rose  in  their  own  defence 
at  Bothwell  Bridge.  He  was  both  chosen  clerk  to  the  council  of  war, 
and  also  a  commanding-officer  among  the  Covenanters  ;  and  had  the 
honour  not  only  to  witness  and  protest  against  the  sinful  compliance 
of  that  corrupt  Erastian  party  that  then  foisted  themselves  in  amongst 
them ;  but  was  also  one  of  those  three  who  were  then  appointed  to 
draw  up  the  "  Causes  of  the  Lord's  Wrath  "  against  the  land,  of 
which  the  "Hamilton  Declaration  "  was  to  form  the  last  cause,  to- 
gether, with  a  new  Declaration  which  they  intended  to  have  pub- 
lished at  that  time  ;  bnt  although  both  of  these  were  undertaken,  yet 
they  were  never  published. 

After  the  overthrow  and  dispersion  of  the  Covenanters  at  Bothwell, 
in  which  the  Erastian  party  among  them  had  no  little  hand,  it  ap- 
pears that  Smith  went  over  for  some  time  to  Holland,  where  his  stay 
seems  to  have  been  short ;  for  we  find  him  again  with  Mr.  Cargill  at 
Torwood,  in  September,  1680. 

He  had  a  longing  desire  to  preach  Christ  and  him  crucified,  and 
salvation  through  his  name.  Mr.  Cargill  had  the  same  desire ;  and 
for  that  end,  it  is  said,  had  written  to  two  ministers  to  meet  him  at 
Cummerhead  in  Lesmahagow  in  Clydesdale  ;  but  ere  that  day  came, 
the  door  was  closed, — for  they  were  in  the  enemy's  hands.  How- 
ever, Smith  followed  the  example  of  our  blessed  Lord  and  Saviour, 
in  going  about  doing  good,  in  many  places,  and  to  many  persons,  in 
spiritual  edifying  conversation,  and  was  a  singular  example  of  true 
piety  and  zeal ;  which  had  more  influence  upon  many  than  most 
part  of  the  ministers  of  that  day. 

A  little  before  his  death,  he  drew  up  twenty-two  rules  for  fellow- 
ship or  society  meetings,  which  at  that  time  greatly  increased  from 
the  river  Tay  to  Newcastle,  and  which  afterwards  settled  into  a  gen- 
eral and  quarterly  correspondence,  that  so  they  might  speak  one  with 
another  when  they  wanted  the  public  preaching  of  the  gospel,  and 
appoint  general  fasting-days  through  the  whole  community,  wherein 
their  own  sins,  and  the  prevailing  sins  and  defections  of  the  times 
were  confessed, — each  society  to  meet  and  spend  some  time  of  the 
Lord's  day  together,  when  deprived  of  the  public  ordinances. 

But  he  was  now  nigh  the  evening  of  both  his  life  and  his  labours  ; 
for  having  been  with  Mr.  Cargill  when  he  preached  his  last  sermon 
in  Dunsyre  Common,  betwixt  Clydesdale  and  Lothian,  he  was  next 
morning  apprehended  at  Covington-Mill  by  wicked  Bonshaw,  who 
had  formerly  traded  in  fine  horses  betwixt  the  two  kingdoms.  He 
was,  with  the  rest  of  the  prisoners,  carried  from  Lanark  to  Glasgow, 
and  from  thence  to  Edinburgh,  where,  upon  the  14th  of  July,  he  was 
brought  before  the  council  and  asked,  If  lie  owned  the  king  and  his 
authority  as  lawful  I  He  answered  : — "  I  cannot  acknowledge  the 
present  authority  the  king  is  now  invested  with,  and  the  exercise 
thereof,  being  now  clothed  with  a  supremacy  over  the  church."  Be- 
ing interrogated  if  the  king's  falling  from  the  Covenant  looses  him 
from  his  obedience,  and  if  the  king  thereby  loses  his  authority? — he 
answered,  "I  think  he  is  obliged  to  perform  all  the  duties  "of  the 
Covenant,  conform  to  the  word  of  God  ;  the  king  is  only  to  be  obeyed 
in  terms  of  the  Covenant."     Being  further  interrogated  anent  the 


WALTER    SMITH. 


527 


Torwood  excommunication,  he  declared,  "lie  thought  their  reasons 

were  just." 

On  the  19th,  lie  was  again  brought  before  them,  and  interrogated 
if  he  owned  thy  Sanquhar  Declaration  1     It  was  then  read  to  him, 

and  he  owned  the  same  in  all  its   articles,  except  thai  he  looked  DOl 
upon  these  persons  as  the  formal  representatives  of  the  I  rian 

church,  as  they  called  themselves.    And  as  to  that  expression,  "The 
king-  should  have  been  denned  many  years  ago,"  he  aid  not  like  the 
word  denued,  but  said,  "  What  the  'kin^  has  dune    justifies  the  | 
pie's  revolting  against  him."    As  to  these  words  where  the  king 
called  an  usurper  and  a  tyrant,  he  said,  "  Certainly  the  king  is  an 
usurper !"  and  wished  he  was  not  a  tyrant. 

Upon  the  26th,  he  was  with  the  rest  brought  before  the  Justiciary  . 
where,  being  indicted  in  common  form,  their  confessions  were  pro- 
duced as  evidences  against  them,  and  they  were  all  broughl  in  guilty 
of  high  treason,  and  condemned  to  be  hanged  at  the  ctobb  of  Edin- 
burgh, upon  the  27th,  and  their  heads  severed  from  their  bodi< 
those  of  Messrs.  Cargill,  Smith,  and  Boig,to  he  placed  on  the  Nether 
Bow,  and  the  heads  of  the  others  on  the  West  Tort — all  which  was 
done  accordingly. 

After  Cargill  was  executed,  Smith  was  brought  upon  the  Scaffold, 
where  he  adhered  to  the  very  same  cause  with  Mr.  Cargill,  declared 
the  same  usurpation  of  Christ's  crown  and  dignity,  and  died  with 
great  assurance  of  his  interest  in  Christ,  declaring  his  abhorrence  "t" 
popery,  prelacy,  erastianism,  and  all  other  steps  of  defection.  Ik- 
went  up  the  ladder  with  all  signs  of  cheerfulness,  and  when  the  ex- 
ecutioner was  about  to  untie  his  cravat,  he  would  not  suffer  him,  hut 
untied  it  himself;  and,  calling  to  his  brother,  he  threw  it  down,  say- 
ing, "  This  is  the  last  token  you  shall  get  from  me  !"  After  the  nap- 
kin was  drawn  over  his  face,  he  uncovered  it  again,  and  Baid,  ,k  I 
have  one  word  more  to  say,"  and  that  is,  "  to  all  who  have  anv  love 
to  God  and  his  righteous  cause,  that  they  would  set  time  apart,  and 
sing  a  song  of  praise  to  the  Lord  ;  for  what  he  has  done  for  my  soul 
— and  my  soul  saith,  To  him  be  praise  !"  Then  the  napkin  being  let 
down,  he  was  turned  over  praying,  and  died  in  the  Lord,  with  his 
face  resting  upon  Mr.  Cargill's  breast.  These  two  cleaved  to  one 
another  in  love  and  unity  in  their  life  ;  and.  between  them,  in  their 
death,  there  was  no  disparity  : — "  Saul  and  Jonathan  were  lovely 
and  pleasant  in  their  lives,  and  in  their  death  they  were  not 
divided." 

The  now  glorified  Walter  Smith  was  a  man  no  less  learned  than 
pious,  faithful,  and  religious.  His  old  master,  the  professor  of 
divinity  at  Utrecht  in  Holland,  when  he  heard  of  his  public,  violent 
and  bloody  death  of  martyrdom,  gave  him  this  testimony  ;  and. 
weeping,  said  in  broken  English,  "O  Smith!  the  great,  brave 
Smith!  who  exceeded  all  that  I  ever  taught.  Be  was  capabli 
teach  many,  but  few  to  Instruct  him."  Besides  Borne  letters,  and  the 
fore-mentioned  twenty-two  rules  for  fellowship-meetings,  he  wrote 
also  twenty  steps  of  national  defection,  all  of  which  air  now  pub- 
lished  ;  and  if  these,  with  his  last  testimony,  be  rightly  considered, 
it  will  appear  that  his  writings  were  inferior  to  few  of  the  contend- 
ing of  that  time. 


528  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 


ROBERT  GARNOCK. 


Ivobert  Garnock  was  born  in  Stirling,  and  baptized  by  the  faithful 
Mr.  James  Guthrie.  In  his  younger  years,  his  parents  took  much 
pains  to  train  him  up  in  the  way  of  duty  ;  but  soon  after  the  Re- 
storation, the  faithful  ministers  being  turned  out,  curates  were  put  in 
their  places,  and  with  them  came  ignorance,  profanity,  and  persecu- 
tion. Some  time  after  this,  Mr.  Law  preached  at  his  own  house  in 
Monteith,  and  one  Mr.  Hutchison  sometimes  at  Kippen.  Having 
one  Saturday  evening  gone  out  to  his  grandmother's  house  in  the 
country,  along  with  an  uncle  to  a  place  called  Shield-brae,  and  next 
Sabbath  he  accompanied  him  with  great  difficulty,  being  then  but 
young,  through  frost  and  snow,  and  heard  Mr.  Law  at  Monteith 
preach  a  sermon,  which,  through  the  divine  blessing,  had  a  consider- 
able influence  upon  his  mind. — Thus  he  continued  for  a  considerable 
time,  to  go  out  in  the  end  of  the  week  to  hear  the  gospel,  returning 
in  the  beginning  of  next  week  to  Stirling ;  all  this  while,  however, 
he  did  not  let  his  parents  know  anything  of  the  matter. 

On  one  occasion,  hearing  a  proclamation  read  at  the  cross,  which 
announced  that  all  who  did  not  hear,  or  receive  privileges  from  the 
curates,  were  to  be  severely  punished.  His  mind  was  much  troubled, 
and  he  hesitated  whether  or  not  he  should  go  to  a  field-preaching  that 
he  heard  was  to  be  next  Sabbath.  But  at  last,  however,  he  came  to 
this  resolution  ;  saying  that,  the  Lord  inclined  his  heart  to  go,  sug- 
gesting the  following  words  :  "  Go  for  once,  go  for  all,  if  they  take 
thee  for  that  which  is  to  come.  So  I  went  there,"  continues  he,  "  and 
the  Lord  did  me  good  :  for  I  got  at  that  sermon,  that  which  although 
they  had  rent  me  in  a  thousand  pieces,  I  would  not  have  said  what  I 
had  said  before.  So  the  Lord  made  me  follow  after  the  gospel  for  a 
long  time;  and  though  I  knew  little  then  what  I  meant,  yet  he  put 
it  in  my  heart  still  to  keep  by  the  honest  side,  and  not  to  comply 
with  or  join  the  enemies  of  one  kind  or  another;  yea,  not  to  watch, 
ward,  or  strengthen  their  hands  in  any  manner  of  way.  When  I  was 
asked  why  I  would  not  keep  watch  (or  stand  sentry)  on  the  town,  as 
it  was  commanded  duty,  I  told  them  I  would  not  lift  arms  against 
the  work  of  God.  If  ever  I  carried  arms  it  should  be  for  the  defence 
of  the  gospel." 

He  now  became  the  subject  of  persecution,  and  was  in  consequence 
obliged  to  leave  the  town.     Having  learned  his  father's  trade,  which 


ROBERT    GARXOCK. 


520 


was  thatof  a  blacksmith,  he  went  to  Glasgow  for  some  time,  and  fo] 
lowed  his  occupation.  From  Glasgow  be  returned  home  and  from 
thence  went  again  to  Borrowstounness,  where  he  had  greal  debi 
he  himself  expresses  it, — "about  that  woful  indulgence:  I  did  Dot 
know  the  dreadful  hazard  of  hearing  them,  until  I  saw  they  preached 
at  the  hazard  of  men's  lives.  This  made  me  examine  the  matter, 
until  I  found  out  that  they  were  directly  wrong,  and  contrary  b 
Scripture,  had  changed  their  head,  had  quitted  Jesus  Chrisl  as  their 
head,  and  had  taken  their  commission  from  men,  owning  thai  per 
jured  adulterous  wretch  as  head  of  the  church  ;  receiving  their  com- 
mission to  preach  in  such  and  such  places  from  him,  and  those  bloody 
thieves  under  him." 

From  Borrowstounness  he  returned  back  to  Falkirk,  and  thence 
home  to  Stirling,  where  he  remained  for  some  time  under  a  Beri 
difficulties;  for  after  he  got  off  when  taken  with  others  at  tin-  Shield- 
brae,  while  he  was  making  bold  to  visit  Mr.  Skeen,  he  was  taken 
into  the  castle,  and  kept  all  night,  and  used  very  barbarously  by  the 
soldiers,  and  at  eight  o'clock  next  morning  taken  before  the  provost, 
who  not  being  then  at  leisure,  he  was  imprisoned  till  the  afternoon. 
But  by  the  intercession  of  one  Colin  M'lvenzie,  to  whom  his  father 
was  smith,  he  was  released  without  so  much  as  paying  the  jailor's 
fee. — "  I  had  much  of  the  Lord's  kindness  at  that  time  (saj  - 
although  I  did  not  then  know  what  it  meant;  and  so  I  was  thrust 
forth  into  my  wandering  again." 

About  this  time  he  intended  to  go  to  Ireland;  but  being  disap- 
pointed, he  returned  back  to  Stirling,  where  he  was  tossed  to  and 
fro  for  some  time ;  and  yet  he  remarks,  he  had  some  sweet  times  in 
this  condition  ;  particularly  one  night,  when  he  was  down  in  the 
Carse  with  one  Baron  Hendry.  After  this,  heavy  trials  ensued  to 
him  from  professors,  because  he  testified  against  every  kind  of  their 
compliance  with  the  current  of  the  times.  Upon  this  account,  he  and 
the  society-meeting  of  which  he  was  a  member,  could  not  agree. 
This  made  him  leave  them,  and  go  to  one  in  the  country,  which  he 
says,  "were  more  sound  in  judgment,  and  of  an  undaunted  courage 
and  zeal  for  God  and  his  cause ;  for  the  life  of  religion  waa  in  that 
society." 

After  this,  he  fell  into  another  difficulty  ;  for  a  proclamation  I 
issued  that  all  betwixt  thirteen  and  sixty  were  to  paypoll-nn 
his  father  was  advised  that  if  he  would  pay  it  he  should  be  rel< 
which,  though  a  great  temptation,  he  absolutely  refused,  telling  his 
father  plainly,  who  urged  him  to  do  it,  that  if  one  plack  (or  four  pen- 
nies)  could  procure  his  freedom,  he  would  not  give  it.  His  father 
offered  to  pay  the  money  for  him,  to  which  he  answered,  that,  if  he 
did,  he  need  never  expect  it  back,  or  any  consideration  for  it.  from 
him.  But  for  the  result  of  the  matter,  hear  his  own  words  :  "And, 
O  !  but  the  Lord  was  kind  to  me  then ;  and  his  love  was  better  than 
life.  I  was  tossed  in  my  wanderings  and  banishment  with  many  ups 
and  downs,  till  I  came  to  Edinburgh,  where  I  heard  oi  a  communion 
to  be  on  the  borders  of  England;  and  then  I  went  to  it  ( >  let  me 
bless  the  Lord,  that  ever  trysted  me  with  such  a  lot  as  that  was,  lbl 
the  20th,  21st,  and  22d  of  April,  1GT7,  were  the  three  mosl  wonder- 
34 


530 


SCOTS    WORTHIES. 


fill  (lavs  with  the  Lord's  presence  that  ever  I  saw  on  earth  !  O  but 
his  power  was  wonderfully  seen,  and  great  to  all  the  assembly,  espe- 
cially to  me  !  O  the  three  wonderful  days  of  the  Lord's  presence  at 
East-Xisbet  in  the  Merse  !  This  was  the  greatest  communion,  I  sup- 
pose, these  twenty  years.  I  got  there  what  I  will  never  forget  while 
I  live.  Glory  to  his  sweet  name,  that  ever  there  was  such  a  day  in 
Scotland.  lie  was  seen  that  day  sitting  at  the  head  of  his  table, 
and  his  spikenard  sending  forth  a  pleasant  smell.  Both  good  and 
bad  were  made  to  cry  out,  and  some  to  say,  with  the  disciples,  "  It  is 
good  for  us  to  be  here."  They  would  have  been  content  to  have  re- 
mained there  ;  and  I  thought  it  was  a  begun  heaven  to  be  in  that 
place." 

After  this  he  returned  home  to  Stirling,  and  got  liberty  to  follow 
his  employment  for  some  time.  But  lo  !  another  difficulty  occurred  ; 
for  while  the  Highland  army  was  ordered  west  in  the  beginning  of 
16TS,  upon  the  town  being  called  to  arms,  all  excepting  a  very  few 
obeyed.  Garnock,  however,  refused  ;  and,  leaving  the  town  with  the 
other  recusants,  held  a  meeting.  When  he  returned,  his  father  told 
him  he  was  passed  for  the  first  time,  but  it  behoved  him  to  mount 
guard  to-morrow.  He  refused ;  his  father  was  angry,  and  in  order  to 
induce  compliance  brought  before  him  the  practices  of  others.  He 
told  his  father  he  would  hang  his  faith  upon  no  man's  belt.  On  the 
morrow,  when  the  drums  beat  to  mount  guard,  being  the  day  of  his 
social  meeting,  he  went  out  of  town  under  a  heavy  load  of  reproach, 
even  from  professors,  who  did  not  scruple  to  say  that  it  was  not  from 
principles  of  conscience  he  hesitated,  but  that  he  might  have  liberty 
to  stroll  through  the  country.  Orders  were  given  to  apprehend  Gar- 
nock ;  but  at  that  time  he  escaped  and  wandered  from  one  place  to 
another,  until  the  beginning  of  August  1678,  when  he  came  to  Car- 
rick  communion  at  Maybole ;  and  what  his  exercise  was  there,  him- 
self thus  expresses  : — "  I  was  wonderfully  trysted  there  ;  but  not  so 
as  at  the  other.  I  went  to  the  first  table,  and  then  went  and  heard 
worthy  Messrs.  Kid  and  Cameron  preach  at  a  little  distance  from  the 
meeting,  who  never  left  the  field  till  they  sealed  and  crowned  it  with 
their  blood.  I  cannot  say  but  the  Lord  was  kind  to  me  there,  on  the 
day  after,  and  on  the  fast  day  in  the  middle  of  the  week  after  that, 
near  the  borders  of  Kilmarnock  parish,  where  a  division  arose  about 
the  Indulgence,  which  to  this  day  is  never  yet  done  away.  After  my 
return  home,  I  was  made  to  enter  into  covenant  with  him  upon  his 
own  terms,  against  the  Indulgence  and  all  other  compliances  ;  and 
because  through  the  Lord's  strength  I  had  resolved  to  keep  my  bar- 
gain and  not  join  with  them,  it  was  said  I  had  got  new  light ;  "and  I 
was  much  reproached,  yet  I  got  much  of  the  Lord's  kindness  when 
attending  the  preached  gospel  in  the  fields,  to  which  I  would  some- 
times go  twenty  miles." 

Having  thus  wandered  to  and  fro  for  some  time,  he  went  to  Edin- 
burgh to  see  the  prisoners,  and  then  returned  home  to  Stirling  in  the 
end  of  the  week.  Late  on  Saturday  night  he  heard  of  a  field-preach- 
ing ;  and  seeing  the  soldiers  and  troopers  marching  out  of  town  to 
attack  the  people  who  attended  it,  he  made  himself  ready,  and,  with 
a  few  others,  went  towards  the  place, — the  soldiers  coining  forward, 


ROBERT    GARNOCK. 


■1 


he  along  with  a  few  armed  men  and  the  minister  took  to  a  hill  above 
Fintry,  beside  the  Crags  of  Ballglass.     Perceiving  the  enemy  ad- 
vance, this  brave  little  band  drew  up  in  the  best  position  that  time 
and  place  would  permit,  and  sung  a  psalm,  whicn   bo  alarmed   the 
soldiers  that,  as  they  told  afterwards,  the  very  matches  had  ale 
fallen  out  of  their  hands.    At  last  a  trooper  coming  up  ordered  thi 
to  dismiss  ;  but  this  they  refused.  '  This  was  repeated  Beveral  tim 
till  at  last  the  captain  of  the  foot  came  forward  and  gave  t1 
same  charge,  which  they  also  refused.   Upon  this  he  ordered  a  party 
of  his  men  to  advance  and  fire  upon  them,  which  they  did  once  or 
twice.     This  little  company  returned  it  with  much  courage  and  | 
cision,  until  the  whole  party,  with  the  comraanding-offic  I  ing 

of  forty-eight  infantry  and  sixteen  horse,  fired  upon  this  little  hand- 
ful, which  he  thinks  amounted  to  not  above  eighteen  that  had  arms, 
with  a  few  women.     After  several  fires  were  returned  on  both  sides, 
one  of  the  sufferers  stepped  forward  and  shot  one  side  of  the  cap- 
tain's periwig  off,  at  which  the  foot  fled ;  but  the  horsemen  taki 
advantage  of  the  rising  ground  surrounded  this  small  party.     T' 
then  fired  at  a  young  man,  but  missed  him.     However,  th 
him  and  some  others  prisoners.     The  rest  fled.     Garnock  was  hinder- 
most,  being  the  last  on  the  place  of  action,  and  says,  he  intended  not 
to  have  been  taken  but  rather  killed.    At  last  one  of  the  enemy  came 
after  him,  on  which  he  resolved  either  to  kill  or  be  killed  rather  than 
surrender, — snatching  a  pistol  from  one  for  that  purpose.     I  hit  an- 
other coming  up  to  his  assistance  the  dragoon  fled  off,  and  thus  they 
escaped  and  stayed  until  the  enemy  were  gone,  who  marched  direct- 
ly with  their  prisoners  to  Stirling. 

"  After  the  fray  was  over  Garnock  hovered  about  till  .  and 

spoke  with  some  friends  and  the  minister,  who  dissuaded  him  all 
they  could  from  going  to  Stirling.  Being  now  approaching  towards 
the  eve  of  his  pilgrimage,  with  Paul  in  another  case  when  going 
up  to  Jerusalem,  he  could  not  be  prevailed  upon,  and  so  went 
town;  when,  entering  in  about  one  in  the  morning,  he  got  into  a 
house  at  the  foot  of  Castlehill,  and  there  left  his  arms  wit',  much 
difficulty.  As  he  was  near  the  head  of  Castlehill.  ho  was  appre- 
hended and  brought  to  the  guard  by  two  soldiers  who  were  lying  m 
wait  for  those  who  had  been  at  the  meeting,  and  thence  broughl 
fore  Lord  Linlithgow's  son,  who  asked  him,  "  if  he  was  at  that  preach- 
ing?" He  told  him,  "he  was  at  no  preaching."  Linbthgow's  son 
said,  "  he  was  a  liar."  Garnock  said  «  he  was  no  liar ;"  and  seeing 
ye  will  not  believe  me  I  will  tell  no  more— prove  the  rest  Linlith- 
gow said,  "  he  would  make  him  do  it;  but  he  answered,  he  anould 
not.  Then  he  asked  his  name,  trade,  and  his  fathers  name,  and 
where  he  dwelt?— all  of  which  he  answered.  Then  he  gaj 
keep  him  fast.  At  night  he  was  much  abused  by  the  Boldien  ;  Borne 
of  those  who  had  been  wounded  in  the  skirmish  threatening  Dim 
with  torture,  gagging  in  the  mouth,  &c,  all  which  he  bore  witD 
much  patience.  In  the  morning  a  Serjeant  came  to  examine  Dim; 
but  he  refused  him  as  a  judge  to  answer  to.  At  Ust  foe  command- 
ing  officer  came  and  examined  him,  if  he  was  at  that  skirm^n  .  1 10 
answered,  "  That  for  being  there  he  was  taken  ;  and  whether  1  was 


532  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

there  or  not,  I  am  not  bound  to  give  you  an  account."  So  he  went 
out,  and  in  a  little  returned  with  the  provost,  who  thought  to  surprise 
him  by  asking,  "who  of  Stirling  folk  was  there?"  he  answered, 
"  That  they  were  both  your  neighbours  and  mine  ;"  and  though  he 
had  been  there,  he  might  account  him  very  imprudent  to  tell ;  for 
though  he  thought  it  his  duty  to  ask,  yet  it  was  not  his  to  tell  or 
answer,  and  he  thought  he  should  rather  commend  him  for  so  doing. 
After  several  other  things  anent  that  affair,  he  was  commanded  to  be 
kept  a  close  prisoner ;  and  none,  not  so  much  as  his  father,  allowed 
to  speak  to  him  ;  but  he  did  not  want  company  at  that  time,  for, 
says  lie,  "  O  but  I  had  a  sweet  time  of  it !  the  Lord's  countenance 
was  better  unto  me  than  all  the  company  in  the  world." 

Upon  the  13th  of  July,  he  was  brought  forth,  and  in  company 
with  about  100  more  was  taken  from  Stirling  to  Edinburgh,  under  a 
strong  guard  of  soldiers,  and  put  into  the  Grayfriars'  church-yard, 
amongst  the  Bothwell  prisoners.  There  he  was  more  vexed,  both  by 
the  enemy  and  his  fellow-sufferers,  than  ever.  A  specimen  of  which 
is  here  given  in  his  own  words :  "  Some  of  my  neighbours  desired 
the  bond  ;  so  they  put  it  to  me,  but  I  refused.  However,  the  most 
part  of  them  took  it.  Nay,  there  were  some  of  them  supplicated  for 
any  bond.  This  made  some  of  us  conclude  it  was  our  duty  to  testify 
against  it ;  which  piece  of  employment  was  put  upon  me,  against 
which  some  of  the  prisoners  obtested.  So  I  was  rendered  odious ; 
but  many  a  day  the  Lord  was  kind  to  me  in  that  yard,  and  kept  me 
from  many  a  fear  and  snare  ;  his  love  was  sweet  unto  me.  The  men 
complained  of  us  to  the  commanders,  who  sent  for  me  and  examined 
ine  on  the  bond  and  other  things  :  they  said  I  shonld  be  gagged,  and 
every  day  I  was  vexed  with  them,  until  almost  the  whole  prisoners 
petitioned  for  it. — And  there  was  as  good  as  seventy  ministers  sent 
into  the  yard  to  take  it;  and  they  said  it  was  not  a  head  to  suffer 
upon  :  when  they  had  done,  they  sent  in  two  gentlewomen  with  the 
commission,  and  they  set  upon  me.  I  told  them,  if  every  one  of 
them  had  as  much  of  it  as  I  had,  they  would  not  be  so  busy  to  press 
it;  for  before  this,  the  bloodly  crew  came  to  the  yard,  and  called  on 
me  and  asked  if  I  would  take  the  bond.  I  said,  ISTo.  They  said  I 
would  get  no  other  sentence.  So  I  was  sore  put  to  it :  I  would  often 
have  been  at  the  doing  of  something ;  but  the  Lord  would  not  suffer 
me.  So,  in  his  strength,  I  fought  on  and  overcame.  But  O  the  cross 
was  sweet  and  easy  unto  me  !  There  needs  none  fear  to  venture  on 
suffering  in  his  way  and  strength.  O  happy  days,  that  ever  I  was 
trysted  with  such  a  thing !  My  bargaining  with  lovely  Jesus  was 
sweet  unto  me.  It  is  true,  'affliction  for  the  present  seems  not  joyous 
but  grievous  ;  but  afterwards,  it  yieldeth  the  peaceable  fruits  of 
righteousness  to  those  who  are  exercised  thereby.' — I  never  knew 
the  treachery  of  ministers,  and  their  dreadful  hypocrisy  and  double- 
dealing  in  the  matters  of  God  before  that  time,  and  I  could  never 
love  them  after  that ;  for  they  made  many  a  one  rack  their  conscience 
in  taking  that  bond.  I  was  brought  out  of  the  yard,  October  25th, 
with  a  guard  of  soldiers  :  when  coming  out  one  Mr.  White  asked  if  I 
would  take  the  bond  ?  I  smiling  said,  JSTo.  He  in  the  way  of  jeer 
said,  I  had  a  face  to  glorify  God  in  the  Grassmarket.     So  I  bade 


ROBERT    GARNOCK. 


533 


farewell  to  all  my  neighbours,  who  were  sorry  ;   and  White  bade  me 
take  good  night  with  them,  for  I  should  never  Bee  them  more. 
I  said,  My  dear  friends,  take  good  heart ;  fur  we  may  meet 
all  this.     So  I  was  brought  before  their  council-court.     They  asked, 
if  I  would  take  the  bond,— I  said,  No.    Some  of  them   Baid,  perhaps 
he  does  not  know  it ;  but  Ilatton  said  lie  knows  it  well  enough.     Bo 
one  of  them  read  it.     I  asked  if  they  would  have  me  BubscrSx  a  lie 
to  take  away  life  ;  for  i  never  was  in  rebellion  nor  intended  to  ; 
They  said  they  would  make  another  bond  for  me.     I  an.- v. 
needed  not  trouble  themselves,  for  I  Mas  not  designed  to  subscribe 
any  bond  at  this  time. — Will  you  rise  in  rebellioi  the  kinel 

I  was  not  rising  in  rebellion  against  the  king.— Will  you  tal 
bond,  never  to  rise  against  the  king  and  his  authority  i     Wh&\ 
thing  you  call  authority? — They  said,  If  they,  the  soldiers,  or  any 
other  subject,  should  kill  me,  I  was  bound  not  to  resist.     I  an- 
That  I  will  never  do. — Is  the  bishop's  death  murder  (     I  am  a  pri- 
soner; and  so  no  judge. — Is  Bothwell  Bridge  rebellion?     1  am  not 
bound  to  give  my  judgment  in  that. 

"  Then  one  of  them  said,  I  told  you  what  the  rebel  rascal 
say  : — you  will  be  hanged,  Sir!     I  answered,  you  must  first  convict 
me  of  a  crime.     They  said,  you  did  excommunicate  prisoner-   for 
taking  the  bond.     I  said  that  was  not  in  my  power ;   and  moreover, 
I  was  not  before  them,  and  prove  it  if  they  were  able.     '.' 
they  would  hang  me  for  rebellion.     I  said, — You  cannot ;    for  if 
walk  according  to  your  own  laws,  I  should  have  my  liberty.     They 
said — Should  we  give  a  rebellious  knave  like  you  your  liberty?— you 
should  be  hanged  immediately.     I  answered, — -That  lies  not  yet  in 
your  power;  so  they  caused  quickly  to  take  me  away,  and  put  me  in 
the  Iron-house  tolbooth.     Much  more  passed  that  1  must  not  spend 
time  to  notice. 

"  So  they  brought  me  to  the  Iron-house  to  fifteen  of  my  dear 
panions  in  tribulation  ;    and  there  we  were  a  sweet  company, 
all  of  one  judgment.    There  serving  the  Lord,  day  and  night,  in 
gleness  of  heart,  his  blessing  was  seen  amongst  us ;    for  his  ]o\ 
better  than  life.     We  were  all  with  one  accord  trysted  awe 
ther;    and  O  it  was  sweet  to  be  in  this  company,  and  plea-ant  to 
those  who  came  in  to  see  us,  until  the  indictments  came  in  amongst 
us !     There  were  ten  got  their  indictments ;  six  came  off,  and  fi  lur  g<  it 
their  sentence  to  die  at  Magus  Moor.    There  were  fifteen  br< 
out  of  the  yard,  and  some  of  them  got  their  liberty  offered,  if  they 
would  witness  against  me  ;  but  they  refused :  so  they  all  got  their  in- 
dictments ;  and  all  complied,  save  one,  who  was  sentenced  to  die 
with  the  other  four  at  Magus  Moor. 

In  this  situation  he  continued  till  November  13th,  that  1 
the  intercession  of  some  friends  brought  to  the  west  galleries  on  the 
other  side  of  the  tolbooth,  where  he  continued  -  till  called 

again  before  some  of  the  council;  after  which  he  was  again  com- 
mitted to  close  prison  for  a  time  ;  till  one  night,  being  called  forth 
by  one  of  the  keepers,  one  Mr.  John  Blair  being  present, 
him  thus,  "Wherefore  do  you  refuse  the  bond?     lb'  answ< 
have  no  time  for  that  matter.     But  out  of  that  place,  Baid  1 1 


53^.  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

shall  not  go ;  for  the  Covenants  and  the  13th  of  the  Romans  bind 
you  to  it.  I  answered,  No;  they  just  bind  me  to  the  contrary. 
What  if  Popery  should  come  to  the  land,  should  we  bind  ourselves 
never  to  defend  the  true  religion  ?  He  said,  We  were  loosed  then. 
I  said,  No ;  Presbyterians  are  taken  by  their  word,  and  they  abide 
by  it ;  and  ere  all  were  done,  it  should  be  a  dear  bond  to  them;  as 
for  my  part,  I  would  rather  go  to  the  Grassmarket,  and  seal  it  with 
my  blood,  &c."  After  he  came  down,  the  keeper  of  the  tolbooth 
abused  him  in  a  very  indiscreet  manner,  saying,  that  if  there  were 
no  more  men,  he  should  be  hanged  ;  and  that  he  was  an  ignorant 
fool ;  ministers  nor  men  could  not  convince  him  ;  and  ordered  him 
to  be  detained  in  close  custody,  where  he  was  again  as  much  vexed 
with  a  company  of  bonders  as  ever  ;  for  they  were  not  only  become 
lax  in  principle  but  in  duty  also ;  so  he  roundly  told  them,  "  You 
are  far  from  what  you  were  in  the  Iron-house,  before  you  took  the 
bond  ;  then  you  would  have  been  up  at  duty  by  two  or  three  in  the 
morning ;  now  you  lie  in  bed  till  eight  or  nine  in  the  day.  They 
said,  Itis  true  enough  ;  but  said  no  more." 

After  these  got  their  liberty,  he  was  accompanied  by  some  other 
prisoners,  some  of  whom  were  kept  in  for  debt.  And  then  he  says, 
lie  would  have  been  up  by  four  in  the  morning  and  made  exercise 
amongst  them  three  times  a  day.  The  Lord  was  kind  to  him  at  that 
time,  and  he  resolved  never  to  make  any  compliance ;  and  in  this 
lie  was  made  to  "  eat  meat  out  of  the  eater,  and  sweet  out  of  the 
strong ;"  but  some  gentlemen,  prisoners  for  religion  where  he  was 
before,  prevailed  with  the  keeper  of  the  tolbooth  to  have  him  back 
to  them  about  the  beginning  of  1680.  But  here  the  old  temptation 
to  compliance  and  tampering  with  the  enemy  was  afresh  renewed ; 
for  the  ministers  coming  in  to  visit  these,  when  they  could  do  no 
more,  they  brought  ministers  to  the  room  to  preach,  and  make  him 
hear  them ;  which  he  positively  refused.  At  last,  they  brought  a 
minister,  one  of  his  acquaintance,  him  that  should  have  preached 
that  day  he  was  taken.  Hearing  that  he  had  made  some  compli- 
ance with  the  enem}',  he  would  not  go  to  the  next  room  to  hear  him 
make  exercise,  till  he  knew  the  certainty  of  the  matter.  After  which 
he  came  to  another  room,  where  they  had  some  conference.  A  short 
hint  of  it  is  here  subjoined.  "  He  asked  after  my  welfare,  and  if  I 
was  going  out  of  prison  ?  I  told  him  I  blessed  the  Lord  for  it,  I  was 
well  and  was  not  going  out  yet."  After  some  conversation  anent 
field-preachings,  particularly  one  by  worthy  Mr.  Cameron  at  Monk- 
land,  which  he  condemned,  "  he  asked,  Why  I  did  not  hear  minis- 
ters ?  I  answered,  I  desired  to  hear  none  but  what  are  faithful ;  for 
I  am  a  prisoner,  and  would  gladly  be  in  the  right  way,  not  to  wrong 
myself.  He  said,  Wherein  are  they  unfaithful?  I  said,  in  changing 
their  head,  quitting  the  Lord's  way,  and  taking  on  with  Covenant- 
breakers,  murderers  of  his  people,  &c.  He  said,  How  could  you  prove 
that?  I  said,  Their  practice  proves  it.  He  said,  These  were  but 
failings,  and  these  would  not  perjure  a  man  ;  and  it  is  not  for  you  to 
cast  off  ministers ;  you  know  not  what  you  are  doing.  I  do  not  cast 
them  off;  they  cast  off  themselves,  by  quitting  the  holding  of  the 
ministry  of  Christ : — How  prove  you  that  ?    The  10th  of  John  proves 


ROBERT    QARNOCE.  535 

it ;  for  they  come  not  in  by  the  door.  You  may  put  me  wrong;  but 
I  think,  that  in  Gal.  i.  6. — "  I  marvel  that  ye  are  bo  soon  removed 
from  him  that  called  you."  You  may  read  that  at  your  leisure,  I 
Paul  had  not  his  gospel  from  men,  nor  by  the  will  of  men.  He  said, 
— Lay  by  these  ;  but  what  is  the  reason  you  Mill  not  hear  others  '.  I 
said,  I  desire  to  hear  none  of  these  gaping  for  the  indulgence,  and 
not  faithful  in  preaching  against  it." 

After  some  conference  anent  Messrs.  Cameron  and  Cargill,  in 
which  he  said  Mr.  Cameron  was  no  minister,  and  Mr.  Cargill  was 
once  one, and  had  quitted  it;  that  they  received  their  doctrines  from 
their  hearers,  who  said,  "You  must  preach  such  and  such  doctrines, 
and  we  will  hear  you;"  to  all  which  the  martyr  gave  pertinent 
answers.  He  said,  "  Robert,  do  not  think  I  am  angry  that  yon  come 
not  to  hear  me,  for  I  desire  not  you,  nor  any  of  your  faction  to  come 
and  hear  me,  fori  cannot  preach  to  all  your  humours."  I  said,  It 
was  all  the  worse  for  that.  He  said  none  of  these  faults  would  cast 
off  a  minister;  they  were  but  failings,  not  principles.  I  said.  I  could 
not  debate  ;  but  I  should  let  any  Christian  judge,  if  it  was  no  prin- 
ciple for  a  minister  to  hold  Christ  Head  of  the  Church.  I  told  him, 
that  there  was  once  a  day  I  would  have  ventured  my  life  at  his  back 
for  the  defence  of  Christ's  gospel ;  but  not  now.  And  I  was  more 
willing  to  lay  down  my  life  now  fur  his  sweet  and  dear  truths,  than 
ever  f  was.  lie  said,  the  Lord  pity  and  help  me  ;  I  said  I  had  much 
need  of  it.  And  so  he  went  away,  and  rendered  me  odious.  Tins 
amongst  other  things  made  me  go  to  God,  and  engage  in  covenant 
with  his  Son  never  to  hear  any  of  those  who  betrayed  his  cause,  till 
I  saw  evidences  of  their  repentance.  And  I  would  have  been  will- 
ing to  have  quitted  all  for  that  "  chiefest  among  ten  thousand." 

Thus  he  continued  till  he  says  he  got  bad  counsel  from  some  of  his 
friends  to  supplicate  for  his  liberty  ;  and  they  prevailed  so  far,  as  to 
draw  up  a  supplication,  and  brought  him  to  subscribe.  But  when 
they  had  got  him  to  take  the  pen 'in  his  hand,  "  The  Lord  hade  me 
hold,"  says  he,  "  and  one  came  and  bade  me  take  heed  ;  BO  1  did  it 
not ;  for  which  I  bless  his  holy  name.  But  this  lets  me  Bee  there  Is 
no  standing  in  me.  Had  it  not  been  his  free  love,  I  had  gone  the 
blackest  way  ever  one  went." 

Having  now  with  pleasure  heard  somewhat  of  the  lite  and  exer- 
cises of  Garnock,  we  come  to  notice  his  trial,  death  or  martyrdom. 
He  was  brought  before  the  council,  October  1st,  where  he  disowned 
the  king's  authority,  refused  them  as  his  judges,  and  0,1  the  7th  was 
brought  before  the  court  of  Justiciary,  and  indicted,  "  That   be 1  did 
before  the  council,  on  the  1st  of  October,  decline  the  authority  oi  the 
king  and  council,  and  called  the  kingand  council  tyrants,  murderers, 
perjured  and  mansworn,  declaring  it  was  lawful  to  rise  in   arms 
against  them;  and  gave  in  a  most  treasonable  paper,  termed     A 
Protestation    and  Testimony  against  Parliamenters ;     wherein    he 
terms  the  members  of  parliament  idolaters,  nsurpersol  the  Lords 
inheritance;    and   protests   against  their   procedure    m   then-    hell 
hatched  acts:  which  paper  is  signed  by  his  hand,  whereby  he 
guilty  of  treason.     And  further,  gave  in  a  declaration  to  the  <•,„„ 
wherein  the  said  Robert  Garnock  disowns  the  kings  authority  and 


536  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

government,  and  protests  against  the  council  as  tyrants.  Therefore, 
Arc."  By  such  an  explicit  confession,  his  own  papers  being  turned 
to  an  indictment,  without  any  matters  of  fact  against  him,  there  was 
no  difficulty  of  probation,  his  own  protest  and  declinature  being  pro- 
duced before  the  court  of  Justiciary  and  assize,  to  whom  he  was  re- 
mitted. But  before  the  assize  were  enclosed,  Garnock  and  five  others 
who  were  indicted  with  him,  delivered  a  paper  to  the  inquest  con- 
taining a  protestation  and  warning,  wherein  "  they  advise  them  to 
consider  what  they  are  doing,  and  upon  what  grounds  they  pass  a 
sentence  upon  them.  They  declare  they  are  no  rebels  ;  they  disown 
no  authority  that  is  according  to  the  word  of  God,  and  the  Covenants 
the  land  is  bound  by.  They  charge  them  to  consider  how  deep  a 
guilt  covenant-breaking  is ;  and  put  them  in  mind  they  are  to  be 
answerable  to  the  great  Judge  of  all,  for  what  they  do  in  this  matter  ; 
and  say  they  do  this,  since  they  are  in  hazard  of  their  lives  and 
against  them.  It  is  a  dangerous  thing  to  pass  a  sentence  on  men 
merely  because  of  their  conscience  and  judgment,  and  only  because 
they  cannot  in  conscience  yield  to  the  iniquitous  laws  of  men  :  that 
they  are  free  subjects,  never  taken  in  any  action  contrary  to  the  pre- 
sent laws ;  adding,  that  those  whom  they  once  thought  should  or 
would  rule  for  God,  have  turned  their  authority  for  tyranny  and  in- 
humanity ;  and  employ  it  both  in  destroying  the  laws  of  God,  and 
murdering  his  people  against  and  without  law,  as  we  ourselves  can 
prove  and  witness  when  brought  in  before  them.  After  two  years' 
imprisonment,  one  of  them  most  cruelly  and  tyrant-like,  rose  from 
the  place  of  judgment,  and  drew  a  sword,  and  would  have  killed  one 
of  us  ;  but  Providence  ordered  it  otherwise  ;  however,  the  wound  is 
yet  to  be  shown.  The  like  action  was  never  heard  or  read  of.  After 
reminding  them  of  David  Finlay  murdered  at  Newmills,  Mr. 
Mitchell's  case,  and  James  Lermond,  who  was  murdered  after  he  was 
three  times  set  at  liberty  by  the  assize,  they  added,  that  after  such 
murders  as  deserve  death,  they  cannot  see  how'  they  can  owm  them 
as  judges,  charging  them  to  notice  what  they  do ;  assuring  them  their 
blood  will  be  heavy  upon  them ;  concluding  with  the  words  of  Jer. 
xxvi.  15 ;  and  charging  them  not  to  take  innocent  blood  on  their 
heads." 


Robert  Gaenock. 
D.  Farrie. 
James  Stewart. 
Subscribed  at  Edinburgh,  ) 
October  7,  1681.         f 


Alex.  Russell. 
Pat.  Foreman. 
C.  Lapslat. 


Notwithstanding  all  this,  they  were  brought  in  guilty,  and  sen- 
tenced to  be  executed  at  the  Gallow-lee,  between  Leith  and  Edin- 
burgh, upon  the  10th  instant,— Foreman's  hand  to  be  cut  off  before, 
and  the  heads  and  hands  of  the  rest  after  death,  and  to  be  set  upon 
the  Pleasance  Port. 

What  his  deportment  and  exercises  were  at  the  place  of  execution, 
we  are  at  a  loss  to  describe  ;  but,  from  what  is  already  related  of  him, 
we  may  safely  conclude,  that  through  divine  grace,  his  demeanour 
was  truly  noble  and  Christian.    But  that  the  reader  may  know  some- 


ROBERT    GARXOCK. 


537 


what  of  his  exercises,  temper,  and  disposition  about  that  time.  I 
extract  a  few  sentences  of  his  own  words  from  his  last  Bpeech  and 
dying  Testimony. 

"  I  bless  the  Lord,  that  ever  lie  honoured  the  like  of  me  with  a 
bloody  gibbet  and  bloody  winding-sheet  fop  his  noble,  honourable, 
and  sweet  cause.     O  will  ye  love  him,  Sirs  \     ()  he  is  well  worth  the 
loving,  and  quitting  alitor!     O  for  many  lives  to  seal  the 
cause  with  :  if  I  had  as  many  lives  as  there  are  hairs  on  my  head,  I 
would  think  them  all  little  to  be  martyrs  fur  truth.    I  bless  tin    ' 
I   do   not   suffer  unwillingly   nor  by   constraint,  but  heartily  and 
cheerfully.     I  have  been  a  long  time  prisoner,  and  have  been  altered 
of  my  prison.     I  was  amongst  and  in  the  company  of  the  mos1 
who  suffered  since  Bothwell,  and  was  in  company  with  many  insnar- 
ing  persons  ;  though  I  do  not  epiestion  their  being  godly  folk;  and 
yet  the  Lord  kept  me  from  hearkening  to  their  counsel.    Glory,  j 
to  his  holy  and  sweet  name!     It  is  many  times  my  wonder  how  J 
have  done  such  and  such  things;  but  it  is  He  that  has  done  :  lie 
hath  done  all  things  in  me  ;  holy  is  his  name.     I  bless  the  Lord  I  am 
this  day  to  step  out  of  time  into  eternity,  and  I  am  no  more  troubled, 
than  if  I  were  to  take  a  match  by  marriage  on  earth,  and  not  80 
much.     I  bless  the  Lord  I  have  much  peace  of  conscience  in  what  I 
have  done.     O  but  I  think  it  a  very  weighty  piece  of  business  to  be 
within  twelve  hours  of  eternity  and  not  troubled.   Indeed  the  Lord  is 
kind,  and  has  trained  me  up  for  this  day,  and  now  I  run  want  him  DO 
longer.     I  shall  be  filled  with  his  love  this  night ;  for  I  will  be  with 
him  in  Paradise,  and  get  a  new  song  put  in  my  mouth,  th< 
Moses  and  the  Lamb  :  I  will  be  in  amongst  the  general  asseml 
the  first-born,  and  enjoy  the  sweet  presence  of  God  and  his  Si  >n  Jesus 
Christ,  and  the  spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect ;  I  am  sure  of  it. 

"  Now  my  Lord  is  bringing  me  to  conformity  with  himself,  and 
honouring  me  with  my  worthy  pastor  Mr.  James  Guthrie  :  alt! 
I  knew  nothing  when  he  was  alive,  yet  the  Lord  hath  honoured  me 
to  protest  against  popery,  and  to  seal  it  with  my  blood  :  and  he  hath 
also  honoured  me  to  protest  against  prelacy,  and  to  seal  it  with  my 
blood.  The  Lord  has  kept  me  in  prison  to  this  day  for  that  end. 
Mr.  Guthrie's  head  is  on  one  port  of  Edinburgh,  and  mine  must  go 
on  another.  Glory,  glory  to  the  Lord's  sweet  name,  for  what  he  hath 
done  for  me ! 

"  Now  I  bless  the  Lord,  that  I  am  not,  as  many  suspect  me  to  be, 
thinking  to  gain  heaven  by  my  suffering.  No,  there  is  no  attaining 
of  it  but  through  the  precious  blood  of  the  Son  of  God.  Now,  ye  that 
are  the  true  seekers  of  God,  and  the  butt  of  the  world's  malice,  O  be 
diligent  and  run  fast,  your  time  is  precious  ;  O  make  use  of  it,  and 
act  for  God;  contend  for  truth,  stand  for  God  against  all  his  enemies  : 
fear  not  the  wrath  of  man,  love  one  another,  wrestle  with  Gtod,  mu- 
tually, in  societies,  confess  your  faults  one  to  another,  pray  one  with 
another,  reprove,  exhort,  and  rebuke  one  another  in  love  ;  slight  no 
commanded  duty,  be  faithful  in  your  stations,  as  yon  will  be  answer- 
able at  the  great  day  of  judgment,  seek  not  counsel  from  men,  and 
follow  none  further  than  they  hold  by  truth. 

"  Now,  farewell,  sweet  reproaches  for  my  lovely  Lord  Jesus  :  though 


538 


SCOTS    WORTHIES. 


once  they  were  not  oyous  but  grievous,  yet  now  they  are  sweet. 
And  I  bless  the  Lord  for  it,  I  heartily  forgive  all  men  for  anything 
they  have  said  of  me  :  and  I  pray  it  may  not  be  laid  to  their  charge 
in  the  day  of  accounts  :  and  for  what  they  have  done  to  God  and  his 
cause  I  leave  that  to  God,  and  their  own  conscience.  Farewell  all 
Christian  acquaintance,  father  and  mother,  &c.  Farewell  sweet 
prison  for  my  royal  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  now  at  an  end.  Farewell  all 
crosses  of  one  sort  or  another ;  and  so  farewell  every  thing  in  time, 
reading  praying,  and  believing.  "Welcome  eternal  life,  and  the  spirits 
ofinst-men  made  perfect !  Welcome  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost; 
into  thy  hands  I  commit  my  spirit !" 

Accordingly  the  foregoing  sentence,  in  all  its  parts,  was  executed 
upon  them  all,  except  Lapslay,  who  got  off.*  And  so  they  had  their 
passage  from  the  valley  of  misery  into  the  celestial  country  above,  to 
inhabit  the  land — "  where  the  inhabitants  say  not,  I  am  sick,  and  the 
people  that  dwell  therein  are  forgiven  their  iniquities." 

Thus  ended  Garnock  in  the  flower  of  his  youth  ;  a  young  man,  but 
old  in  experimental  religion.  His  faithfulness  was  as  remarkable  as 
his  piety,  and  his  courage  and  constancy  as  both.  He  was  inured  to 
tribulations  almost  from  his  youth,  wherein  he  was  so  far  from  being 
discouraged  at  the  cross  of  Christ,  that  he,  in  imitation  of  the  primi- 
tive martyrs,  seemed  rather  ambitious  of  suffering.  He  always  aimed 
at  honesty ;  and,  notwithstanding  all  opposition  from  pretended 
friends  and  professed  foes,  he  was  by  the  Lord's  strength  enabled  to 
remain  unshaken  to  the  last ;  for,  though  he  was  nigh  tripped,  yet 
with  the  faithful  man  he  was  seldom  foiled,  never  vanquished.  May 
the  Lord  enable  many  in  this  apostate,  insidious,  and  lukewarm  gene- 
ration, to  emulate  the  martyr,  in  imitation  of  him  who  now  inherits 
the  promise, — "  Be  thou  faithful  unto  the  death,  and  I  will  give  thee 
a  crown  of  life ! — " 

*  The  faithful  and  pious  Mr.  Renwick  was  present  and  was  much  affected  at  the  above 
execution ;  after  which  he  assembled  some  friends,  lifted  their  bodies  in  the  night,  and 
buried  them  in  the  West  Kirk.  They  also  got  their  heads  taken  down  ;  but,  day  approach- 
ing, they  could  not  reach  the  same  place,  but  were  obliged  to  turn  aside  to  Laurieston's 
yards,  in  which  one  Alexander  Tweedie,  then  in  company  with  them  was  gardener,  where 
they  interred  them  in  a  box.  The  gardener,  it  is  said,  planted  a  white  rose  bush  above 
them,  and  a  red  one  a  little  below  them,  which  grew  more  luxuriantly  than  any  in  the 
garden.  This  place  being  uncultivated  for  a  considerable  time,  they  la}'  till  October  7th, 
1728,  when  another  gardener,  trenching  the  ground,  found  them  They  were  lifted,  and 
by  direction  were  laid  on  a  table  in  the  summerhouse  of  the  proprietor;  and  a  fair  linen 
cloth  being  laid  over  them,  all  had  access  to  come  and  see  them.  On  the  19th  they  were 
put  into  a  coffin  covered  with  black,  and  by  some  friends  carried  to  Grayfriars'  church-yard, 
and  interred  near  the  Martyrs'  tomb;  it  being  nearly  forty-five  years  since  their  separa- 
tion from  their  bodies.  They  were  reburied  on  the  same  day,  Wednesday,  and  obout  four 
o'clock  afternoon,  the  same  time  that  at  first  they  went  to  their  resting-place  ;  and  attended, 
says  one  present,  ''  with  the  greatest  multitude  of  people,  old  and  young,  men  and  womer , 
ministers  and  others,  that  ever  I  saw  together ;"  and  there  they  lie,  awaiting  a  glorious  re- 
surrection on  the  morning  of  the  last  day,  when  they  shall  be  raised  up  with  more  honours 
than  at  their  death  they  were  treated  with  reproach  and  ignominy. 


ROBERT   MACWARD. 


539 


ROBERT  MACWARD. 


.Robert  MacWard  was  a  native  of  Glenluce  in  the  south  oi  Gal 
loway.  The  time  of  his  birth,  and  the  condition  of  his  parents,  have 
unfortunately  not  been  recorded  with  any  degree  of  certainty,  lb- 
circumstances,  however,  were  such  as  enabled  him  to  prosecute,  with- 
out interruption,  those  preparatory  studies,  which  his  chosen  profes- 
sion as  a  minister  of  the  everlasting  gospel  required  him  to  pursue. 
Samuel  Rutherford  was  professor  of  theology  at  St.  Andrew's,  when 
Mac  Ward  was  enrolled  there  as  a  student  of  divinity  in  1643;  and 
by  that  eminent  scholar  and  divine  he  was  greatly  beloved.  Ik-  ac- 
companied Rutherford  in  the  capacity  of  private  secretary,  when  the 
latter  proceeded  to  London,  as  one  of  the  Scottish  Commissioners  to 
the  "Westminster  Assembly. 

At  this  period  it  was  no  unusual  thing  fur  talented  young  men,  be- 
fore entering  upon  the  stated  exercise  of  their  holy  vocation,  to  be 
employed  as  regents  in  our  universities.  In  the  year  1650,  Mac  Ward 
was  appointed  regent  or  professor  of  Humanity  in  the  ancient  semi- 
nary of  learning,  of  which  his  distinguished  friend  ami  patron, 
Rutherford,  was  Principal.  This  chair  he  occupied  for  a  short  period  ; 
for,  in  1656  he  succeeded,  the  celebrated  Mr.  xYndrew  Gray  as  minis- 
ter of  the  Outer  High  Church  in  Glasgow.  It  says  much  for  the  piety 
and  talents  of  MacWard  that  he  was,  when  yet  so  young,  considered 
worthy  to  occupy  that  important  charge.  In  this  extensive  sphere  of 
usefulness  he  laboured  with  apostolic  zeal  for  the  Bpace  of  five  years  ; 
and.  by  a  conscientious  discharge  of  his  official  engagements,  gained 
an  imperishable  name  for  pastoral  fidelity.  While  thus  employed, 
he  incurred  the  marked  displeasure  and  hatred  of  the  prelatic  party, 
whose  influence  at  court  was  now  daily  on  the  ascendant.  A  mind 
like  that  of  MacWard,  deeply  imbued  with  Christianity,  arid  Btrong- 
ly  attached  to  Presbyterianism  in  all  its  simplicity,  could  ill  brook  the 


_  loudly  _. 

under  the  sanction  of  the  king,  and  which  threatened,  not  merely  the 
annihilation  of  presbytery,  but  the  extinction  of  the  religion  of  the 
land.  For  a  sermon,  preached  in  the  Tron  Church  of  Glasgow,  Feb- 
ruary 1661,  in  which  he  bore  public  testimony  to  the  'k  glaring  de- 
fections of  the  times,"  he  was  arrested,  carried  to  Edinburgh,  thrown 
into  prison,  and  indicted  by  his  majesty's  advocate  "  for  sedition  and 
treasonable  preaching"  The  historian  Wodrow  has  presen 
speech  delivered  by  MacWard,  when  he  answered  the  citation  ot 


540  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

parliament  on  the  6th  of  the  following  June.  Before  this  tribunal  he 
triumphantly  defended  his  conduct.  But  he  spoke  to  prejudiced 
judges,  who,  it  is  to  be  feared,  regarded  more  the  wish  of  their  sove- 
reign, than  the  unspeakable  satisfaction  and  honour  of  passing  an 
impartial  verdict.  By  those  invested  with  power,  he  ^  was  looked 
upon  as  a  very  dangerous  person.  This  was  quite  sufficient  to  sway 
the  justiciary  "lords,  who  passed  what  they  doubtless  thought  a  lenient 
sentence  ;  decreeing,  that  he  should  leave  the  kingdom  within  half  a 
year;  be  permitted  to  sojourn  one  month  in  Glasgow,  and  be  entitled 
to  the  following  year's  stipend.  Getting  his  matters  settled  as  best 
he  could,  MacWard  and  his  family  embarked  for  Holland,  and  ar- 
rived at  Rotterdam,  where  he  met  with  a  hearty  reception.  In  his 
correspondence,  much  of  which  has  happily  been  preserved,  Mac- 
Ward  speaks  in  warm  and  grateful  strains  of  the  sympathy  and 
attention  shown  him  abroad.  To  lady  Kenmure,  relict  of  John 
Viscount  Kenmure,  with  whom  he  seems  to  have  kept  frequent  in- 
tercourse by  letter,  he  says,  "  If  your  ladyship  be  desirous  to  have 
any  account  concerning  my  condition,  know  that  I  have  met  with 
much  undeserved  kindness.  I  am  ashamed  to  call  my  lot  a  suffering- 
lot,  for  He  hath  rather  hid  me  from  the  storm  than  exposed  me  to 
trouble.  I  have  occasion  now  and  then  to  preach  at  Rotterdam, 
where  we  have  one  old  Scots  minister  who  is  dissatisfied  with  the 
times."* 

The  minister  here  alluded  to  is  Mr.  Alexander  Petrie,  the  ecclesi- 
astical historian,  who  had  been  translated  by  the  General  Assembly 
in  161:3,  from  the  parish  of  Rhynd,  to  be  the  first  pastor  of  the  Scot- 
tish Church  in  Rotterdam.  Besides  having  the  use  of  Mr.  Petrie's 
pulpit,  Mac  Ward's  time  was  occupied  in  collecting  and  arranging  the 
papers  of  his  honoured  preceptor  Rutherford, — the  first  edition  of 
whose  "  Religious  Letters  "  was  printed  abroad  under  Mac  Ward's 
editorship.  After  this  our  Worthy  took  up  his  abode  at  Utrecht. 
At  that  seat  of  learning,  resorted  to  by  students  from  distant  king- 
doms, more  especially  from  Scotlaucl,  he  made  himself  most  useful  to 
his  young  countrymen.  With  several  of  the  professors,  particularly 
Voetius  and  Nethenus,  eminent  theologians,  he  was  on  an  intimate 
footing.  In  the  English  church  of  Utrecht  he  frequently  preached  ; 
and  its  sessional  records  pleasingly  show  the  consistent  spirit  of  this 
Covenanter,  in  his  noncompliance  with  some  ecclesiastical  forms, 
which  he  conceived  Scripture  did  not  enjoin,  and  which  Presbytery, 
in  its  purest  days,  did  not  tolerate.  MacWard,  ever  anxious  to  do 
good,  complied  with  a  request  of  the  session  to  preach  every  Wednes- 
day morning.  This  practice  he  continued  till  some  of  the  elders 
complained  that  he  did  not,  like  Mr.  Best  the  regular  pastor,  intro- 
duce the  Lord's  prayer  in  public  worship,  as  also  the  liturgical  forms 
translated  into  English,  peculiar  to  the  Dutch  reformed  church.  The 
session,  then  composed  of  natives  of  England,  Scotland,  and  Holland, 
were  divided  in  opinion  on  the  subject,  and  often  had  they  "  a  large 
and  earnest  discourse  about  the  use  of  the  liturgy."  in  1667,  by 
plurality  of  voices,  the  elders,  their  pastor  being  absent,  had  "con- 
cluded and  resolved,  that  henceforth  no  minister  shall  be  admitted 
*  Wodrow  MSS.  Adv.  Lib.  Edinb.  Vol.  lviii.  No.  53. 


ROBERT    MACWARD. 


to  preach  in  this  congregation,  that  reraseth  to  Bay  the  Lord's  pra: 
and  to  use  the  forms  of  liturgy  in  the  administration  of  baptism,  the 
Lord's  supper,  confirmation  of  elders  and  deacons,  and  solemnization 
of  marriage,  according  to  the  orders  of  the  church."  All  this  was 
clearly  levelled  at  MacWard.  As  his  name  does  not  appear  in  the 
records  of  the  Consistory,  it  is  presumed  that  the  captions  elders  i 
ried  their  point,  and  that  the  English  congregation  in  Utrechl  was 
no  longer  edified  by  the  searching  disconrees  of  this  worthy  man. 

In  the  year  1668,  he  brought  under  the  notice  of  Nethenus,  pro- 
fessor of  theology  at  Utrecht,  the  MS.  of  Rutherford   against    the 
Arminians.     Nethenus  undertook  to  superintend  theprinting,  and,  in 
the  preface,  he  handsomely  acknowledges  his  obligations  to   M- 
MacWard  and  Livingstone,  for  the  valuable  assistance  which  they 
afforded   him  in  his  capacity  of  editor  of  this  masterly  refutation, 
which,  it  may  be  observed,  for  circulation  among  the  learned.   • 
written  in  the  Latin  language.    MacWard  was  in  London   in   16 
but  he  returned  to  Holland  without  visiting  Scotland.     In  1669,  be 
came  to  Scotland,  and  was  united  in  marriage  to  the  widow  of  pro- 
vost Graham  of  Glasgow.     On  the  demise  of  his  friend  Mr.  John 
Livingstone  in  1672,  he  once  more  visited  his  native  country  ;  and  he 
finally  left  it  for  Holland  in  1671,  followed  a  short  while  afterwards 
by  his  wife,  and  her  son.     MacWard,  on  settling  at  Rotterdam,  en- 
joyed the  society  of  a  greater  number  of  banished  Scottish  mini-: 
than  was  to  be  found  at  any  other  town  in  Holland.     This  may  be 
accounted  for  from  the  circumstance  of  there  being  a  vast  concourse 
of  presbyterians  who  had  resorted  thither,  with  the  view  of  engaging 
in  commercial  pursuits,  then  most  lucrative,  which  enabled  them  to 
enjoy  the  high  satisfaction  of  relieving  those  of  their   countrymen 
who  had  left  home  for  conscience'  sake.     Into  the  midst  of  this  in- 
teresting society  MacWard  was  now  introduced  ;  and  daily  conver 
with  kindred  spirits  was  refreshing  to  him  in  the  extreme.     In  the 
year  1676,  he  was  admitted  one  of  the  ministers  of  the  Scottish  Church 
in  Rotterdam,  as  colleague  to  Mr.  John  Hogg.     The  particulars  re- 
specting this  appointment  we  have  already  recorded  in  the  Life  .4' 
John  Brown.    That  he  should  have  been  named  to  supply  the  newly 
created  place  of  second  minister,  when   men  of  such  talent  w 
numerous  in  Rotterdam,  speaks  volumes  in  his  praise  ;  and  the  selec- 
tion was  most  honourable  to  the  Scottish  Consistory. 

MacWard  effected  many  important  improvements.    At  his  sug 
tion,  a  sessional  meeting  was  held  every  Monday  morning  for  reli 
gious  purposes,  and  prayer  for  the  success  of  the  gospel  at  home  and 
abroad.     With  him,  also,  originated  the  proposal  to  levy  a  small  gra- 
tuity for  the  poor  of  the  congregation,  from  every  Scottish    vessel 
arriving  at  Rotterdam.     He  successfully  arranged  matter-,  and  got 
the  owners  and  masters  of  ships  readily  to  enter  into  his  benevolent 
views.     For  this  acceptable  offering,  which  has  been  uninterruptedly 
and  cheerfully  continued  to  the  present  day,  free  church  accommoda 
tion  is  granted  to  captains,  mates,  and  Bailors,  who  have  distinct  pewa. 
The  services  of  MacWard  were  highly  valued  by  the  whole  con- 
gregation, and  by  those  trading  to  the  port.     He  was  indeed,  no 
ordinary  man.     His  pious  and  becoming  deportment,  his  anxiety  to 


542  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

promote  personal  and  family  religion,  endeared  him  to  his  flock  ;  and 
from  ship  to  ship,  as  well  as  from  house  to  house,  he  statedly  went, 
speaking  of  the  things  that  pertained  to  the  everlasting  peace  of  his 
hearers.  As  might  be  expected,  his  addresses  from  the  pulpit,  ener- 
getic and  truly  affectionate,  could  not  be  heard  with  cold  indifference, 
by  a  people  for  whose  welfare  he  showed  such  concern.  From  the 
particulars  given  in  the  life  of  Col.  "Wallace  and  in  that  of  Mr. 
Brown,  our  readers  have  already  seen  how  Mac  Ward  was  compelled 
to  leave  his  people,  through  the  influence  of  the  English  government, 
and  also  how  honourably  the  Dutch  authorities  acted  in  this  matter, 
even  whilst  they  mildly  enjoined  our  countrymen  to  withdraw  from 
Holland  for  a  season.  The  Scottish  church  in  Rotterdam  had  the 
greatest  cause  to  lament  this  constrained  decision  of  the  States,  as 
they  were  thus  to  lose  the  justly  appreciated  services  of  three  excel- 
lent men.  The  mournful  intelligence  was  communicated  at  a  meet- 
ing of  the  Consistory,  held  on  the  1st  of  February,  1677,  as  thus  ap- 
pears from  the  records  : — "  It  was  there  signified  to  them  by  Mr. 
Robert  Mac  Ward,  minister,  that  there  was  come  an  order  from  the 
States-General,  that  he,  Mr.  John  Brown,  and  Mr.  Wallace,  behoved 
to  remove  from  this  place,  and  out  of  the  Seven  Provinces  belonging 
to  the  said  States,  with  all  possible  diligence ;  which  ordinance  so 
resolved,  was  imposed  upon  them,  doubtless  from  the  court  of  Eng- 
land. At  which  the  session  being  very  much  grieved,  thereby  to  be 
deprived  of  their  faithful,  painful,  and  pious  preacher,  and  of  such 
another  also,  who  every  Lord's  day  was  an  helper  in  the  work  of  the 
Lord,  and  likewise  of  the  most  painful  and  useful  elder  they  had 
amongst  them  ;  which  sad  and  dreadful  stroake  they  could  not  look 
upon,  but  as  a  signal  and  eminent  token  of  the  Lord's  high  displea- 
sure against  this  congregation,  for  the  manifold  sins  and  grievous 
provocations  thereof ;  but  especially  for  their  unfruitfuluess  and  bar- 
renness under  the  many  waterings  and  powerful  means  of  grace  not 
only  of  them,  but  of  many  other  faithful,  able,  and  painful  ministers 
of  the  gospel,  formerly  removed  by  death,  whose  labours  in  the  gos- 
pel had  been  very  successful  elsewhere  ;  so  that  by  the  very  heavy 
stroake,  added  to  all  the  former,  they  could  not  but  foresee,  in  all 
probability,  that  the  Lord  hereby  intended  to  forsake  this  place,  and 
to  extinguish  utterly  the  light  of  the  gospel  therein  ;  which,  taking 
to  their  consideration,  they  judged  it  their  duty  to  be  deeply  humbled 
before  the  Lord,  in  deprecating  the  fierceness  of  his  wrath,  and  ear- 
nestly to  plead  with  him  for  mercy  and  pardon,  and  not  utterly  leave 
and  forsake  some  small  remnant  in  this  place,  and  to  continue  with 
the  congregation,  the  other  faithful  and  painful  minister,  till  the 
Lord  in  his  mercy  and  good  providence  should  reduce  and  bring 
back  these  others,  now  unjustly  banished  from  them.  The  which 
Mr.  Mac  Ward,  they  do  still  own  and  avouch  to  be  their  minister, 
<ind  the  said  Mr.  Wallace  their  elder,  notwithstanding  of  any  Act  or 
Ordinance  now  past  out  against  them,  as  aforesaid,  procured  by  the 
means  of  wicked  and  malicious  instruments  and  enemies  to  the  "truth 
and  power  of  godliness  in  the  court  of  England,  so  as  they  are  bound 
before  God,  and  hold  as  a  duty  incumbent  upon  them,  to  receive  and 
embrace  them  with  all  cordial  affection,  and  brotherly  affection  in 


ROBERT    MACWARD.  543 

the  work  of  the  Lord,  whensoever  he,  in  his  providence,  -hall  I  . 
pleased  to  take  off  this  restraint,  and  bring  them  hack  to  this 
again."    Mr.  MacWard  promised  to  use  his   best  efforta  that  the 
Scottish  congregation  should  continue  to  enjoy  its  full  complement  of 
ministers,  and  that  his  place  should  he  filled  as  speedily  as  possible, 
with  an  ahle  and  a  zealous  labourer  in  the  vineyard.     At  this  1 
ing,  the  last  at  which  he  presided,  MacWard  had  the 
congratulating  the  Session  on  the  establishment — principall; 
by  his  own  exertions — of  an  English  school  under  theii 
of  formally   introducing  the  newly   elected   teacher.      T! 
exists  to  the  present  day,  under  the  immediate  patron;;., 
tish  Consistory,  who  have  had  many  gratifying  proofs  of  its  utility  ; 
and  it  has  afforded  gratuitous   instruction  to  several   who  ha' 
markably  prospered  in  life,  and  have  attributed  their  Buccess,  under 
a  gracious  Providence,  to  the  benefits  which   they  derived   from  an 
attendance  at  this  little  seminary.     Before  leaving  MacWard 
took  of  the  Lord's  Supper  with  his  people,  and  addressed  them  on 
this  unusually  solemn  occasion.     On  the  morning  of  Sabbath,  Feb- 
ruary 25th,  1677,  he  preached  a  farewell  discourse,  "being  to  remove 
the  27th  instant,  as  he  did,  to  the  great  grief  of  all  truly  godly  in 
the  place."     The  letters  written  by  MacWard,  at  Utrecht,  in   refe- 
rence to  the  supply  of  the  vacancy  at  Rotterdam,  breathe  an  e 
lent  spirit,  and  evince  an  uncommon  degree  of  real  piety.     Th< 
sion  had  empowered  him  to  fix  upon  any  minister  Sel  to  the 

Church  of  Scotland,  whom  he  might  regard  qualified  to  succeed  him  ; 
and  agreed,  besides,  to  abide  by  his  decision.     Mr.  John  Car 
(lather  of  Principal  Carstares),  and  Mr.  James  Kfckton,  the  1 
siastical  historian,  were  pressingly  invited  in  succession;  but  they 
having   declined,  Mr.  Eobert  Fleming,  who  had   been  minister  of 
Cambuslang,  accepted  the  letter  of  nomination.     Mr.  MacWard  in- 
stantly made  the  Session  acquainted  with  the  happy  resnll   1 
application.     Mr.  Fleming,  a  person  of  tried  worth,  and   of 
Christian  experience,  was  admitted  as  the  colleague  of  Mr. 
Hogg,  on  the  30th  December,  1G77.     The  Scottish  church  in  R 
dam  flourished  under  Fleming  and  his  son ;  and,  in  passing,  we  may 
be  allowed  to  observe,  that  as  the  oldest  branch  of  the  Church  oi 
Scotland,  on  the  Continent  of  Europe,  it  still  flourishes,  both  in  | 
of  numbers  and  respectability. 

MacWard  returned  to  Rotterdam  in  1G78.     Colonel  A\  a 
in  his  arms ;  and  he  was  likewise  called  upon  to  witness  the  di 
ure  "  to  a  better  country,"  of  many  of  his  expatriated  brethren. 
Yet  he  bore  these  trials  with  the  composure  and  resignation  ot  a 
Christian.     He  repined  not  at  the  doings  of  his  heavenly  t 
patiently  awaited  the  solemn  hour  when  he  too  should  be  ushered 
into  their  blissful  society.   Nor  did  Providence  design  that  he  should 
tarry  long   behind  them.     In  his  last  illness,  he   requested  to  be 
carried  oSt,  that  he  might  sec  a  comet  which  then  appear 
beholding  this  "sign  in  the   heavens,"  which  in  those  days  was 
generally  regarded  as  a  sure  presage  of  the  "distress  of  nal 
MacWard.  it  is  said,  blessed  the  Lord,  that  he  was  about 
eyes,  and  was  not  to  witness  what  was  threatening  to  befall  his  natn  1 


544  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

country.  It  has  been  well  remarked,  that  few  were  then  aware,  that 
the  revolutions  of  a  comet  are  as  regular  as  those  of  the  moon,  though 
its  orbit  may  be  so  large  as  to  admit  of  its  appearance  only  once  in 
hundreds  of  years. 

Mac  Ward  died  at  Eotterdam  in  the  month  of  December,  1681. 
A  half-length  original  portrait  of  him  (from  which  the  print  in  our 
work  is  accurately  taken),  has  been  preserved  in  the  session-house  of 
the  Scottish  Church  in  Eotterdam.  His  eyes  were_  hazel  coloured  ; 
his  complexion  was  ruddy ;  and  Iris  long  auburn  hair  fell  in  natural 
ringlets  on  his  shoulder.  MacWard  left  a  widow,  who  resided  alter- 
nately at  Utrecht  and  Eotterdam.  lie  had  a  son,  of  whose  subse- 
quent history,  however,  we  are  unable  to  furnish  any  notice.  Among 
the  Wodrow  MSS.  in  the  Advocates'  Library,  Edinburgh,  no  fewer 
than  seventy  original  letters  addressed  by  MacWard  to  various  emi- 
nent persons  have  been  preserved.  Into  these  precious  documents 
we  have  occasionally  dipped;  and,  whilst  we  have  been  much  grati- 
fied by  the  perusal,  we  have  regretted  that  some  of  the  epistles, 
breathing  such  a  heavenly  spirit,  should  not,  long  ere  now,  have  been 
brought  before  the  Christian  public.  Several  of  Mac  Ward's  works 
were  given  to  the  world  during  his  lifetime,  and  some  were  printed 
long  after  his  decease.  Condensation  is  no  distinguishing  feature  in 
his  style.  With  a  heart  full  of  his  subject,  and  earnestly  desirous  to 
impress  every  reader  with  the  vast  importance  of  salvation,  he  seems 
fearful  lest,  in  his  direct  appeals  to  the  conscience,  he  may  have 
omitted  any  consideration  which  might  happily  induce  even  a  soli- 
tary individual  immediately  to  choose  God  as  his  portion.  This  is 
one  of  the  causes,  we  apprehend,  which  gives  to  the  writings  of 
MacWard,  and  many  of  our  old  divines,  much  of  that  verbosity, 
which  the  present  generation  so  loudly  deprecates.  But  whilst  we 
declaim  against  a  vitiated  taste,  and  with  some  reason  denounce  the 
unnecessary  subdivisions,  and  involved  sentences  of  a  former  age. 
there  is,  it  is  to  be  feared,  ground  for  suspecting  that  we  run  into  an 
opposite  extreme.  The  searching  simplicity  of  gospel  statement  is 
too  frequently  sacrificed  at  the  shrine  of  taste.  Those  touching  re- 
monstrances with  the  sinner  ;  that  apt  scriptural  quotation  and  allu- 
sion, which  carried  conviction  to  the  understanding,  and  powerfully 
affected  the  heart,  are  not  now  so  often  met  with  ;  and  it  may  be,  are 
sometimes  purposely  kept  back  in  order  to  secure  the  short-lived  ap- 
probation of  the  world.  MacWard  sought  not  the  applause  of  men. 
Like  every  conscientious  minister,  he  hesitated  not  to  publish,  whether 
from  the  pulpit  or  the  press,  the  whole  counsel  of  God.  He  knew 
that  this  might  bring  upon  him  the  sneer  of  the  profane,  but  derision 
and  persecution  he  was  willing  to  endure,  and  did  endure  without  a 
murmur  in  the  cause  of  his  Divine  Master. 

When  Koelman  was  engaged  rendering  into  the  language  of 
Holland  the  works  of  John  Brown,  Hugh  Binning,  and  other  Scottish 
authors,  MacWard  usually  furnished  him  with  a  preliminary  essay, 
or  a  biographical  notice.  Mac  Ward's  "  Alarm  to  Preachers  in  Times 
of  Defection,"  a  small  work  which  was  never  published  in  English, 
but  was  translated  into  Dutch  by  his  friend  Koelman,  was  an  awaken- 
ing address.   His  "  Poor  Man's  Cup  of  Cold  Water,  ministered  to  the 


CAITAIN    JOHN    PATON.  5  ,- 

Saints  and  Sufferers  for  Christ  in  Scotland,1'  was  received  with 
avidity,  and  was  esteemed  as  a  timely  and  consoling  draught  by  the 
Presbyterians  «  who  were  amidst  the  Bcorching  flames  of  the  fiery 
Jf^1-  Jo  these  may  be  added,  "Banders  Disbanded,"  and  the 
k  lrue  Nonconformist,"  an  acute  controversial  work,  written  in  reph 
to  bishop  burnet.  He  has  been,  by  some,  erroneously  represented 
as  the  author  of  "  Naphtali ;"  which  was  written  by  Mr  James 
Stirling,  minister  of  Paisley,  assisted  by  Sir  James  Stewai  I 
trees. 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  PATON. 


John  Paton  was  born  at  Meadowhead  in  the  parish  of  Fenwick  and 
shire  of  Ayr.  He  practised  the  art  of  husbandry  till  near  the  Btate 
of  manhood.  Accounts  differ  as  to  the  way  and  manner  in  which  he- 
at first  entered  upon  his  military  career.  Some  say  he  enlisted  as  a 
volunteer  and  went  abroad  to  Germany,  where  for  some  heroic 
achievement  at  the  taking  of  a  certain  city,  he  was  advanced  pro 
bably  by  Gustavus  Adolphus  king  of  Sweden — to  a  captain's  post, 
and  that  when  he  returned  home,  his  appearance  had  undergone 
such  a  change,  that  his  parents  scarcely  knew  him.  <  >ther  accounts 
bear  that  he  was  with  the  Scots  army  or  militia,  who  went  to  Eng- 
land in  January  lG-io— i,  and  was  at  the  battle  of  Marston  Moor,  at 
which  place  it  is  said,  that  in  consequence  of  swallowing  some  bad 
drink,  an  asthmatical  disorder  was  contracted,  which  continued  ever 
after  ;  but  whether  this  is  the  case  or  not,  it  is  certain  that  he  must 
have  returned  very  soon  to  Scotland  ;  for  we  arc  told  that,  in  L645, 
when  the  several  ministers  in  the  western  shires  were  called  out  to 
take  the  lead  of  their  own  parish  militia,  to  oppose  Montrose's  insur 
rection,  he  was  called  out  by  Mr.  William  Guthrie,  and  appointed  a 
captain;  on  which  occasion  he  behaved  with  much  gallantry. 
Among  the  Covenanters,  particularly  upon  their  defeat  at  Kilsyth, 
an  event  took  place,  of  which  we  may  give  the  following  account. 

Montrose,  having  on  the  2d  of  July  obtained  a  victory  over  the 
Covenanters,  crossed  the  Forth,  and,  upon  the  14th,  encamping  at 
Kilsyth,  near  Stirling,  encountered  the  Covenanters'  army  on  the  fol- 
lowing day,  which,  was  there  under  the  command  of  lieutenant-genera 
Baillie.  At  the  first  onset,  some  of  Montrose's  Bighlanders,  going 
too  far  up  the  hill,  were  surrounded  by  the  Covenanters  and  nearly 
35 


g^p  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

defeated  ;  but  Lord  Airly,  then  an  old  man,  being  sent  from  Mon- 
trose with  fresh  supplies,  the  Covenanters  were  obliged  to  give  way, 
and  were  by  the  enemy  driven  back  into  a  standing  marsh  or  bog, 
where  they  could  neither  fight  nor  flee.  In  this  exigency,  one  of  the 
captain's  acquaintance,  when  sinking,  cried  out  to  him  for  God's  sake 
to  help ;  but  when  he  turned  round  he  was  nowhere  to  be  seen ;  for  he 
had  sunk  in  the  marsh,  where  he  could  never  be  found  afterwards. 
Upon  this  disaster,  the  swiftest  of  the  Covenanters'  horse  got  to 
Stirling  ;  but  the  foot  were  mostly  killed  on  the  spot,  and  in  the  pur- 
suit which,  according  to  some  historians,  continued  for  the  space  of 
fourteen  miles,  the  greater  part  of  the  Covenanters'  army  was  either- 
drowned  or  cut  off. 

In  this  extremity,  the  captain,  as  soon  as  he  could  get  free  of  the 
bog,  with  sword  'in  hand  made  the  best  of  his  way  through  the 
enemy,  till  he  had  got  safe  to  the  two  colonels,  Hacket  and  Strachan, 
who  all  three  rode  off  together ;  but  they  had  not  gone  far  till  they  were 
encountered  by  about  fifteen  of  the  enemy,  all  of  whom  they  killed 
except  two  who  escaped.  When  they  had  gone  a  little  farther,  they 
were  again  attacked  by  about  thirteen  more,  and  of  these  they  killed 
ten,  so'that  only  three  of  them  could  make  their  escape.  But,  upon 
the  approach  of  eleven  Highlanders  more,  one  of  the  colonels  said  in 
a  familiar  dialect,  "  Johnie,  if  thou  dost  not  somewhat  now,  we  are 
all  dead  men."  To  whom  the  captain  answered,  "  Fear  not ;  for  we 
will  do  what  we  can  before  we  either  yield  or  flee  before  them." 
They  killed  nine  of  them,  and  put  the  rest  to  flight. 

About  this  time  the  Lord  began  to  look  upon  the  affliction  of  his 
people.  For  Montrose  having  defeated,  the  Covenanters  five  or  six 
different  times,  the  Committee  of  Estates  began  to  bethink  them- 
selves, and  for  that  end  saw  cause  to  recall  general  Leslie,  with  4000 
foot  and  1000  dragoons,  from  England.  To  oppose  him,  Montrose 
marched  southward,  but  was  shamefully  routed  by  Leslie  at  Philip- 
haugh,  upon  the  13th  of  September.  Many  of  his  forces  were  killed 
and  taken  prisoners,  and  he  himself  escaped  with  much  difficulty  ;* 
after  which  Mr.  William  Guthrie  and  captain  Paton  returned  to 
Fen  wick. 

Thus  matters  continued  till  the  year  1616,  when  there  arose  two 
factions  in  Scotland,  headed  by  the  duke  of  Hamilton  and  the 
marquis  of  Argyle.  The  one  party  aimed  at  bringing  down  the  king 
to  Scotland,  which  was  opposed  by  the  other.  They,  however,  con- 
tinued to  levy  troops,  in  consequence  of  which  the  duke  marched  to 
England  with  a  powerful  army.  In  the  mean  time,  major-general 
Middleton  came  upon  a  handful  of  the  Covenanters  who  had  assembled 
to  celebrate  the  Lord's  Supper  at  Mauchline,  when,  notwithstanding 
a  solemn  promise  to  the  contrary,  he  made  an  attack  upon  the  wor- 

*  Although  Montrose  got  off  at  this  time,  yet  when  he  made  another  insurrection  in  1650 . 
he  was  fought  and  routed  by  a  few  troops  under  the  command  of  the  foretnentioned  colonels, 
Strachan.  Hacket,  and  Kerr,  and  himself  taken  afterwards  in  the  laird  of  Assen's  Bounds 
and  brought  to  Edinburgh,  where  he  was  by  the  parliament  condemned  to  be  hanged,  Ma}' 
31,  on  a  gallows  thirty  feet  high,  within  the  space  of  three  hours;  his  head  to  be  cut  off, 
and  placed  on  the  tolbooth,  and  his  legs  and  arms  to  be  hung  up  in  other  public  towns  in 
the  kingdom  ;  which  was  executed  accordingly.  See  the  History  of  the  Civil  Wars,  p.  30. 
Montrose's  Memoirs,  p.  517,  &c. 


CAPTAIN    JOHN    PATON  kjm 

04:4 

shippers  on  the  Monday  following.     Although  Paton's  men  acted 

only  on  the  defensive,  it  is  said  that  the  captain  slew  ei  ■  f  the 

enemy  with  his  own  hand. 

But  the  duke  and  his  army  being  defeated,  and  Argyle  afterwards 
beheaded,  the  English  following  up  the  victory,  Cromwell  entered 
Scotland  with  his  men,  in  consequence  of  which  the  engagers  < 
not  only  made  to  yield,  but  were  quite  dispersed.  After  thi-  wme 
ot  the  stragglers  came  west  for  the  purpose  of  plunder,  and.  taking 
up  their  residence  for  some  time,  in  the  moors  of  Loudon,  Eaglesham 
and  Fenwick,  the  captain  was  again  made  to  bestir  himself. "~  Taking 
a  party  of  Fenwick  men,  he  went  in  pursuit,  and  found  Borne  of 
them  at  a  house  in  that  parish  called  Lochgoin,  where  he  so  affright- 
ed them,  though  no  blood  was  shed,  that  giving  their  promise  never 
to  molest  or  or  trouble  that  house,  or  any  other  place  in  the  bounds 
again,  under  pain  of  death,  they  went  "off  without  further  molesta- 
tion. 

Charles  I.  being  beheaded,  January  30,  1649,  and  Charles  II. 
called  home  from  Breda,  1650,  upon  notice  of  an  invasion  from  the 
English,  the  Scotch  Parliament  appointed  a  levy  of  10,000  foot  and 
3000  horse,  to  be  instantly  raised  for  the  defence  of  the  king  and 
kingdom,  with  whom  it  was  necessary  that  the  captain  should  again 
take  the  field ;  for  his  military  skill  had  now  rendered  him  univer- 
sally popular. 

Cromwell  having  entered  Scotland  in  July,  1650,  had  several  skir- 
mishes with  the  Scotch  army,  till  the  latter  were,  upon  the  3d  of  Sep- 
tember, totally  routed  at  Dunbar.  After  this  the  Act  of  classes  be- 
ing repealed,  both  church  and  state  began  to  act  in  different  capaci- 
ties, and  to  look  as  suspiciously  on  one  another  as  on  the  common 
enemy.  There  were  in  the  army,  on  the  protestors'  side,  colonels 
Kerr,  Hacket,  and  Strachan,  and  of  inferior  officers,  major  Stuart, 
captain  Arnot,  brother  to  the  laird  of  Lochridge,  captain  Paton,  and 
others.  The  contest  came  to  such  a  crisis,  that  the  colonels  Kerr  and 
Strachan  threw  up  their  commission  and  came  to  the  west  with  some 
other  officers  ;  many  of  whom  were  esteemed  the  most  religious  and 
best  affected  in  the  army.  They  proceeded  to  give  battle  to  the  Eng- 
lish at  Hamilton,  but  were  defeated. 

The  Scotch  army,  being  no  longer  able  to  hold  out  against  the 
English,  shifted  about,  and  went  to  England  ;  when  about  the  end  of 
August,  1651,  Worcester  surrendered  to  them.     The  English  army, 
however,  followed  hard  and  totally  routed  them  upon  the  3d  of  Sep- 
tember, which  forced  the  king  to  retreat  from  the  kingdom.     After 
this  the  captain  returning  home,  took  the  farm  of  Meadow-head,  where 
he  was  born,  and  married  one  Janet  Lindsay,  who  did  not  long  sur- 
vive the  union.     And  here  the  excellences  of  his  Christian  life  in  a 
private  station  were  as  distinguished  as   those  which   he   exhibited 
while  a  soldier  in  the  camp;  for,  sitting  under  the  ministry  of  t 
faithful  man,  Mr.  William  Guthrie,  he  became  a  member  of  his  e 
sion—  a  station  which  he  held  till  that  bright  and  shining  light  was 
extinguished  by  Charles  II.,  who  was  now  on  the  throne  ;  wreathing 
the  yoke  of  supremacy  and  tyranny  about  the  neck  of  both   chui 
and  state,  till  matters  came  to  such  a  pass  that  in  the  year  L660,  apon 


54S 


SCOTS    WORTHIES. 


some  insolence  committed  in  the  south  and  west  by  Sir  James  Tur- 
ner a  number  of  people  rose  under  the  command  of  Barscob,  and 
other  gentlemen  from  Galloway,  in  self-defence.  Several  parties 
from  the  shire  of  Ayr  joined  them,  commanded  by  colonel  James 
Wallace  from  Achans  ;  captain  Arnot  with  a  party  from  Mauchline  ; 
Lockhart  of  Wicketshaw,  with  a  party  from  Carluke  ;  major  Ler- 
mount,  with  a  party  from  above  Galston ;  JSTeilson  of  Corsack,  with  a 
party  from  Galloway ;  and  captain  Paton,  who  now  took  the  field 
again,  with  a  party  of  horse  from  Loudon,  Fenwick,  and  other  places. 
Being  assembled"  they  went  eastward,  renewing  the  covenants  at 
Lanark  ;  from  thence  they  went  to  Bathgate,  then  to  Collington,  and 
so  on  till  they  came  to  Bullion,  near  Pentland  hills,  where,  upon 
that  fatal  day,  November  2Sth,  they  were  attacked  by  general  Dalziel 
and  the  king's  forces.  At  their  first  onset,  captain  Arnot  aud  a  party 
of  horse  fought  a  party  of  Dalziel's  men  with  good  success ;  and  after 
him  another  party  made  the  general's  men  fly ;  but,  upon  their  last 
encounter,  about  sunset,  Dalziel,  who  had  suffered  so  many  repulses, 
advanced  the  whole  left  wing  of  his  army  upon  colonel  "Wallace's 
right,  where,  having  scarcely  three  weak  horses  to  receive  them, 
they  were  obliged  to  give  way.  Here  captain  Paton,  who  was  all 
along  with  captain  Arnot  in  the  first  encounter,  behaved  with  great 
courage  and  gallantry.  Dalziel,  knowing  him  in  the  former  wars, 
advanced  upon  him  himself,  thinking  to  take  him  prisoner.  Upon 
his  approach,  each  presented  his  pistol,  when,  upon  their  first  dis- 
charge, captain  Paton  perceiving  the  ball  glance  down  upon  Dalziel's 
boots,  and  knowing  what  was  the  cause,  put  his  hand  into  his  pocket 
for  a  small  piece  of  silver  he  had  there  for  the  purpose,  and  put  it 
into  his  other  pistol.  But  Dalziel,  having  his  eye  on  him  in  the 
mean  time  retreated  behind  his  own  man,  who  by  that  means  was 
slain.  The  colonel's  men  being  flanked  in  on  all  hands  by  Dalziel's 
men,  were  broken  and  overpowered  in  all  their  ranks ;  so  that  the 
captain  and  other  two  horsemen  from  Fenwick  were  surrounded,  five 
men  deep,  by  the  general,  through  whom  he  and  the  two  men  at  his 
back  had  to  make  their  way,  when  there  was  almost  no  other  on  the 
field  of  battle,  having  in  this  encounter  stood  nearly  an  hour. 

So  soon  as  Dalziel  perceived  him  go  off,  he  commanded  three  of 
his  men  to  follow  hard  after  him,  giving  them  marks  whereby  they 
should  know  him.  They  no  sooner  came  up  with  the  captain,  before 
whom  was  a  great  slough  out  of  which  three  Galloway  men  had  just 
drawn  their  horses.  They  cried  aloud  "  what  would  they  do  now  ?" 
Paton  answered,  "what  was  the  fray?"  He  saw  only  three  men 
coming  upon  them ;  and  then  causing  his  horse  to  jump  the  ditch, 
he  faced  about,  and  with  his  drawn  sword  in  his  hand,  stood  still,  till 
the  first  coming  up,  endeavoured  to  make  his  horse  jump  over  also. 
LTpon  which,  he  with  his  sword*  clave  his  head  in  two,  and  his  horse 

*  This  sword  is  now  in  the  possession  of  the  "  Howies  of  Lochgoin,"  besides  several 
other  reliques,  used  by  our  Covenanting  forefathers  in  defence  of  the  Presbyterian  religion, 
when,  like  David  of  old,  they  were  compelled  to  put  on  shield  and  buckler.  In  possession 
of  the  same  family  is  a  flag  that  was  carried  by  the  Fenwick  Covenanters  at  the  battle  of 
Drumclog,  and  a  drum  which  did  duty  on  that  ever  memorable  battle-field.  The  sword 
was  then  counted  to  have  twenty-eight  gaps  in  its  edge,  which  made  it  be  afterwards  ob- 
served, that  there  were  just  as  many  years  of  the  persecution  as  there  were  steps  or  broken 
pieces  in  its  edge. 


CAPTAIN    JOHN    PATON. 


549 


being  marred,  fell  into  the  boo-,  with  the  other  two  men  and  horse. 
He  told  them  to  take  his  compliments  to  their  master,  and  tell  him 
he  was  not  coming  this  night;  and  so  came  oil',  and  got  Bafe  home  at 
last. 

_  After  this,  the  Covenanters  were  reduced  to  many  hardships,  par- 
ticularly such  as  had  been  any  way  accessary  to  the  rising  at  Pent 
land,  so  that  they  were  obliged  to  resort  to  the  mountain  fasti 
and  other  desolate  and  solitary  places.  The  winter  following,  Paton 
and  about  twenty  others  had  a  very  remarkable  deliverance  from  the 
enemy. — Being  assembled  at  Lochgoin,  upon  a  certain  eight,  for  fel- 
lowship and  godly  conversation,  they  were  miraculously  anticipated 
or  prevented  by  a  repeated  dream  of  the  enemy's  approach,  by  the 
old  man  of  the  house,  who  had  gone  to  bed  for  some  rest  on  account 
of  his  infirmity,  and  that  just  within  as  much  time  as  enabled  them 
to  make  their  escape,  the  enemy  being  not  a  mile  from  the  house. 
After  they  got  off  the  old  man  rose  up  quickly,  and  met  them  with 
an  apology  for  the  circumstance  the  house  was  then  in,  (it  being  but 
a  little  after  daybreak,)  and  nothing  at  that  time  was  discovered. 
•  About  this  time,  Paton  sometimes  remained  at  home,  and  Bome- 
times  in  such  remote  places  as  could  best  conceal  him  from  the 
search  of  his  persecutors,  lie  married  a  second  wife,  one  Janet 
Millar  from  Eaglesham  (whose  father  fell  at  Bothwell-bridge,)  by 
whom  he  had  six  children,  who  continued  still  to  possess  the  farms 
of  Meadowhead  and  Artnock  in  tack,  until  the  day  of  his  death. 

He  was  also  one  who  frequented  the  pure  preached  gospel  wher- 
ever he  could  obtain  it,  and  was  a  great  encourager  of  the  practice  of 
carrying  arms  for  the  defence  thereof,  which  he  took  to  be  a  proper 
mean  in  part  to  restrain  the  enemy  from  violence.  But  thin--  -row- 
ing still  worse  and  worse,  new  troops  of  horse  and  companies  of  fool 
being  poured  in  upon  the  western  shires,  on  purpose  to  suppress  and 
search  out  these  field-meetings,  which  occasioned  their  rising  again 
in  1679';  while,  by  these  unparalleled  severities,  they  were,  with 
those  of  whom  the  apostle  speaks,  "destitute,  afflicted,  and  tor- 
mented, of  whom  the  world  was  not  worthy;  and  they  wandered  in 
deserts,  and  in  mountains,  and  in  dens  and  caves  of  the  earth."  Eeb. 
xi.,  37,  38. 

The  suffering  remnant,  under  the  command  of  Mr.  Robert  Hamil- 
ton, having  got  the  victory  overClaverhouse  on  the  1st  of  June.  L676, 
at  Drumlog  in  Evandale,  in  which  skirmish  there  were  about  thirty- 
six  or  forty  of  that  bloody  crew  killed,  went  on  the  next  day  tor 
Glasgow  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy  :  but  returning  back  without  suc- 
cess, on  the  3d  of  June  they  formed  themselves  into  a  camp,  and  held 
a  council  of  war.  On  the  4th  they  met  upon  Kyperidge  :  and  i  nthe 
5th 
bride 

came  to  them  with  a  body  ~ 
and  many  others  joined  them,  so  that  they  were  greatly  mere. 

They  had  hitherto  been  of  one  heart  and  one  mind :  but  a  certain 
party   of  horse  from  Carrick  came  to  them,  with  whom   wer<     m. 
Welch,  and  some  other  ministers  who  favoured  the  indulgence  :  after 


a  council  of  war.  On  the  4th  they  met  upon  Kyperidge  :  and  i  nthe 
5th  they  went  to  commissary  Fleming's  park,  in  the  parish  oi  Kil- 
bride;  by  which  time  Paton,  who  all  this  time  had  Dot  been  idle, 
came  to  them  with  a  body  of  horsemen  from  Fenwick   and  Cialstoi)  ; 


550 


SCOTS    WORTHIES. 


which  they  never  succeeded,  but  were  finally  defeated  at  Bothwell- 
bridge,  upon  the  22d  of  June  following. 

The  protesting  party  were  not  for  joining  with  those  of  the  Eras- 
tiau  side,  till  they  should  declare  themselves  for  God  and  his  cause, 
against  every  defection  whatever ;  but  Welch  and  his  party  found 
out  a  way  to  get  rid  of  such  officers  as  they  feared  most  opposition 
from ;  for  orders  were  given  to  Eathillet,  Haugh-head,  Carmichael, 
and  Smith,  to  go  to  Glasgow  to  meet  with  Messrs.  King  and  Paton, 
which  they  obeyed.  When  at  Glasgow,  King  and  Paton  led  them 
out  of  town,  as  they  supposed  for  the  purpose  of  preaching  ;  but,  upon 
being  asked  where  they  were  going,  they  replied  that,  according  to 
prders  which  King  and  Paton  had  privately  received,  they  were  to 
go  and  disperse  a  meeting  of  the  enemy  at  Campsie.  Upon  going 
thither,  they  found  they  were  disappointed,  it  being  only  a  stratagem 
to  get  free  of  King  and  the  rest  of  the  faithful  officers. 

These  trusty  officers  were  Mr.  Hamilton,  General  Hackston  of 
Eathillet,  Plall  of  Haugh-head,  Captain  Paton  in  Meadow-head, 
John  Balfour  of  Kinloch,  Mr.  Walter  Smith,  William  Carmichael, 
William  Cleland,  James  Henderson,  and  Robert  Fleming.  Their 
ministers  were  Messrs.  Donald  Cargill,  Thomas  Douglas,  John  Kid, 
aud  John  King ;  for  Mr.  Richard  Cameron  was  then  in  Holland. 
Henry  Hall  of  Haugh-head,  John  Paton  in  Meaclow-head,  William 
Carmichael,  and  Andrew  Turnbull,  were  ruling  elders  of  the  Church 
of  Scotland. 

Thus  the  protesting  party  continued  to  struggle  with  the  Erastian, 
until  that  fatal  day,  June  22,  when  they  were  broken  and  made  to 
flee  before  the  enemy.  The  captain  at  this  time  was  made  a  major  : 
and  some  accounts  bear,  that  the  day  preceding  he  was  made  a  colo- 
nel. Mr.  Wilson  when  writing  upon  that  affair,  says,  that  he  sup- 
poses John  Paton,  Robert  Fleming,  James  Henderson,  and  William 
Cleland,  were  chosen  to  be  colonels  of  regiments  ;  however,  as  he  did 
not  enjoy  this  place  long,  we  find  him  still  afterwards  continued  in 
the  character  of  captain  John  Paton. 

The  sufferers  were  now  exposed  to  new  hardships,  and  none  more 
than  captain  Paton,  who  was  not  only  declared  rebel  by  order  of  pro- 
clamation, but  also  a  round  s*nm  was  offered  for  his  head,  which 
made  him  be  more  hotly  pursued.  A  little  after  Bothwell,  the  cap- 
tain had  a  most  remarkable  escape  and  deliverance  from  his  blood- 
thirsty enemies,  of  which  the  following  account  may  be  given. 

The  captain  with  a  few  more  being  one  night  quartered  in  the 
forementioned  house  of  Lochgoin,*  with  James  Howie,  who  was  one 

*  This  house  and  family  was  also  a  harbour  and  succour  to  our  late  sufferers,  both  gentle- 
men, ministers,  and  private  Christians;  for  which,  after  this  and  their  nonconformity  to 
prelacy,  they  were  not  only  harassed,  pillaged,  and  plundered,  to  the  number  of  ten  or 
twelve  times  during  that  period  :  but  also  both  the  said  James  Howie,  the  possessor,  and 
John  Howie,  his  son,  were  by  virtue  of  a  proclamation,  May  5,  1G79,  declared  rebels,  their 
names  inserted  in  the  fugitives'  roll,  and  put  on  the  parish  church  doors,  whereby  they 
were  exposed  to  close  hiding,  in  which  they  escaped  many  imminent  dangers  ;  and  yet 
were  so  happy  as  to  survive  the  Revolution  at  last,  though  they  never  acceded  to  the  re- 
volution church,  &c.  But  the  said  James  Howie,  when  dying,  November  1691,  emitted  a 
latter-will  or  testimony,  wherein  he  not  only  gave  good  and  satisfying  evidence  of  his  own 
well-being  and  saving  interest  in  Jesus  Christ,  but  also  gave  a  most  faithful  testimony  to 
Scotland's  covenanted  work  of  Reformation,  and  that  in  all  the  parts  and  periods  thereof. 


CAPTAIN    JOHN    PATON. 


551 


)   ;i 


of  his  fellow-sufferers,— at  which  time  one  captain  Inglis,  witl  , 
party,  lay  at  the  dean  of  Kilmarnock's,  who  sent  oul  parties  on  all 
hands  to  see  what  they  could  apprehend— and  that  night  a  party 
being  sent  out  in  quest  of  some  of  the  Bufferers,  came  to  Meadow 
head,  and  from  thence  went  to  another  remote  place  in  the  mo 
Fenwick,  called  Croilburn  ;  but  finding  nothing  there,  they  went 
next  to  Lochgoin,  as  apprehending  they  would  nut  miss  their  design 
there;  and  that  they  might  come  upon  this  place  more  securely,  they 
sent  about  five  men  with  one  sergeant  Rae,  by  another  way,  whereby 
the  main  body  could  not  come  so  well  up  undiscovered. 

The  sufferers  had  watched  all  night,  which  was  very  stormy,  by 
turns,  and  about  daybreak,  the  captain,  on  account  of  his  asthmatical 
disorder,_  went  to  the  far-end  of  the  house  for  >^<.\n>  rest.  In  tin- 
meanwhile,  one  George  Woodburn  went  out  to  make  observations, 
from  which  he  was  but  a  little  time  returned,  when  on  a  sudden,  ser- 
geant Eae  came  to  the  inner  door  of  the  house,  and  cried  out,  "  I  togs, 
I  have  found  you  now !"  The  four  men  took  t<>  the  spence, — James 
and  John  Howie  happening  to  be  then  in  the  byre  among  the  cattle. 
The  wife  of  the  house,  one  Isabel  Howie,  seeing  none  hut  the  ser- 
geant, cried  to  them  to  take  the  hills  and  not  he  killed  in  the  house. 
She  took  hold  of  Tiae,  as  he  was  coming  boldly  forward  to  the  door 
of  the  place  in  which  they  were,  and  ran  him  backward  out  of  the 
outer  door  of  the  house,  giving  him  such  a  hasty  turn,  as  made  him 
lie  on  the  ground.  In  the  mean  time,  the  captain  being  alarmed, 
got  up,  put  on  his  shoes,  though  not  very  hastily,  and  they  got  all 
out  before  the  rest  of  the  party  came  up.  The  sergeant  Bred  bis  gun 
at  them,  which  one  John  Kirkland  returned.  The  bullet  passed  so 
near  the  sergeant,  that  it  took  off  the  knot  of  hair  on  the  side  of  his 
head.  The  whole  crew  being  alarmed,  the  captain  and  the  rest  took 
the  way  for  Eaglesham  moors,  and  they  followed.  Two  of  the  men 
ran  with  the  captain,  and  other  two  staid  by  turns,  and  tired  hack  on 
the  enemy,  the  enemy  firing  on  them  likewise;  hut  by  reason  of 
some  wetness  their  guns  had  got  in  coming  through  the  water,  they 
were  not  so  ready  to  fire,  which  helped  the  others  to  escape. 

When  they  had  pursued  him  some  time,  John  Kirkland  turned. 
and  stooping  down  on  his  knee,  aimed  so  well,  that  he  -hot  a  High- 
land sergeant  through  the  thigh,  in  consequence  of  which  the  Bufferera 
gained  ground.  Being  now  come  to  the  moors  of  Eaglesham,  the 
four  men  went  to  the  heights,  in  view  of  the  enemy,  and  then  caused 
the  captain,  who  was  now  old,  to  take  another  way  by  himself.  At 
last  he  got  a  mare  upon  the  field,  which  he  took  the  liberty  of  mount 
ing,  that  he  might  the  more  readily  escape ;  but  before  he  was  aware, 
a  party  of  dragoons  made  their  appearance.  Paton  was  a  most  con- 
spicuous object;  for  he  wanted  his  shoes,  and  was  riding  without  a 
saddle;  however,  he  passed  by  them  very  slowly,  and  got  off  undis- 
covered ;  and  at  length,  giving  the  mare  her  liberty,  he  w.  nt  to  an 
other  of  his  lurking-places.  All  this  happened  on  a  Monday  morn- 
ing; and  on  the  morrow  these  persecutors  returned,  and  plnn 
the  house,  drove  off  the  cattle,  and  left  almost  nothing  remaining* 

*  In  the  time  of  this,  or  another  plunder  shortly  after  this,  some  of  the  soldiers  burnt  the 
Bible  in  the  fire,  in  a  most  audacious  manner. 


552  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

About  this  time,  the  captain  met  with  another  deliverance;  for, 
having  a  child  removed  by  death,  the  incumbent  of  the  parish,  know- 
ing the  time  when  the  corpse  was  to  be  interred,  gave  notice  to  a 
party  of  soldiers  at  Kilmarnock,  to  come  up  and  take  him  at  the 
burial  of  his  child.  But  some  persons  present  at  the  burial  persuaded 
him  to  turn  back,  in  case  the  enemy  should  come  upon  them  at  the 
church-yard  ;  which  accordingly  he  did,  when  he  was  but  a  little 
distant  from  the  church. 

He  was  also  a  great  succourer  of  those  sufferers  himself,  in  so  far 
as  his  circumstances  could  admit, — several  of  his  fellow-companions 
in  the  tribulation  and  patience  of  Jesus  Christ  resorting  at  certain 
times  to  him  ;  such  as  worthy  David  Hackston  of  Ratkillet,  Balfour 
of  Kinloch,  and  Mr.  Donald  Cargill ;  and  it  is  said,  that  Mr.  Cargill 
dispensed  the  sacrament  of  baptism  to  twenty-two  children  in  Paton's 
barn*  at  Meadowhead,  some  time  after  the  engagement  at  Bothwell- 
bridge.f 

Not  long  before  his  death,  about  the  beginning  of  August,  16S4, 
he  came  to  the  house  of  one  Robert  Howie  in  Floack,  in  the  parish 
of  Mearns, — formerly  one  of  his  hiding  places, — where  he  was  by 
five  soldiers  apprehended  before  he  or  any  one  in  the  house  were 
aware.  He  had  no  arms,  yet  the  indwellers  there  offered  him  their 
assistance  if  he  wanted  it.  Indeed,  they  were  in  a  condition  to  have 
rescued  him ;  yea,  he  himself,  once  in  a  day,  could  have  extricated 
himself  from  double  that  number  ;  but  he  said  it  would  bring  them 
to  further  trouble,  and  as  for  himself,  he  was  now  become  weary  of 
his  life,  being  so  hunted  from  place  to  place  ;  and  being  now  well 
stricken  in  years,  his  hidings  became  the  more  irksome.  He  was 
not  afraid  to  die  ;  for  he  knew  well  that  whenever  he  fell  into  their 
hands,  this  would  be  the  case,  and  he  had  now  got  time  to  think  of 
it  for  many  years  ;  for  his  interest  in  Christ,  of  that  he  was  sure. 
They  took  him  to  Kilmarnock,  but  knew  not  who  he  was — taking 
him  for  some  old  minister  or  other ;  till  they  came  to  a  place  on 
the  highway  called  Mooryeat,  where  the  goodman  of  that  place  see- 
ing him  in  these  circumstances,  said,  Alas  !  captain  Paton  are  you 
there?  and  then  to  their  joy  they  knew  who  they  had  got  into  their 
hands.  He  was  carried  to  Kilmarnock,  to  Ayr,  and  then  back  to 
Glasgow,  and  soon  after  to  Edinburgh. 

It  is  reported  as  a  fact,  that  general  Dalziel  met  him  here,  and  took 
him  in  his  arms,  saying,  "  John,  I  am  both  glad  and  sorry  to  see 
you.  If  I  had  met  you  on  the  way  before  you  came  hither,  I  should 
have  set  you  at  liberty  ;  but  now  it  is  too  late.  Be  not  afraid,  I  will 
write  to  his  majesty  for  your  life."  The  captain  replied,  "  You  will 
not  be  heard."  Dalziel  said,  "  Will  I  not  ?  If  he  does  not  grant 
me  the  life  of  one  man,  I  shall  never  draw  a  sword  for  him  again  !" 
And  it  is  said  that,  having  spoken  some  time  together,  a  man  came 
and  said  to  the  captain,  You  are  a  rebel  to  the  king.     To  whom  he 

*  It  may  not  be  unworthy  of  remark  that  the  floor  of  the  barn  in  which  the  ordinance 
was  dispensed  and  part  of  the  walls  are  still  to  be  seen. 

t  This  seems  to  have  been  when  he  made  a  tour  through  Ayrshire  to  Galloway.  A 
little  after  they  were  surprised  by  the  enemy  on  a  fast  day  near  Loudon-hill,  upon  May  5, 
1681. 


CAPTAIN"    JOHN   PATON. 


553 


replied,  '  Friend,  I  have  done  more  for  the  king  thai  perhaps  thou 
hast  done.  Dalziel  said,  *  Yes,  John,  that  is  trae  !"— perhaps  he 
meant  at  Worcester— and  lie  struck  the  man  on  the  head  with  hie 

cane,  till  he  staggered,  saying,  he  would  teach  him  better  manners 
than  to  use  a  prisoner  so.   After  this  and  more  reasoning,  the  captain 

thanked  jinn  for  his  courtesy,  and  they  parted. 

His  trial  was  not  long  delayed.     Mr.  Wodrow  BayB,  that,  on  April 
16,  the  council  ordered  a  reward  of  £20  sterling  to  Cornet   Lewis 
Lauder  for  apprehending  John   Paton,  who  had  been  a  Dotorions 
rebel  these  eighteen  years.     He  was  brought  before  the  Justiciary, 
and  indicted  for  being  with  the  rebels  at  Glasgow,    Bothwell,  <fec. 
The  advocate,  ex  superabundant'',  passed  his  being  at  Pentland  and 
insisted  on  his  being  at  Bothwell.    The  Lords  found  this  libel  rele- 
vant; and  for  probation  they  refer  to  his  own  confession  before  the 
council; — John  Paton,  in  Meadow-head  in   Fenwick,  that  hi 
taken  in  the  parish  of  Mearns,  in  the  house  of  Robert  II- 
Floack,  and  that  he  haunted  ordinarily  in  the  fields  and  moors, 
fesses  that  he  was  moved  by  the  country  people  to  go  out  in  th< 
1666,  and  commanded  a  party  at  Pentland  ;  confesses  that  he  : 
with  the  rebels  at  Glasgow,  about  eight  days  before  the  engagement, 
and  commanded  a  party  at  Bothwell,  &e.     The  assize  had  no  n 
cognize  upon,  but  his  own  confession,  yet  brought  him  in  guilty. 
The  Lords  condemned  him  to  be  hanged  at  the  Grassmarket  of  Edin- 
burgh, on  "Wednesday,  the  23d  of  April.    But,  by  other  accounts, 
he  was  charged  before  the  council  for  being  a  rebel  Bince  tin1  year 
1610;  his  being  an  opposer  of  Montrose  ;  his  being  at  Mauchline- 
moor,  &e. 

He  was  prevailed  on  to  petition  the  council,  upon  which  he  was 
respited  to  the  30th,  and  from  that  to  May  9th,  when  he  suffer 
cording  to  his  sentence.  And  no  doubt  Dalziel  was  as  good  as  his 
word;  for  it  is  said,  that  he  obtained  a  reprieve  for  him  from  the 
king;  but  on  its  coming  to  the  hands  of  bishop  Paterson,  it  was  kept 
up  by  him  till  he  was  executed  ;  which  enraged  the  general  not  ;t 
little.  It  seems  they  had  a  mind  to  spare  him  ;  but  as  he  observed 
in  his  last  speech,  the  prelates  put  an  effectual  -top  to  that.  In  the. 
last  eight  days  of  his  life  he  got  a  room  by  himself,  that  he  might 
more  conveniently  prepare  for  death  ;  which  was  a  favour  at  that 
time  granted  him  above  many  others. 

"What  his  conduct  or  deportment  at  the  place  of  execution  was,  we 
are  now  at  a  loss  to  know;  only  it  is  believed  it  was  becoming  such 
a  valiant  servant  and  soldier  of  Jesus  Christ, — an  evidence  of  which 
we  have  in  his  last  speech  and  dying  testimony. 

Thus  another  gallant  soldier  of  Jesus  Christ  came  to  his  end  ;  the 
actions  of  whose  life,  and  demeanour  at  death,  do  fully  indicate  that 
he  was  of  no  rugged  disposition,  as  has  been  by  some  asserted  or 
these  our  late  sufferers  ;  but  rather  of  a  meek,  judicious,  and  Chris- 
tian conversation,  tempered  witli  true  zeal  and  faithfulness  for  the 
cause  and  interest  of  Zion's  Xing  and  Lord.  He  was  of  a  middle 
stature, — as  accounts  bear — strong  and  robust,  somewhat  fair  of  com- 
plexion, with  large  eyebrows.  But  what  enhanced  him  more 
courage  and  magnanimity  of  mind,  which  accompanied  him  apon 


554 


SCOTS    WORTHIES. 


every  emergent  occasion  ;  and  though  his  extraction  was  but  mean, 
it  might  be  truly  said  of  him, — that  he  lived  a  hero,  and  died  a 
martyr. 


ROBERT  BAILLIE  OF  JERVISWOOD. 


Distinct  altogether  from  the  sufferings  he  endured,  Mr.  Baillie  of 
Jerviswood  is  justly  entitled  to  the  remembrance  of  posterity,  on  ac- 
count of  his  highly  respectable  rank,  and  his  distinguished  talents 
and  virtues.  He  was  born  of  an  ancient  and  honourable  family — a 
family  long  known  as  the  supporters  of  civil  and  religious  liberty ; 
and  of  this  family  he  proved  himself,  for  the  time,  no  unworthy  re- 
presentative. The  testimony  of  some  of  his  most  illustrious  con- 
temporaries proves  him  to  have  been  one  of  the  best  men  and 
greatest  statesmen  of  his  time. 

This,  however,  so  far  from  blunting  the  sword  of  persecution,  or 
defending  him  from  its  stroke,  only  pointed  him  out  as  an  object  the 
more  proper,  because  the  more  prominent,  for  the  malice  and  fury 
of  those  who,  in  the  period  referred  to,  were  waging  war  against 
liberty  and  religion.  That  he  fell  a  sacrifice,  indeed,  to  persecuting 
intolerance,  and  died  a  martyr  to  the  principles  of  Reformation,  to 
his  zeal  against  popery,  and  arbitrary  power,  there  is  not  the  least 
reason  to  doubt. 

In  common  with  many  others  of  his  rank  and  station,  he  had  long 
been  an  object  of  suspicion  to  the  reigning  party.  His  family  had 
frequently  been  harassed  and  disturbed  by  parties  of  soldiers,  de- 
spatched in  pursuit  of  presbyterians.  And  in  short  it  appeared  that 
a  pretext  was  all  that  was  wanting,  to  bring  this  excellent  man  to 
trouble,  and  even  to  death.  Such  a  pretext  was  unfortunately  at 
length  given,  by  his  generous  interference  in  behalf  of  a  distressed 
and  persecuted  relative,  the  Rev.  Mr.  rtirkton. 

Being  in  Edinburgh  in  June,  1676,  and  hearing  that  Mr.  Kirkton 
was  illegally  arrested,  and  without  a  warrant,  by  a  captain  Carstairs, 
one  of  the  most  devoted  instruments  of  the  then  administration,  he 
thought  it  his  duty  to  interpose  for  his  rescue.  For  this  he  was  im- 
mediately called  before  the  council,  and  upon  giving  them  an  account 
of  the  affair  would  have  been  immediately  saved  from  all  farther 


ROBERT    BAILLIE    OF    JERVISWOOD. 

trouble  on  account  of  it,  but  that  the  infamous  Sharp  declared,  that 
it  Carstairs  were  not  supported,  and  Jerviswood  made  an  example  of, 
there  would  be  no  prosecuting  of  the  fanatics.     (  hi  the  nexl  council 

day,  therefore,  Jerviswood  was  fined  £500,  and  kept  four  months  in 
prison  before  he  was  released. 

He  was  not  again  molested  till  August,  1684,  when  he  was  prose- 
cuted for  being  concerned  in  the  Eye-house  Plot.     Ee  had  gone  to 
England,  some  time  after  his  late  prosecution,  and  had  taken  a  part 
in  the  plans  which  were  proposed  by  the  patriots  of  thai  country,  to 
emancipate  Britain  from  the  galling  despotism  under  which  it' lav. 
By  what  means  he  was  discovered  and  apprehended  we  have  not 
ascertained.   Certain  it  is,  however,  that  he  then  appeared  in  a  dying 
condition;  and  had  the  commissioners  spared  him  only  a  few  v. 
longer,  they  would  have  escaped  the  indelible  blot  of  inhumanity 
which  adheres  to  them,  as  having  brought  him  to  a  violent  and  igno- 
minious death.   He  was  carried  to  the  bar  in  his  night-gown,  attended 
by  his  sister,  who  sometimes  gave  him  cordials  ;  and  not  being  able 
to  stand  was  obliged  to  sit.     His  indictment  bore,  in  general,  his 
carrying  on  a  correspondence  to  debar  his  royal  highness,  the  king's 
only  brother,  from  the  right  of  succession.     He  was  ordered  to  pui 
himself  by  oath,  which  he  refused.    The  court  fined  him  in  66000. 
It  might  have  been  thought  that  when  he  was  fined  in  this  large  sum  he 
had  received  his  final  sentence;  but  he  was  still  kept  shut  up  in  prison, 
and  denied  all  attendance  and  assistance.     Bishop  Burnet  tells  us, 
that  the  ministers  of  state  were  most  earnestly  set  on  Baillie's  destruc- 
tion, though  he  was  now  in  so  languishing  a  condition,  that  if  his 
death  would  have  satisfied  the  malice  of  the  court,  it  seemed  to  be 
very  near.     He  further  says,  that  all  the  while  he  was  in  prison,  he 
seemed  so  composed  and  cheerful,  that  his  behaviour  looted  like  the 
reviving  of  the  spirit  of  the  noblest  of  the  old  Greeks  or  Romans,  or 
rather  of  the  primitive  Christians,  and  first  martyrs  in  those  best  days 
of  the  church.   But  the  duke,  who  was  then  commissioner,  was  not  satis- 
fied with  all  this,  so  he  was  brought  before  the  council  on  the  23d  of 
December,  to  be  tried  capaitlly.     Here  it  is  needless  to  enter  into  ;i 
minute  detail  of  the  trial.     Suffice  it  to  say  that  every  means  was  re 
sorted  to,  whether  legal  or  not,  to  ensure  his  conviction,  an  object 
which  it  was  not  difficult  to  accomplish  before  such  judges.     Among 
other  things,  the  deposition  of  Mr.  William  Carstairs — not  the  cap 
tain  Carstairs  formerly  mentioned, — which  was  given  by  him  after  an 
hour's  torture  by  the  thumbkins,*  and  which  he  expressly  provided 

*  The  thumbkins,  or  thumbikens,  as  the  name  imports,  was  an  instrument  applied  to  the 
thumbs  in  such  a  way  as  to  enable  the  executioner  to  squeeze  them  violently  :  mi.!  this 
was  often  clone  with  so  much  force,  as  to  bruise  the  thumb  bones,  and  swell  the  arm  up  to 
the  shoulders.  The  thumbikens  used  in  torturing  Principal  Car-tans  waa  an  iron  instru- 
ment fastened  to  the  table  with  a  screw,  the  upper  part  of  the  instrument  being  Mju.rzed 
down  upon  the  thumbs  by  means  of  another  screw,  which  the  executioner  turned  at  the 
command  of  his  employers. 

"  It  has  been  very  generally  asserted,"  says  Dr.  Jamieson,  "  that  part  of  the  ennjo  of 
the  invincible  Armada  was  a  large  assortment  of  thumbikens,  which  it  was  meant  should 
be  employed  as  powerful  arguments  for  convincing  the  heretics.  Lord  Fountainnall,  in 
his  chronological  notes,  1684,  says,  "that  Spence,  Argyle's  servant,  wasagain  tortured  with 
the  thumbikens,  a  new  invention,  and  discovered  by  generals  Dalziel  and  D  «  ho 

saw  them  used  in  Muscovy."     Burnet,  in  his  account  of  the  torturing  ol  Spence,  says,     he 


556 


SCOTS    WORTHIES. 


should  not  be  employed  in  proof,  was  nevertheless  pled  against  him. 
When  Mackenzie,  the  king's  advocate,  had  done  with  his  charge, 
Baillie  made  a  most  impressive  answer.  Among  other  things  he 
said,  "  There  is  one  thing  which  vexes  me  most  extremely,  and 
wherein  I  am  injured  to  the  utmost  degree,  and  that  is,  for  a  plot  to 
cut  off  the  king  and  his  royal  highness,  and  that  I  sat  up  all  nights 
to  form  a  declaration  to  palliate  or  justify  such  a  villany.  i  am  in 
probability  to  appear  in  some  hours  before  the  tribunal  of  the  great 
Judge  ;  and  in  presence  of  your  lordships,  and  all  here,  I  solemnly 
declare,  that  I  was  never  prompted  or  privy  to  any  such  thing,  and 
that  I  abhor  and  detest  all  thoughts  and  principles  for  touching  the 
life  of  his  sacred  majesty,  or  his  royal  brother."  Then  looking 
directly  to  Mackenzie,  he  said,  "  My  lord,  I  think  it  very  strange 
von  charge  me  with  such  aboininable  things  ;  you  may  remember 
when  you  came  to  me  in  prison,  you  told  me  such  things  were  laid 
to  my  charge,  but  you  did  not  believe  them.  How  then,  my  lord, 
came  you  to  lay  such  a  stain  upon  me  with  so  much  violence  ?  Are 
you  now  convinced  in  your  own  conscience,  that  I  am  more  guilty 
than  before? — you  may  remember  what  passed  betwixt  us  in  the 
prison."  The  whole  audience  fixed  their  eyes  upon  the  advocate, 
who  was  in  no  small  confusion,  and  said,  "  Jerviswood,  I  own  what 
you  say ;  my  thoughts  then  were  as  a  private  man,  but  what  I  say 
here,  is  by  the  special  direction  of  the  privy  council  ;"  and  pointing 
to  Mr.  "William  Paterson  the  clerk,  added,  "  He  knows  my  orders." 
Jerviswood  replied,  "  "Well,  if  your  lordship  has  one  conscience  for 
yourself,  and  another  for  the  council,  I  pray  God  forgive  you ;  I  do." 
Then  turning  to  the  justice-general  he  said,  "  My  lord,  I  trouble 
your  lordship  no  further." 

Next  morning,  the  24th  of  December,  the  Jury  brought  him  in 
guilty  ;  and  the  lords  condemned  him  to  be  hanged  at  the  market- 
cioss  of  Edinburgh,  between  two  and  four  o'clock  that  afternoon,  his 
head  to  be  cut  off  and  fixed  on  the  Netherbow  port,  and  his  body  to 
be  quartered ;  one  of  the  quarters  to  be  put  on  the  tolbooth  of  Jed- 
bnrgh,  another  on  that  of  Lanark,  a  third  on  that  of  Ayr,  and  a  fourth 
on  that  of  Glasgow.     "When  the  sentence  was  passed,  he  said,  "  My 

was  struck  in  the  boots  and  continued  firm.  Then  a  new  species  of  torture  was  invented  ; 
he  was  kept  from  sleep  eight  or  nine  nights.  They  grew  weary  of  managing  this,  so  a 
third  species  was  invented;  little  screws  of  steel  were  made  use  of,  that  screwed  the 
thumbs  with  so  exquisite  a  torment  that  he  sunk  under  it."  The  novelty  of  the  instrument, 
in  Scotland  at  least,  is  put  beyond  a  doubt  by  an  act  of  the  privy  council  this  year,  16S4, 
quoted  by  Wodrow: — "Whereas  there  is  now  a  new  invention  and  engine  called  the 
thumbikens,  which  will  be  very  effectual,  &c,  &c,  his  majesty's  council  do  therefore 
ordain,  &c,  &c. ,"  and  we  see  no  reason  to  question  the  accuracy  of  lord  Fountainhall's 
account  both  of  the  country  whence,  and  the  persons  by  whom,  this  •'  exquisite"  and 
'  effectual"  engine  was  imported. 

There  is  an  anecdote  told  of  King  William  and  Principal  Carstairs  in  the  fifth  vol.  of  the 
Statistical  Account  of  Scotland  : — •'  I  have  heard,  Principal,  that  you  were  tortured  with 
something  they  call  thumbikens  ;  pray,  what  sort  of  an  instrument  is  it  ?"  "  I  will  show 
it  you, '  replied  the  Principal,  "  the  next  time  we  meet."  On  the  fulfilment  of  his  pro- 
mise. "  I  must  try  them,"  said  the  king,  and  placing  his  thumbs  in  proper  places,  ordered 
the  Principal  to  turn  the  screws : — "  O  not  so  gently  !— another,— another,— Stop,  stop ! 
No  more  !  Another  turn,  I  am  afraid,  would  make  me  confess  anything."  Neville  Payne, 
accused  of  a  Jacobite  plot,  was,  however,  in  the  year  1690,  by  this  same  king's  warrant, 
put  to  the  torture  of  the  thumbikens  ;  but  without  making  any  disclosures.  This  is  the 
last  instance  of  its  being  used  in  Scotland. 


ROBERT    BAILLIE    OF  JERVISWOOD.  557 

lords,  the  time  is  short,  the  sentence  is  sharp,  hut  T  thank  n, 
who  hath  made  me  as  fit  to  die  as  you  are  to  live.*  He  wai 
Sent  back  to  his  apartment  in  the  prison,  and,  leaning  on  the  bed  he 
fell  into  a  rapture  at  the  assured  prospect  of  a  blessed  eternity  Being 
asked  after  a  short  silence  how  lie  did,  be  answered,  "  NTever  better 
and,  in  a  few  hours,  I  shall  he  well  beyond  all  conception.  They 
are  going  to  send  me  in  pieces  and  quarters ;  they  may  hack  tod 
hew  my  body  as  they  please,  hut  I  know  assuredly  nothing  Bhall  be 


tian.  At  his  execution  he  was  in  the  greatest  serenity  of  son]  possi 
hie,  for  a  person  on  this  side  of  heaven,  though  extremely  low  in  body. 
He  was  not  able  to  go  up  the  ladder  without  Bupport ;— when  on  it 
he  began  to  say,  "My  faint  zeal  for  the  protestant  religion  has 
brought  me  to  this  :"— but  the  drums  interrupted  him.  He  had  pre- 
pared a  speech  to  be  delivered  at  the  scaffold,  but  was  hindered  ; 
however,  he  left  copies  of  it  with  his  friends  ;  and  we  insert  some 
hints  from  it.  "As  for  my  principles  with  relation  to  government," 
said  he,  "  they  are  such  as  I  ought  not  to  be  ashamed  of,  b 
sonant  to  the  word  of  God,  and  Confession  of  Faith  of  the  Reformed 
churches.  I  die  a  member  of  the  Church  of  Scotland,  as  it  was  con- 
stituted in  its  best  and  purest  times.  I  bless  God  this  day  I  know  in 
whom  I  have  believed,  and  to  whom  I  have  committed  my  soul  as  a 
faithful  keeper.  I  know  I  am  going  to  my  God,  and  my  chief  joy. 
My  soul  blesseth  God,  and  rejoiceth  in  him,  that  death  cannot  sepa- 
rate between  me  and  my  God.  I  leave  my  wife  and  children  upon 
the  compassionate  and  merciful  heart  of  my  God,  having  many  re- 
iterated assurances  that  God  will  be  my  God,  and  the  portion  of 
mine.  I  bless  and  adore  my  God,  that  death  for  a  long  time  hath 
been  no  terror  to  me,  but  rather  much  desired  ;  and  that  my  bl 
Jesus  hath  taken  the  sting  out  of  it,  and  made  the  grave  a  bed  of 
roses  to  all  that  have  laid  hold  on  him  by  faith  which  worketh  by 
love.  I  have  had  sharp  sufferings  for  a  considerable  time,  and  yet  I 
must  say  to  the  commendation  of  the  grace  of  (rod.  my  suffering 
time  hath  been  my  best  time;  and  when  my  sufferings  have  been 
sharpest,  my  spiritual  joys  and  consolations  have  been  greatest.  Let 
none  be  afraid  of  the  cross  of  Christ ;  his  cross  is  our  greatest  glory  : 
wo  be  to  them  that  are  instrumental  to  banish  Christ  out  of  the  land  I 
And  blessed  are  they  who  are  instrumental  by  a  gospel  comer 
and  continual  wrestling  with  God,  to  keep  Christ  in  the  nation  ;  he 
is  the  glory  of  a  land,  and  if  we  could  but  love  him,  he  would  not 
part  with  us.  Wo  be  to  them  that  would  rather  banish  Christ  out  of 
the  land  than  love  him  !  God  pour  out  his  Spirit  plenteouslj  on  hifl 
poor  remnant,  that  they  may  give  God  no  rest  till  he  make  J< 
lem  the  joy  and  praise  of  the  whole  earth.  I  have  no  more  time  ;  but 
they  who  love  Christ,  I  hope  have  minded  me  in  my  affliction,  and 
do  mind  me  now,  and  will  mind  my  wife  and  children.  I  go  with 
joy  to  Him  who  is  the  joy  and  bridegroom;  to  Him  who  is  the 
Saviour  and  Eedeemer  of  my  soul.     I  go  with  rejoicing  to  the  1 1 


558  SC£TS    WORTHIES. 

of  my  life,  to  my  portion  and  inheritance,  to  the  husband  of  my  soul. 
Come,  Lord  !" 

The  character  of  this  gentleman  was  very  high.  Dr.  Owen,  who 
was  acquainted  with  him,  said  to  a  friend,  "  you  have  truly  men  of 
great  spirits  in  Scotland, — there  is  for  a  gentleman,  Mr.  Baillie  of 
Jerviswood,  a  person  of  the  greatest  abilities  I  ever  met  with."  And, 
said  Bishop  Burnet,  giving  an  account  of  him,  "  thus  a  learned  and 
worthy  gentleman,  after  twenty  months'  hard  usage,  was  brought  to 
such  a  death,  in  a  way  so  full,  in  all  the  steps  of  it,  of  the  spirit  and 
practice  of  the  courts  of  the  inquisition,  that  one  is  tempted  to  think 
that  the  steps  taken  in  it  were  suggested  by  one  well  studied,  if  not 

'actised  in  them. 


JOHN  BROWN  OF  PRIESTHILL/ 


The  farm  of  Priesthill  is  situated  in  the  parish  of  Muirkirk,  and 
district  of  Kyle,  in  Ayrshire  ;  and  about  a  hundred  and  sixty  years 
ago,  was  possessed  by  John  Brown,  commonly  called  the  Christian 
Carrier. 

His  house,  which  stands  to  this  day,  is  on  the  brow  of  a  hill,  be- 
hind which  rises  an  extensive  tract  of  heath,  moss-hags,  and  rocks, 
some  of  which  command  a  view  of  several  counties.  The  house  is  of 
stone  and  lime,  and  is  covered  with  heather.  The  inside  must  have 
been  comfortable  according  to  the  taste  of  the  time  ;  and  John  Brown 
had  it  respectably  furnished  for  a  person  of  his  rank.  But  wealthy 
farmers  and  graziers  of  the  present  day  would  scarcely  call  it  com- 
fortable. It  had  no  grate  ;  the  fire  was  burned  on  the  floor  ;  and  hav- 
ing no  openings  in  the  wall,  the  smoke  rose  tardily  to  the  chimney: 

*  For  a  beautiful  poem  on  the  martyrdom  of  John  Brown,  see  "  The  Lays  of  the  Kirk 
and  Covenant,"  by  Mrs.  Montieth,  published  by  R.  Carter  &  Brothers.  An  eminent 
clergyman  has  said  of  this  book" : — "  It  is  long  since  we  enjoyed  such  a  treat  as  this  little 
volume  has  given  us.  No  nation  on  the  face  of  the  globe  has  a  history  so  full  of  interest 
to  the  Christian  as  that  of  Scotland.  Her  soil  has  been  consecrated  by  conflicts  more 
noble  than  those  immortalized  in  Homer's  song — battles  for  Christ's  crown  and  covenant, 
that  have  shaped  the  destinies  of  man  to  an  extent  that  nothing  but  eternity  can  fully  dis- 
close. Amid  such  scenes,  the  Christian  poet  finds  appropriate  materials  for  song.  And 
we  are  glad  to  find  that  Mrs.  Montieth  has  the  true  spirit  of  the  ballad — wild,  plaintive, 
and  soul-moving.  That  parent  must  be  made  of  stern  stuff,  indeed,  who  can  read  '  The 
Child  of  James  Melville,'  with  undimmed  eyes.  Our  poetess  has  embalmed  such  in- 
stances as  the  Martyrdom  of  Patrick  Hamilton  and  John  Brown,  the  Signing  of  the 
Covenant,  the  Death-bed  of  Rutherford,  and  the  Martyr's  Child,  in  appropriate  verse.  We 
would  say,  to  all  lovers  of  ballads,  get  this  beautifully  printed  and  illustrated  volume." 


JOHN    BROWN    OF     PRI-ESTHILL.  559 

top.     Yet  dark  and  smoky  as  it  was,  many  had  found  it  a  little  sanc- 
tuary •  not  only  for  refuge,  but  for  God's  presence. 

Though  simple  in  their  habits  and  furniture,  the  inhabitants  of 
these  wild  districts  were  well  informed  ;  even  their  children  took  an 
interest  in  everything  that  was  going  on  in  Scotland,  and  read  the 
same  books  as  their  fathers  did. 

John  was  only  a  boy  when  upwards  of  three  hundred'  ministers 
were  deposed,  in  one  day,  by  Charles  the  Second  ;  because  they,  in 
conscience,  could  not,  or  would  not,  submit  that  the  Church  should 
be  lorded  over  by  bishops.  He  often  described  the  distress  that  pre- 
vailed in  the  country  on  that  occasion,  and  the  anguish  and  weeping 
throughout  the  churches,  on  the  sabbath  their  ministers  preached 
their  farewell  sermons.  It  was  heart-rending  to  part  with  such  men, 
so  remarkable  for  grace,  and -eminent  for  gifts  ;  many  of  them  learned, 
and  all  of  them  singularly  dear  to  their  people.  "  None  of  them  were 
scandalous,  insufficient,  or  negligent,  and  the  fruits  of  their  ministry 
were  everywhere  conspicuous.  One  might  have  travelled  many 
miles  without  hearing  an  oath ;  and  could  rarely  lodge  in  a  house 
where  God  was  not  worshipped.  Iniquity,  ashamed,  hid  its  head. 
But  what  a  dreadful  reverse  was  felt  when  prelacy  was  introduced 
by  arbitrary  means !  It  was  like  king  Saul's  change,  a  bad  spirit 
after  a  good." 

The  whirlwind  of  persecution  carried  the  seeds  of  salvation  where 
the  influence  of  the  Reformation  had  not  reached.  The  Scottish  bor- 
der, proverbial  for  freebooters  or  robbers,  felt  the  divine  effects  of 
the  banished  ministers.*  They  were  there  harbored  without  fear  or 
dread  of  laws,  and  kindly  entertained.  The  inhabitants  of  the  heath- 
covered  moors  and  the  distant  isles  of  the  sea  were  made  glad,  and 
blossomed  as  the  rose.  Thus,  the  scattering  of  the  ministers  made 
new  inroads  upon  Satan's  kingdom.  The  gospel  flourished,  though 
driven  from  temples  made  with  hands.  Many  date  their  conversion 
from  the  glad  tidings  they  heard  in  these  wilds,  saying  with  the 
Psalmist,  "  Lo  !  we  heard  of  thee  at  Ephratah,  we  found  thee  in  the 
field  of  the  wood." 

It  was  from  these  banished  ministers  that  John  received  his  supe- 
rior education.  He  was  intended  for  the  Church,  had  not  an  un- 
common difficulty  of  expressing  his  sentiments  to  strangers  prevented 
him  from  prosecuting  his  studies.  But  what  was  strange,  in  prayer 
he  was  gifted  in  an  extraordinary  measure.  In  such  scriptural 
language  did  he  pour  forth  his  soul,  and,  at  the  same  time,  with  such 
variety,  fluency,  and  affection,  that  he  appeared  like  one  superhuman. 
Many  have  a  gift  of  prayer  whose  lives  bespeak  them  far  from  the 
kingdom  of  heaven.  Such  was  not  Priesthill.  His  actions  with 
men  were  just  and  prudent ;  so  much  so,  that  he  was  intrusted, 
when  a  very  young  man,  with  the  produce  of  the  neighbouring  shep- 
herds, to  carry  to  market  and  dispose  of,  and  bring  back  what  they 
required  in  return.  In  this  capacity  he  got  the  name  of  the  Chris- 
tian Carrier^  and  was  often  the  first  that  brought  them  tidings  of  the 
mischief  that  was  framed  by  law  against  the  Presbyterians. 

*  Mr.  Gabriel  Semple,  and  Mr.  John  Welsh,  the  grandson  of  Knox,  planted  churches 
that  flourish  to  this  day. 


560 


SCOTS    WORTHIES. 


He  was  merely  a  youth  at  the  rising  of  Pentland  ;  and,  not  having 
been  either  at  the  battle  of  Drumclog  or  Buthwell,  he  could  evade 
with  ease  the  ensnaring  questions  that  every  traveller  was  required 
to  answer;  by  which  means  he  passed  to  and  fro  unmolested, — 
although  he  did  not  attend  the  curate  of  Muirkirk,  who  was  a  silly, 
easy  creature,  and  did  not  make  so  many  complaints  of  his  parish- 
ioners as  some  did. 

John's  good  education  was  not  lost.  Besides  being  a  source  of 
enjoyment  to  himself,  it  was  a  benefit  to  the  youth  for  miles  around 
him,  who  were  then  much  neglected.  To  counteract  the  bad  exam- 
ple of  the  wicked  who  then  walked  on  every  side,  when  vile  men 
were  high  in  place,  every  Monday  night  he  met  with  these  young 
persons,  and  instructed  them  from  the  Bible  and  the  Confession  of 
Faith.  In  summer  they  assembled  in  a  sheep-bught,  %nd  in  winter 
they  formed  a  circle  around  a  large  fire  of  peat  and  cannel-coal,  that 
blazed  in  the  middle  of  the  spence-floor.  The  effects  of  the  substan- 
tial information  these  rustics  got,  is  felt  to  this  day  in  that  neigh- 
bourhood. Our  "Worthy  was  not  alone  in  this  good  work ;  David 
and  William  Steel  were  helpmates. 

It  was  about  the  year  1680,  that  Priesthill  got  acquainted  with 
Isabel  Weir,  in  the  parish  of  Sorn ;  she  was  a  very  superior  woman, 
though  her  disposition  was  the  very  reverse  of  his  ;  she  was  lively 
and  jocular,  and  could  cheer  up  his  grave  countenance  till  he  was  as 
animated  as  herself.  She  saw  him  often  ;  for  he  had  frequently  busi- 
ness to  transact  with  her  father,  when  he  passed  to  and  from  Ayr. 
They  often  talked  of  Zion's  trouble;  and  what  was  remarkable,  when 
he  sought  her  in  marriage,  he  told  he  felt  a  foreboding  in  his  mind 
that  he  would  one  clay  be  called  to  seal  the  Church's  testimony  with 
his  blood. 

After  this,  the  Indulged  ministers  had  gone  so  far  in  the  course  of 
defection,  that  the  more  conscientious  sufferers  had  none  they  could 
hear,  after  the  death  of  Cameron  and  Cargill.  They  resolved  to  form 
themselves  into  societies,  to  meet  quarterly,  of  members  delegated 
from  their  weekly  praver-meetings.  The  second  of  these  quarterly 
meetings  took  place  at  Priesthill,  February,  1682,  where  they  made 
a  contribution  to  send  a  young  man  to  Holland,  to  be  licensed  as 
preacher  to  them.  The  fruits  of  this  brought  forward  Mr.  Renwick, 
of  glorious  memory. 

About  two  months  after  this,  Priesthill  was  married  by  Mr.  Peden, 
who  happened  to  be  in  Kyle  baptizing  children.  The  marriage  took 
place  in  a  glen  near  the  house.  When  Isabel  and  her  company 
arrived  at  the  spot,  they  were  surprised  at  the  assembly  gathered. 
Mr.  Peden  welcomed  her  and  said  : — "  These  are  to  be  witnesses  of 
your  vows ;  they  are  all  friends,  and  have  come  at  the  risk  of  their 
lives  to  hear  God's  word,  and  to  countenance  his  ordinance  of 
marriage." 

John  had,  by  a  former  wife,  a  little  girl  about  five  years  of  age. 
who,  on  the  morning  after  his  marriage,  lifted  the  latch  of  the  spence- 
door,  and  finding  Isabel  alone,  said,  while  she  covered  her  face  shyly 
with  her  arm,  "  They  say  ye  are  my  mother  !''  "  What  if  I  should 
be  your  mother?"  replied  Isabel.     "Naething,  but  if  I  thought  ye 


JOHN    BROWN   OF    rRIESTHILL. 

were  my  mother,  I  would  like  to  come  in  aside  vou   a   wi 
Jennie,  with  artless  simplicity.     "I  hope  I  will  be'your  mother,  my 
bairn,  and  that  God  will  give  me  grace  to  be  so,  and  that  yon  will 
be  a  comfort  to  me  and  your  father."    And  she  proved  so."    When 
but  a  child  she  was  a  help  and  pleasure  to  them.     She  would  watch 
her  father's  return,  and  as  soon  as  she  saw  his  pack-horse  ■  at  a 
tance,  coming  along  the  bent,  she  would  announce  the  joyful  tidii 
Then  the  gudewife  hasted,  and  made  ready  his  milk  porrid 
them  dished,  covered  with  a  clean  cloth,  and  warm  water  to  wash 
his  weary  feet,  a  blazing  fire,  and  a  clean  hearth  ;  and  she  and  Jai 
would  go  out  and  welcome  him  home,  and  help  him  off  with  hie 
horse's  load. 

The  domestic  peace  and  comfort  of  Priesthill  are  talked  of  even  to 
this  day.     Many  anecdotes  are  told,  and  one   among  the   n    I   I 
illustrates  the  precept  of  hospitality  to  Btrangers  :  for  thereby  Borne 
have  entertained  angels  unawares.    The  second  year  alter  his  mar- 
riage, one  night  in  the  beginning  of  winter,  John   had  gone  I 
neighbour's  house ;  the  family  at  home  were  preparing  the  wool  of 
their  flocks  for  hodden-gray  cloth,  to  sell  at  Lawrie's  lair  in  IJami! 
ton.     The  shepherd  carded  the  black  and  white  wool  together,  for 
the  women  to  spin;  Janet  and  the  herd-boy  were  teasing  fir  the 
carder;  the  gudewife  sat  nursing  her  first-born  son  at  one  side  of  tin 
fire,  when  the  dog,  which  lay  at  full  length  at  the  other,  Btarted  up 
and  ran  to  the  door,  barking  at  the  approach  of  a  stranger.     Isabel 
thought  it  would  be  her  husband  returned,  and  was  about  to  rise  to 
meet  him.     Janet  and  the  herd  were  almost  as  soon  at  the  door  as 
the  dog,  and  calling  to  him,  ""Whisht,  Collie,  whisht,  you  mu'na 
speak  to  the  unco  man."     The  herd  caught  the  dog  in  his  anus,  and 
returned  with  him  into  the  house,  while  Janet  followed,  leading  i 
stranger,  first  looking  to  her  mother  for  encouragement,  and  then  to 
her  guest.     She  led  him  to  her  father's  chair  with  a  courtesy  that 
seemed  to  give  rise  to  strong  emotions  in  his  heart. 

The  stranger  was  young  in  years,  of  a  little  stature,  and  fine  fail- 
countenance  ;  but  he  was  pale  with  fatigue  and  sickness.  His  .-1, 
were  worn  out ;  a  shepherd's  plaid  hung  round  him,  seemingly  for 
disguise;  for  by  his  dress  and  speech  he  seemed  of  a  superior  rank. 
While  the  servants  gazed  on  him,  the  gudewife  did  nut  know 
whether  she  should  welcome  him  as  a  sufferer,  or  consider  him  as  a 
spy  ;  so  she  left  Janet  to  perform  the  kind  offices  which  the  stranger 
required,  while  she  lulled  her  boy  to  sleep,  by  singing  a  ven*  of  an 

old  song. 

While  the  gudewife  sang,  the  strangers  lace  brightened  up,  and 
he  more  cheerfully  accepted  the  child's  endearing  attentions,  who 
placed  him  in  the  warmest  corner,  helped  him  off  with  his  dripping 
plaid,  imitating  all  the  kind  offices  she  had  seen  her  mother  perforu 
to  her  father,  to  the  no  small  amusement  of  the  res!  of  the  family. 
On  the  stranger  it  had  a  different  effect.  He  burst  into  tears,  and 
cried  "May  the  blessing  of  him  that  is  ready  to  perish  res!  opon 
you,  my  dear  bairn!     Surely  God  has  heard  my  cry,  and  provided 

*  Carriers  in  those  days  were  unacquainted  with  the  luxury  of  wheel-carl-,  and  iht-r- 
were  no  turnpikes  on  which  wheels  could  run. 

36 


562 


SCOTS    WORTHIES. 


me  a  place  to  rest  my  head  for  a  night.  O  that  I  had  in  the  wilder- 
ness a  lodging-place  of  wayfaring  men,  that  I  might  leave  my  people 
and  go  from  them  ;  for  they  be  an  assembly  of  treacherous  men." 

Just  as  he  had  finished,  Priesthill  entered.  He  gazed  on  him,  and 
with  great  deference  bade  him  welcome  to  his  house.  "  Do  you 
know  me?"  said  the  stranger.  "I  think  I  do,"  said  John.  "It  was 
in  this  house  that  the  Societies  met  that  contributed  to  send  you  to 
Holland,  and  now  I  fear  they  have  not  received  you — at  least  some 
of  them — as  they  ought."  "  Their  reproach  has  not  broken  my 
heart,"  said  Mr.  Renwick,* — for  it  was  he,  though  he  was  not  named 
before  the  family, — "  but  the  excessive  travelling,  night-wanderings, 
unseasonable  sleep,  frequent  preaching  in  all  weathers,  especially  in 
the  night,  has  so  debilitated  me,  that  I  am  unfit  often  for  my  work." 

Every  one  of  the  family  now  strove  to  do  him  some  kindness.  The 
shepherd  brought  him  clean  hose  and  shoes ;  the  herd  his  new 
night-cap;  the  lasses  left  their  wheels  and  washed  his  feet;  the 
gudewife  prepared  him  a  warm  supper,  while  little  Janet,  worn  out, 
was  fast  asleep  at  his  side. 

In  those  days,  hospitality  was  with  many  in  reality  what  it  ought 
to  be,  purely  exercised  for  God's  glory,  and  without  display  of  gran- 
deur. The  motives  were  like  silver  tried;  it  was  at  the  risk  of  all, 
even  life.  Hence  the  joy  of  such  pure  intercourse  was  sweet  beyond 
description.  As  iron  sharpeneth  iron,  so  doth  the  face  of  man  his 
friend.  Renwick  and  Priesthill  talked  of  the  sufferings-  of  the 
Church,  her  testimony,  her  covenanted  cause,  and  her  ultimate 
triumph.  Yes,  they  had  more  comfort  in  the  faith  that  Christ  would 
one  day  be  Head  over  all  things,  King  of  kings,  and  Lord  of  lords, 
than  the  wicked  have,  when  corn  and  wine  do  most  abound. 

Soon  after  Mr.  Renwick  left  Priesthill,  his  followers  and  he  pub- 
lished their  Apologetic  Declaration.  Mr.  Renwick  was  at  first 
averse  to  the  measure,  but  at  last  agreed. 

The  society  that  met  at  Priesthill  was  soon  broken  up.  John 
Wilson,  and  John  Smith,  of  Lesmahagow,  were  shot  by  colonel 
Buchan  and  the  laird  of  Lee,  in  February,  1685.  John  Brown  of 
Blackwood,  in  the  same"  parish,  was  shot  in  the  beginning  of  March 
following,  by  lieutenant  Murray,  after  the  promise  of  quarter. 

After  this,  Priesthill  could  not  continue  his  business  of  carrier, 
though  he  had  no  hand  in  the  Apologetic  Declaration.  His  opinion 
— and  his  conduct  was  consistent  with  it — was,  that  he  ought  to  live 
as  in  an  enemy's  country,  and  without  sin.  Yet  he  was  often  obliged 
to  betake  to  the  high  lands  of  Kyle  and  of  Lanarkshire,  and  to  bear 
the  chilling  cold  of  March  and  April  winds,  with  the  more  bitter 
blast  of  persecution. 

On  one  of  those  days,  when  driven  from  his  home,  he  fled  for  re- 
fuge to  a  deep  ravine,  or  moss-hag,  that  had  been  formed  by  the  cur- 
rent of  a  water-spout,  carrying,  shrubs,  soil,  moss,  and  all  before  it, 
to  the  dale  land  beneath,  leaving  a  frightful  chasm,  amidst  a  vast 
field  of  heath.  Its  deep  mossy  sides  made  it  inaccessible  to  strangers  , 
only  the  neighbouring  husbandmen  knew  where  the  brackens  hid  the 

*  The  last  who  suffered  death  in  Scotland  for  the  sake  of  truth  and  a  good  conscience, 
lie  was  executed  at  Edinburgh,  Feb.  17th,  1688. 


40,  and  downward,  when  a  sweet  sound  reached  his  ear,  that  seemed 
to  proceed  from  another  part  of  the  moss-hag 

"It  is  the  hallowed  sound  of  praising  God,  and  by  some  fellow- 
sufferers;';  said  John,  as  he  rose  from  his  knees  to  search  them  out  ■ 
and  to  his  no  small  joy  found  out  David  and  "William  Steel    his 
neighbours,  and  Joseph  Wilson,  from  Lesmahagow,  in  the  cleft  of  a 
rock  that  jutted  half-way  into  the  ravine.     David  Steel  bad  a  narrow 
escape  the  day  before  this.     When  just  about  to  begin  the  morning 
worship,  one  cried  out,  "  There  is  the  enemy  coming  |"     Be  ai 
with  the  Bible  under  his  arm,  and,  without  knowing  what  he  was 
about,  went  into  the  byre,  and  laid  himself  down  in  an  empty  cow- 
stall,  putting  the  Bible  on  his  breast.    His  wife,  equally  unconscious 
turned  over  him  a  heap  of  bedding,  just  as  the  soldiers 
place.     They  stabbed  the  straw  where  he  lav,  but  the  Bible  received 
the  point  of  the  sword,  and  they  left  the  house  without  finding  tl 
victim.     William  Steel's  house  was  near  at   hand,  and   \ 
searched.     His  wife  had  locked  him  in  her  clothes-press.    After  they 
searched  every  place  without  success,  and  had  left   the  house,  a 
soldier  returned,  and  said  to  the  gudcwife,  "Mistress,  nexl  time  ; 
hide,  hide  better;  part  of  your  husband's  coat  is  locked  without  your 
press;"    and  with  these  words  he  left  her,  to  join  his   company. 
After  he  was  gone,  to  her  amazement  she  found  it  as  the  Boldier  had 
said. 

William  Steel,  who  escaped  death  from  the  persecutors,  and  lived 
many  years  after  the  Revolution,  said  often,  if  ever  there  Was  a  time 
in  his  life  that  he  would  wish  to  enjoy  over  again,  it  was  that  in 
which  he  suffered  persecution;  especially  that  day  and  night' he  spent 
in  the  moss-hag. 

Among  the  last  of  the  needy  adventurers  of  Charles  II. 's  reign, 
who  could  swim  through  the  blood  of  their  more  conscientious  e 
trymen  to  favour  and  emolument,  was  Graham  of  Claverhouse.    "  lb- 
was  descended  from  the  house  of  Montrose,  and  was  educated  in 
France,  the  best  school  for  dissolute  manners  and  cruelty.    Ele  fought 
against  the  French  in  the  Low  Countries,  under  the  Prince  of  Oral 
but  being  refused  the  command  of  one  of  the  Scottish  regiments  th< 
in  the  Dutch  service,  he  left  it  in  disgust  and  came  over  to  England. 
His  dissolute  manners  and  vivacity  soon  got  him  notii  irt,  and 

the  command  of  a  party  of  Highlanders.  His  first  appearance  on 
the  stage  of  Scotland's  tragedy  was  in  1678,  taking  free  quarters  for 
himself  and  men  in  the  house  of  Gilbert  M'Micben,  in  New  Glen- 
luce;  and  when  they  went  off,  besides  what  they  consumed,  tli.v 
took  with  them  three  horses,  worth  ten  pounds  each.  In  ev< 
ceeding  appearance  he  may  be  marked  as  rising  in  cruelty  and 
exaction. 

Charles  being  now  dead,  James,  duke  of  York,  required  sue 
struments  to  compel  submission  to  his  system  of  cruelty!     Saving 
now  thrown  off  the  mask,  the  suspicion  of  the  Reformers,  that   Pre- 


564 


SCOTS    WORTHIES. 


lacy  was  to  be  handmaid  to  the  introduction  of  Popery  in  Scot 
land  was  verified.  For  that  purpose  he  enlarged  the  commission  of 
Claverhouse,  and  created  him  viscount  of  Dundee. 

"  The  measure  of  fixing  garrisons  of  soldiers  through  the  south  and 
west  counties,  as  if  Scotland  had  been  invaded  by  a  foreign  enemy, 
was  the  beginning  of  many  cold-blooded  murders  in  the  field.  One 
of  these  garrisons  was  fixed  at  Lesmahagow."  Claverhouse  came  un- 
expectedly there,  late  on  the  last  night  of  April,  1685,  and  having 
heard  of  John's  piety  and  non-conformity,  by  six  o'clock  next  mora- 
ine- he  was  at  Priesthill, — a  proof  how  he  thirsted  after  the  blood  of 
such  men. 

As  usual,  John  had  risen  with  the  dawn,  and  had  offered  up  the 
mornine  sacrifice.  After  worship,  the  good  man  went  to  the  hill  to 
prepare" some  peat-ground  ;  the  servants  were  also  out,  but  at  some 
distance,  when  Claverhouse  surrounded  the  helpless  man  with  three 
troops  of  dragoons,  and  brought  him  down  to  his  own  house.  He 
left  his  implements  of  industry  with  great  composure,  and  walked 
down  before  them,  more  resembling  a  leader  than  a  captive. 

Meanwhile  Janet  had  alarmed  her  mother  by  telling  her  that  a 
great  many  horsemen  were  coming  down  the  hill  with  her  father. 
"  The  thing  that  I  feared  is  come  upon  me  ;  O  give  me  grace  for  this 
hour !"  said  her  mother,  hastily  taking  up  her  boy,  and  wrapping 
him  in  her  plaid,  and  taken  Janet  by  the  hand,  she  went  on  to  meet 
her  foes,  praying  in  secret  as  she  went. 

The  leisurely  way  of  examining  persons  by  law,  in  which  there  was 
some  semblance  of  justice,  was  now  departed  from.  Claverhouse 
simply  asked  him  why  he  did  not  attend  the  curate,  and  if  he  would 
pray  for  king  James?  He  said  he  acknowledged  only  Christ  as 
supreme  Head  of  the  Church,  and  could  not  attend  the  curates,  be- 
cause they  were  placed  there  contrary  to  His  law. 

Upon  hearing  this,  Claverhouse  said  : — "  Go  to  your  prayers,  for 
you  shall  immediately  die,"  which  he  did  in  such  a  manner  as  filled 
the  troops  with  amazement.  On  his  family  it  had  a  different  effect. 
His  wife,  who  was  great  with  child,  with  another  in  her  arms,  and 
Janet  at  her  side,  stood  while  he  prayed  "  that  every  covenanted 
blessing  might  be  poured  upon  her  and  her  children,  born  and  un- 
born, as  one  refreshed  by  the  influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  when  he 
comes  down  like  rain  upon  the  mown  grass,  as  showers  upon  the 
earth." 

When  Claverhouse  could  bear  his  prayers  no  longer,  and  had  suc- 
ceeded after  interrupting  him  twice  with  the  most  blasphemous  lan- 
guage, to  raise  him  from  his  knees,  John  said  to  his  wife  : — "  Isabel, 
this  is  the  day  I  told  you  of  before  we  were  married  ;"  and  added, 
with  his  usual  kindness,  "  you  see  me  summoned  to  appear  in  a  few 
minutes  before  the  court  of  heaven,  as  a  witness  in  our  Redeemer's 
cause,  against  the  ruler  of  Scotland.  Are  you  willing  that  I  should 
part  from  you  ?"  "  Heartily  willing,"  said  she,  in  a  voice  that  spoke 
her  regard  for  her  husband,  and  her  submission  to  the  Lord,  even 
when  he  called  her  to  bow  before  His  terrible  things.  "  That  is  all 
I  wait  for ;  O  death,  where  is  thy  sting  ?  O  grave,  where  will  be  thy 
victory  ?"  said  John,  while  he  tenderly  laid  his  arms  around  her, 


JOHN    BROWN    OF    PRIESTIIILL. 


overflowed  his  heart.    At  last  he  uttered  these  words,  "  Blessed  be 
thou,  O  Holy  Spirit,  that  speaketh  more  comfort  to  my  hear!  than 
the  voice  of  my  oppressors  can  Bpeakterror  to  mv  ears!"   Thus,  when 
the  Lord  brought  his  witness  to  be  tried,  he  discovered  such  a 
nanimity,  that,  as  he  fell,  he  conquered  his  persecutors. 

If,  in  the  Christian's  life,  there  is  a  light  that  discovers  the  spots  of 
the  wicked;  so,  in  the  martyr's  heroicgrappling with  death, there  was 
a  heat  that  scorched  past  enduring.     It  was  doubtless  under  thi 
ing  that  Claverhouse  ordered  six  of  his  dragoons  to  shoot  him,  e] 
last  words  were  out  of  his  mouth  ;  but  his  prayers  and    conduct  had 
disarmed   them  from  performing  such  a  Bavage  action.     Th<\ 
motionless.     Fearing  for  their  mutiny,  Claverhouse  snatch. 
from  his  own  belt,  and  shot  him  through  the  head.     *     *      *     An.!, 
while  his  troops  slunk  from  the  awful  scene,  he,  like  a  beast  of  prey 
that  tramples  and  howls  over  a  fallen  victim,  insulted  the  tender-heart- 
ed wife,  while  she  gathered  up  the  shattered  head,  by  taunting  jeers  : 
"What  thinkest thou  of  thy  husband  now,  woman  .'"     "  I  everth 
meikle  good  of  him?"  said  she,  "and  now  more  than  ever.*'     II 
ing,  her  courage,  said,  "It  were  but  justice  to  lay  thee  beside  him." 
She  replied,  "  If  ye  were  permitted,  I  doubt  not  your  cruelty  could  go 
that  length  ;  but  how  will  ye  answer  for  this  morning's  w.  >rk  :" 
a  countenance  that  belied  his  words,  he  answered,  "  To  men  I  can  be 
answerable,  and  as  for  God  I  will  take  him  in  my  own  hands.*'     Thus 
saying,  he  hastily  put  spurs  to  his  horse,  and  left  her  with  the  corpse. 
She  tied  up  his  head  with  her  napkin,  composed  bis  body,  coven  d  il 
with  her  plaid,  and,  when  she    had  nothing   further  to  do  or  contend 
with,  sat  down  on  the  ground,  drew  her  children  to  her,  and  went  over 
her  mangled  husband. 

The  mourners  of  Priesthill  did  not  long  want  friends.  The  rep<  >rt  -  '1' 
the  foul  deed  circulated  rapidly,  creating  dismay  and  abhorrence. 
Who  now  could  think  themselves  safe,  when  John  Brown  was  thus 
treated,  who  was  not  otherwise  obnoxious  to  government  than  in  not 
attending  a  curate  several  miles  distant  ?  The  first  who  arrived  <  -n  tin- 
spot  was  David  Steel's  wife,  one  well  fitted  to  comfort  in  the  most 
trying  dispensation.  She  ran  up  to  the  group,  and  throwing  her  arms 
around  them,  saluted  Isabel  thus,  "  Wow,  woman  !  and  has  your  mas- 
ter been  taken  from  your  head  this  day  ;  and  has  God  taken  you  and 
your  children  under  his  own  care,  saying,  '  I  will  be  a  husband  U>  the 
widow,  and  a  father  to  the  fatherless  V  No  wonder  though  ye  were 
overcome  and  astonished  at  his  doings."  This  salutation  aroused  ami 
strengthened  the  widow.  She  remembered  the  words  of  Mr.  Peden, 
and  she  arose  from  the  ground  to  search  out  the  linen  he  had  warned 
her  to  prepare.  About  this  time  David  Steel,  and  William  Steel  with 
his  wife,  arrived,  and  assisted  Isabel  to  bring  in  and  wrap  up  thepre- 
cious  dust.  All  was  done,  while  the  silence  of  death  reigned  over  the 
household. 

As  was  said  of  the  proto-martyr  Stephen,  devout  men  carried  him 


565  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

to  his  burial.     In  like  manner  was  John  Brown  carried  forth  and  laid 
in  his  grave,  on  the  very  spot  where  he  fell. 

The  poor  widow  of  Priesthill  and  her  children  did  inherit  the  earth 
and  had  a  name  long  after  that  of  her  oppressors  was  not. — About  fifty 
years  ago  a  gentleman,  riding  to  Edinburgh,  fell  into  conversation  with 
a  respectable-looking  countrywoman  on  the  road,  and  learning  that 
she  was  a  grand-daughter  of  John  Brown,  he  on  that  account  made 
her  ride  behind  him  into  the  city.  So  much  was  the  memory  of 
the  Christian  Carrier  respected.  And  what  was  a  proof  of  the 
harmony  of  his  family,  she  could  not  tell  whether  she  was  of  the 
first  or  second  wife's  children.  None  of  them  now  reside  at  Priest- 
hill  ;  but  their  house  stands,  and  the  broad  flat  stone  that  covers  the 
Martyr's  grave,  is  shown,  with  this  inscription : — 

In  death's  cold  bed,  the  dusty  part  here  lies 
Of  one  who  did  the  earth  as  dust  despise : 
Here  in  this  place  from  earth  he  took  departure ; 
Now  he  has  got  the  garland  of  the  martyr. 
Butcher'd  by  Clavers  and  his  bloody  band. 
Raging  most  rav'nously  o'er  all  the  land, 
Only  for  owning  Christ's  supremacy, 
Wickedly  wrong'd  by  encroaching  tyranny. 
Nothing  how  near  so  ever  he  to  good 

Esteem'd,  nor  dear  for  any  truth  his  blood. 


JOHN   NTSBET   OF  HARDHXLL, 


John  Nisbet  was  born  about  the  yeai  1627.  He  was  the  son  of 
James  Nisbet,  and  lineally  descended  from  one  Murdoch  Nisbet  in 
Hardhill,  who,  about  the  year  1500,  joined  those  called  the  Lollards 
of  Kyle.  When  a  persecution  arose  against  them,  he  fled  over  the 
seas,  carrying  with  him  a  copy  of  the  iNew  Testament  in  manuscript. 
Some  time  after,  he  returned  home,  digged  a  vault  below  his  own 
house,  into  which  he  often  retired  ;  there  serving  God,  reading  his 
new  book,  and  instructing  such  as  had  access  to  him. 

When  somewhat  advanced  in  years,  Nisbet,  having  the  advantage 
of  being  tall,  athletic  and  well  formed  in  person,  of  a  bold  and  dar- 
ing spirit,  went  abroad  and  joined  the  army,  which  was  of  great  use 
to  him  afterwards.  Having  spent  some  time  in  foreign  countries,  he 
returned  to  Scotland,  and  swore  the  covenants,  when  King  Charles, 
at  his  coronation,  swore  them  at  Scoone,  in  1650.  After  this,  Nisbet 
leaving  the  army,  came  home  and  married  one  Margaret  Law,  who 


JOHN   NISBET    OF    HARDHILL. 

ill!  i 

proved  an  excellent  wife,  J>y  whom  he  had  several  children ;  three 

of  whom  survived  himself,  viz.,  Hugh,  James,  and  All 

In  the  month  of  December,  1688,  hie  wife  died  on  the  eighth  day 
of  her  sickness,  and  was  buried  in  Stonehouse  churchyard.  This  be- 
hoved to  be  done  In  the  night,  that  it  might  be  concealed;  because 
no  one  would  do  it,  save  such  as  were  under  hidings  during  the 
The  curate  obtaining  knowledge  of  it,  threatened  to  raise  the  body, 
burn  it,  or  cast  it  to  the  dogs  ;  but  some  of  the  persecuted  pari 
him  a  letter,  assuring  him  that  if  he  touched  these  graves,  they  would 
bum  him  and  his  family,  and  all  he  had  ;  so  he  forb 

Kisbet  early  applied  himself  to  the  study  of  the  Holy  Scriptures, 
which,  through  the  grace  of  God,  was  so  effectual,  that  b 
became  well  acquainted  with  the  must  interesting   parts  of  pre 
religion,  but  also  attained  no  small  degree  of  knowledge  in  points  of 
principle,  which  proved  of  unspeakable  advantage  to  him  in  the  after 
part  of  his  life,  in  maintaining  the  testimony  of  that  day. 

He  married  again,  and  entered  upon  the  farm  of  Hardhill,  in  the 
parish  of  Loudon,  in  which  station  he  behaved  with  much  discretion 
and  prudence.  No  sooner  did  prelacy  and  erastianism  appear  on  the 
field,  in  opposition  to  our  ancient  and  laudable  form  of  church- 
government,  at  the  restoration  of  Charles  II.,  than  he  joined  the 
Presbyterians.  Having,  in  1664,  got  a  child  baptized  by  one  of  the 
ejected  ministers — as  they  were  then  called — the  incumbent  or  curate 
of  the  parish  was  so  enraged,  that  he  declared  his  resolution  from  the 
pulpit,  to  excommunicate  Xisbet  next  Lord's  day.  But  behold  the 
Lord's  hand  interposed  here;  for  before  that  day  came  the  curate 
was  in  eternity. 

This  gentleman,  being  always  active  for  religion,  ami  a  great 
encourao-er  of  field-meetings,  was,  with  the  rest  of  Christ's  faithful 
witnesses,  obliged  to  go  without  the  camp  bearing  his  reproach. 
When  that  faithful  remnant  assembled  together,  and  renewed  the 
covenant  at  Lanark,  1666,  his  conscience  summoned  him  cut  to  join 
them  in  that  particular  circumstance:  which  being  known,  and 
threatened  for  such  an  action,  he  resolved  to  follow  th  ecuted 

people,  and  so  kept  with  them  in  arms  till  their  defeat,  upon  the 
28th  of  November,  at  Pentlaud  hills,  at  which  fight  he  behaved  with 
o-reat  courage  and  resolution,  lie  fought  till  lie  was  so  wounded 
that  he  was  "stripped  for  dead  among  the  slain  ;  and  yet  Mir!,  was  the 
providence  of  God  that  he  was  preserved. 

He  had  espoused  Christ's  cause  by  deliberate  choice,  and  was 
indeed  of  an  excellent  spirit  ;  and,  as  Solomon  Bays,  "in 
lent  than  his  neighbour,"— his  natural  temper  was  Likewise  noble  and 
o-enerous.  As  he  was  travelling  through  a  moor,  on  a  Bnowy  day. 
Sne  of  his  old  neighbours,  who  was  Beeking  Bheep,  met  him,  and 
cried  out,  " O  Hardhill,  are  you  yet  alive?  I  was  told  you  were 
going  in  a  pilgrim's  habit,  and  that  your  bairns  were  begging;  ami 
yet  f  see  you  look  as  well  as  ever!"  Then  taking  out  a  nx-dollar,  lie 
offered  it  to  him.  Nisbet  seeing  this,  took  out  a  ducat,  and  offered 
it  to  him,  saving,  "I  will  have  none  of  yours,  but  will  give  you  , 
you  plea  e;  for  you  may  see  that  nothing  is  wanting  to  him  that  fear, 
the  Lord,  audi  would  never  have  thought  that  you-calling  him  by 


5(58  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

his  name — would  have  gone  so  far  with  the  enemies  of  God,  as  to  sell 
your  conscience  to  save  your  gear,  &c.  Take  warning,  II.,  go  home 
and  mourn  for  that,  and  all  your  other  sins,  before  God ;  for,  if  mercy 
do  not  prevent,  you  will  certainly  perish."  The  poor  man  thanked 
him,  put  up  his  money,  and  went  home.  After  this  remarkable 
escape  he  returned  home,  where  probably  he  continued  till  the  year 
J  679.  His  fame  for  courage,  wisdom,  and  resolution,  among  the  suf- 
ferers, when  that  party,  who  were  assembled  near  Loudon-hili  to  hear 
the  gospel,  June  1,  came  in  view  of  an  engagement  with  Claver- 
house,  who  attacked  them  that  day  at  Drumclog,  caused  him  to  be 
sent  for  by  one  "VVoodburn  in  the  Mains  of  Loudon,  to  come  to  their 
assistance.  But  before  they  got  half-way  they  heard  the  platoons  of 
the  engagement,  and  the  action  was  just  terminating  as  they  arrived. 
Upon  their  approach,  Hardhill — for  so  he  was  commonly  called — 
cried  to  them  to  jump  the  ditch,  and  get  over  upon  the  enemy,  sword 
in  hand;  which  they  did  with  so  great  resolution  and  success,  that 
in  a  little  they  obtained  a  complete  victory  over  the  enemy,  in  which 
Hardhill  had  no  small  share,  by  his  vigorous  activity  in  the  latter 
end  of  that  skirmish. 

The  suffering  party,  knowing  now  that  they  were  fully  exposed  to 
the  rage  and  resentment  of  their  bloody  persecuting  foes,  resolved  to 
abide  together ;  and  for  that  purpose  sent  a  party  to  Glasgow  in 
pursuit  of  the  enemy,  among  whom  was  Hardhill.  After  which,  he 
continued  with  them,  and  was  of  no  small  advantage  to  the  honest 
party,  till  that  fatal  day,  June  22d,  that  they  fled  and  fell  before  the 
enemy  at  Bothwell  Bridge.  Here,  says  "VVodrow,  he  was  a  captain, 
if  I  mistake  not.  And,  being  sent  with  his  party,  along  with  those 
who  defended  the  bridge,  he  fought  with  great  gallantry,  and  stood 
as  long  as  any  man  would  stand  by  him,  and  then  made  his  retreat 
just  in  time  to  escape. 

After  Bothwell  he  was  denounced  a  rebel,  and  a  large  reward 
offered  to  such  as  would  apprehend  him.  At  which  time  the  enemy 
seized  all  that  he  had,  stripped  his  wife  and  four  children,  turning 
them  out  of  doors,  whereby  he  was  brought  to  the  condition  of  those 
mentioned  in  Heb.  xi.  38  :  "  They  wandered  about  in  deserts  and  in 
mountains,  and  in  dens  and  caves  of  the  earth."  Thus  he  lived  for 
near  the  space  of  five  years,  suffering  all  manner  of  hardships,  not 
accepting  deliverance,  that  he  might  preserve  to  himself  the  free 
enjoyment  of  the  gospel,  faithfully  preached  in  the  fields.  And, 
being  a  man  of  a  public  spirit,  a  great  observer  of  fellowship  meet- 
ings— alas !  a  duty  too  much  neglected — and  very  staunch  upon 
points  of  testimony,  he  became  very  popular  among  the  more  faithful 
part  of  our  sufferers,  and  was  by  them  often  employed  as  one  of  their 
commissioners  to  their  general  meetings,  which  they  had  established 
some  years  before,  that  they  might  the  better  understand  the  mind  of 
one  another  in  carrying  on  a  testimony  in  that  broken  state. 

One  thing  very  remarkable  was — on  the  Sabbath  night  (being  that 
day  week  before  he  was  taken,)  as  he  and  four  more  were  travelling, 
it  being  very  dark,  no  wind,  but  a  thick  small  rain — behold !  sud- 
denly the  clouds  clave  asunder  towards  east  and  west,  over  their 
heads,  and  a  light  sprang  out  beyond  that  of  the  sun,  which  lasted 


JOHN    NESBIT   Or     HARDHILL. 


about  the  space  of  two  minutes.    They  heard  a  noise,  and  were  much 

amazed,  saying  one  to  another,  What  may  thai   mean  I  but  N 
returned  no  answer,  only  uttering  three  deep  groans.     One  of  them 
asked  him,  what  it  might  mean  !     He  Baia,  ••  We  know  not  well  at 
present,  but  within  a  little  we  shall  kn«»w  better;  yet    we  hfl 
more  sure  word  of  prophecy,  unto  which  we  would  do  well  to  take 
heed  ;"  and  then  he  groaned  again,  saying,  "  As  for  me,  1  am  ready 
to  live  or  to  die  for  him,  as  lie  in  his  providence  shall  call  mi 
and  bear  me  through  in  it;  and  although  I  have  Buffered   much  from 
prelates,  and  false  friends,  these  twenty-one  years,  yet  now,  I  would 
not  for  a  thousand  worlds  I  had  done  otherwise;  and    if  the    Lord 
spare  me,  I  will  be  more  zealous  for  his  precious  truths;  and  if  not  I 
am  ready  to  seal  his  cause  with  my  blood,  for  I  have  longed   for   it 
these  sixteen  years,  and  it  may  be  I  will  ere  long  get   it   to  do. 
"Welcome  be  his  will,  and  if  he  help  me  through   with  it.  I   -hall 
praise  him  to  all  eternity  !"    This  made  them  all  wonder,  he  being  a 
very  reserved  man  ;  for,  although  a  strict  observer  of  the  Sabbath,  a 
great  examiner  of  the  Scripture,  and  a  great  wrestler  in  pray< 
so  little  was  he  accustomed  to  refer  to  his  own  case,  that  few  knew 
how  it  was  with  him,  until  he  came  to  prison. 

All  this  and  more  could  not  escape  the  knowledge  of  the  man: 
as  evident  from  Earlston's  answers  before  the  council,  1683  :  and  we 
find,  that  one  of  the  articles  that  John  Richmond  Buffered  for,  at  the 
cross  of  Glasgow,  March  19,  lGS-i,  was  his  being  In  company  with 
Nisbet.  This  made  the  search  after  him  and  other  sufferers  more 
desperate.  Whereupon,  in  the  month  of  November,  1683,  having 
retired,  amongst  other  of  his  lurking-places,  to  a  certain  house  called 
Midland,  in  the  parish  of  Fenwick,  where  were  assembled  for  prayer 
and  other  religious  exercises,  on  a  Saturday  night,  other  three  of  his 
faithful  brethren,  viz.,  Peter  Gemmel,a  younger  brother  of  the  house 
of  Horsehill,  in  the  same  parish;  George  Woodburn,  a  broth< 
the  Woodburns,  in  the  moors  of  Loudon;  and  one  John  Ferguehill 
from  Tarbolton.  Upon  notice  that  Lieutenant  Nisbet  and  a  party  of 
colonel  Buch an's  dragroons  were  out  in  quest  of  the  wanderers 
they  were  sometimes  called, — they  resolved  on  the  Sabbath  morning 
to  depart.  But  old  John  Fergushill,  not  being  able  to  go  by  reason 
of  some  infirmities,  they  were  obliged  to  turn  back  with  him,  after 
they  had  gone  a  little  way  from  the  house,  and  were  the  same  day 
apprehended,— the  way  and  manner  of  which,  with  his  answers  both 
at  Ayr  and  before  the  council  at  Edinburgh,  as  they  stand  in  an  old 
manuscript  given  in  his  own  hand,  while  he  was  their  prisoner,  LB  as 
follows  : — 

"  First,  when  the  enemy  came  within  sight  of  the  nouse— ' 
no  way  of  escape— John  Fergushill  went  to  the  far  end  of  the  house, 
and  the  other  two  and  I  followed.     And    ere  we  were  well  at  the  tar 
end  of  the  house,  some  of  the  enemy  were  in  the  house.     And  then 
in  a  little  after,  they  came  and  put  in  their  horses  and  went  to  and 
fro  in  the  house  for  more  than  an  hour;  and  we  four  still  at  the  for 
end  of  the  house  ;  and  we  resolved  with  .me  another  to  keep  cl 
they  should  just  come  on  us;  and  if  it  had  pleased  the  U>rd  to 
hid  us  there,  we  resolved  not  to  have  owned  them  ;  hut  :t  the)  found 


570 


SCOTS    WORTHIES. 


us  out,  we  thought  to  fight,  saying  to  each  other,  it  was  death  at 
length.  They  got  all  out  of  the  house,  and  had  their  horses  drawn 
forth  ;  but  in"  a  little  they  came  back,*  tittlingone  to  another ;  and  at 
last  cried  for  a  candle  to  search  the  house  with  ;  and  came  within  a 
yard  of  us,  with  a  light  in  their  hand.  According  to  our  former 
resolution,  we  resisted  them,  having  only  three  shots,  and  one  of 
them  misgiving,  and  they  fired  about  twenty-four  at  us ;  and  when 
we  -had  nothing  else,  we  clubbed  our  guns,  till  two  of  them  were 
quite  broke,  and  then  went  in  grips  with  some  of  them ;  and  when 
thev  saw  they  could  not  prevail,  they  all  cried,  to  go  out  and  set  fire 
to  the  house.  Upon  which  we  went  out  after  them,  and  I  received 
six  wounds  in  the  going  out.  After  which,  they  getting  notice  what 
I  was,  some  of  them  cried  out  to  spare  my  life,  for  the  council  had 
offered  3000  merks  for  me.  So  they  brought  me  towards  the  end  of 
the  yard,  and  tied  my  hands  behind  my  back,  having  shot  the  other 
three  to  death.  He  that  commanded  them  scofiingly  asked  me, 
"What  I  thought  of  myself  now  ?  I  smiled,  and  said,  I  had  full 
contentment  with  my  lot ;  but  thought  that  I  was  at  a  loss,  that  I 
was  in  time,  and  my  brethren  in  eternity.  At  which  he  swore,  he 
had  reserved  my  life  for  a  further  judgment  to  me.  When  we  were 
going  towards  Kilmarnock,  the  lieutenant,— who  was  a  cousin  of  my 
own, — called  for  me  ;  and  he  and  I  went  before  the  rest,  and  dis- 
coursed soberly  about  several  things.  I  was  free  in  telling  him  what 
I  held  to  be  sin,  and  what  I  held  to  be  duty ;  and  when  we  came  to  Kil- 
marnock tolbooth,  he  caused  slack  my  hands  a  little,  and  inquired  if 
I  desired  my  wounds  dressed  ;  and,  at  the  desire  of  some  friends  in 
the  town,  he  caused  bring  in  straw  and  some  clothes  for  my  friend  John 
Gemmelf  and  me  to  lie  upon,  but  would  not  suffer  us  to  cast  off  our 
clothes.  On  Monday,  on  the  way  to  Ayr,  he  raged  against  me,  and 
said  that  I  had  the  blood  of  the  three  men  on  my  head  that  were  killed 
yesterday ;  and  that  I  was  guilty  of  and  the  cause  of  all  the  troubles 

*  Here  it  was  commonly  said,  that  after  the  enemy  went  off  at  first,  they  met  with  two 
persons,  one  of  whom  told  them,  they  were  good  seekers,  but  ill  finders,  or  somewhat  to 
that  purpose  ;  which  made  them  return.  It  has  also  been  said,  that  one  of  these  men  con- 
fessed this  at  his  death.  However  this  be,  people  could  not  help  observing,  that  not 
many  years  ago  three  of  the  offspring  of  the  other  person  blamed,  lost  their  lives  by  fire, 
near  the  same  place  where  these  three  gallant  martyrs  were  killed.  Whether  it  had  any 
reference  to  that  God  knoweth  ;  we  cannot  determine.  Only  we  may  say  : — '•  The  Lord  is 
known  by  the  judgment  he  executeth,"  Ps.  ix.  16. 

f  This  John  Gemmel  was  brother  to  the  martyr  who  was  killed  at  Midland,  and  being 
lying  of  a  fever  in  a  house  in  the  same  parish  called  Derwholling,  he  was  that  day  appre- 
hended by  some  of  the  same  party,  together  with  Thomas  Wylie,  and  his  son  William,  for 
reset.  They  were  all  taken  to  Ayr,  where  the  said  Thomas  Wylie  died.  While  in  Ayr,  it 
is  said  that  John  Gemmel  dreamed  one  night  that  he  should  be  banished,  and  his  feJlow- 
sufferer  Hardhill  should  be  hanged,  which" accordingly  came  to  pass. — They  were  taken  to 
Edinburgh,  and  examined,  and  the  foresaid  William  Wylie  was  asked  to  take  the  oath  of 
allegiance,  but  refused.  They  ordered  him  to  take  the  test  oath ,  this  he  refused  also. 
They  asked  his  reasons.  He  said  he  had  taken  more  oaths  already  than  he  had  well  kept, 
and  if  there  should  come  a  change  of  government,  where  stood  he  then  ?  Bishop  Paterson's 
brother  came,  and  clapping  his  hand  on  his  shoulder,  said,  Thomas,  as  sure  as  God  is  in  the 
heavens,  you'll  never  see  a  change  of  government.  But  in  this  he  proved  a  false  prophet. 
However,  he  and  John  Gemmel  were,  with  eleven  more,  banished  to  Barbadoes,  and  sold 
for  slaves,  where  they  continued  for  about  three  years,  and  at  last  purchased  their  liberty 
and  returned  home  at  the  Revolution.  The  first  known  person  they  saw,  after  their  land- 
ing at  Irvine,  was  lieutenant  Nisbet,  by  whom  they  had  been  apprehended. — It  may  be 
interesting  to  the  reader  to  know,  that  the  above-mentioned  John  Gemmel  was  great- 
grand-uncle  to  Robert  Pollok,  author  of  the  "  Course  of  Time." 


JOHN    NISBET    OF    HARDHILL.  f-i 

that  were  come  on  the  poor  barony  of  Cunningham,  first  and  Last.     Bnl 

when  we  came  near  the  town,  he  called  meout  fromtherest,  and  Boberly 
asked  me,  What  he  should  say  to  the  superior  officers  in  my  behalf! 
I  told  him,  that  if  the  Lord  would  keep  me  from  wronging  truth,  I 
was  at  a  point  already  in  what  he  put  me  to,  as  t . >  Buffering.     Wh< 

we  first  entered  the  tolbooth  of  Ayr,  there  came  two,  and  asked 
things  at  me,  but  they  were  to  little  purpose.  Then  I  was  tak< 
with  a  guard,  and  brought  before  Buchan.  Tie  asked  me,  1.  It*  I 
was  at  the  conventicle  ?  I  told  him,  I  looked  upon  it  a-  my  duty. 
2.  How  many  armed  were  there?  I  told  bim,  I  went  to  hear  the 
gospel  preached,  and  not  to  take  up  the  account  of  what  men  were 
there.  3.  Where  away  went  they?  I  told  him,  It  was  more  than  I 
could  tell.  4.  Do  you  own  the  king  i  J  told  him.  while  he  owned 
the  way  and  work  of  God,  I  thought  myself  bound  both  to  own  and 
fight  for  him;  but  when  he  quitted  the  way  of  God,  I  thought  I  was 
obliged  to  quit  him.  5.  Will  you  own  the  duke  of  York  as  king? 
I  told  him,  I  would  not;  for  it  was  both  against  my  principles  and 
the  laws  of  the  nation.  6.  Were  you  clear  to  join  with  A 
said,  ]STo.  He  held  me  long,  and  spake  of  many  thing-.  We  had 
the  muster  through  hands,  popery,  prelacy,  presbyterianism,  malig- 
nants,  defensive  and  offensive  arms,  there  being  none  in  the  room 
but  he  and  I.  I  thought  it  remarkable  that  all  the  time  from 
Sabbath  to  this  present,  I  had  and  have  as  much  peace  and  qui* 
of  mind  as  ever  in  my  life.  O  help  me  to  praise  him  !  for  he  alone 
did  it.  Now,  'my  dear  friends  and  acquaintances,  cease  not  to  pray 
for  me  while  I  am  in  the  body;  for  I  may  say  I  fear  nothing  but 
that  through  weakness  I  wrong  the  truth.  And  my  last  advice  is, 
that  ye  be  more  diligent  in  following  Christian  duties.  Alas  !  that  T 
was  not  more  sincere,  zealous,  an4  forward,  ft*  his  work  and  cause 
in  my  day.  Cease  to  be  jealous  one  of  another,  and  only  lei 
examination  be  more  studied;  and  this,  through  his  blessing,  shall 
open  a  door  to  more  of  a  Christian  soul  exercise,  and  keep  away  vain 
jangling. 

"When  I  came  to  Edinburgh,  I  was  the  first  night  kept  in  the 
guard-house.     The  next  night  I  was  brought  into  their  council-house, 
where  were  present  lords  Perth,  Linlithgow,  and  one  bishop  Pater 
son,  with  several  others.   Thev  first  said  to  me,  that  they  looked  upon 


„  peace 
told  them,  that  when  I  came  to  particulars  I  should  speak  nothing 
but  truth,  for  I  was  more  afraid  to  lie  than  to  die:  but  I  Imped  they 
would  be  so  far  Christians  as  not  to  bid  me  tell  anything  that  would 
burden  my  conscience.  They  then  began  thus  :— 1.  W  hat  did  ye  m 
your  meetings?  I  told  them,  we  only  sung  a  partof  a  psalm,  read 
nart  of  the  Scriptures,  and  prayed  time  about.  2.  A\  by  call  yethem 
fellowship  and  society  meetings?  I  wonder  why  ye  ask  Buch  ques 
tions,  for  these  meetings  were  called  so  when  our  Church  was 
power.  3.  Were  there  any  such  meetings  at  that  time?  rher. 
in  some  places  of  the  land.    4.  Did  the  ministers  oi  the  place  meet 


572 


SCOTS    WORTHIES. 


with  them  in  these  ?  Sometimes  they  did,  and  sometimes  they  did 
not.  5.  What  mean  you  by  your  general  meetings,  and  what  do  ye 
at  them?  While  I  was  thinking  what  to  answer,  one  of  themselves 
told  them  more  distinctly  than  I  could  have  done;  and  jeeringly  said, 
looking  to  me,  When  they  have  done,  then  they  distribute  their  col- 
lections. I  held  my  peace  all  the  time.  6.  Where  keep  ye  these 
meetings  ?  In  the  wildest  moors  we  can  think  of.  7.  Will  you  own 
the  kind's  authority  ?  No.  8.  What  is  your  reason — you  own  the 
Scriptures  and  your  own  Confession  of  Faith  ?  That  I  do  with  all 
my  heart.  9.  Why  do  ye  not  own  the  king's  authority? — naming 
several  passages  of  Scripture,  and  that  in  the  23d  chapter  of  the 
Confession.  There  is  a  vast  difference ;  for  he  being  a  Roman 
Catholic,  and  I  being  not  only  brought  up  in  the  Presbyterian  prin- 
ciples from  my  youth,  but  also  sworn  against  Popery.  10.  What  is 
that  to  you,  though  he  be  popish,  he  is  not  bidding  you  be  a  papist, 
nor  hindering  you  to  live  in  your  own  religion  ?  The  contrary  does 
appear  ;  for  we  have  not  liberty  to  hear  a  gospel  sermon,  but  we  are 
taken,  put  to  the  hardest  sufferings,  and  killed.  They  said  it  was 
not  so,  for  we  might  have  the  gospel,  if  our  wild  principles  would 
suffer  us  to  hear  it.  I  said  they  might  say  so,  but  the  contrary  was 
well  known  through  the  land ;  for  ye  banished  away  our  faithful 
ministers,  and  thrust  in  such  as  live  rather  like  profligates  than  like 
ministers,  so  that  poor  things  neither  can  nor  dare  join  with  them.  11. 
Are  ye  clear  to  join  with  Argyle  ?  No.  Then  one  of  them  said,  Ye 
will  have  no  king  but  Mr.  James  Renwick ;  and  asked,  if  I  conversed 
with  any  other  minister  upon  the  field  than  Mr.  Renwick.  I  told 
them,  I  conversed  with  no  other ;  and  a  number  of  other  things 
passed  that  were  to  little  purpose. 

"  This  is  a  true  hint  of  any  material  thing  that  passed  betwixt 
them  and  me.  As  for  their  drinking  of  healths,  never  one  of  them 
spoke  of  it  to  me  ;  neither  did  any  of  them  bid  me  pray  for  their 
king  ;  but  they  said  that  they  knew  I  was  that  much  of  a  Christian 
that  I  would  pray  for  all  men.  I  told  them  I  was  bound  to  pray  for 
all ;  but  prayer  being  instituted  by  a  holy  God,  who  is  the  hearer  of 
prayer,  no  Christian  could  pray  when  every  profligate  bade  him  ;  and 
it  was  no  advantage  to  their  cause  to  suffer  such  a  thing. 

"  How  it  may  be  afterwards  with  me  I  cannot  say  ;  for  he  is  a  free 
sovereign,  and  may  come  and  go  as  he  pleases.  But  this  I  say,  and 
can  affirm,  that  he  has  not  quarrelled  with  me  since  I  was  a  prisoner, 
but  has  always  waited  on  to  supply  me  with  such  consolation  and 
strength  as  my  necessity  required  ;  and  now,  when  I  cannot  lay  down 
my  own  head,  nor  lift  it  without  help,  yet  of  all  the  cases  I  ever  was 
in  I  had  never  more  contentment.  I  can  now  give  the  cross  of 
Christ  a  noble  commendation.  It  was  always  sweet  and  pleasant, 
but  never  so  sweet  and  pleasant  as  now.  Under  all  my  wanderings, 
and  all  my  toilings,  a  prison  was  so  terrifying  to  me  that  I  could 
never  have  been  so  sure  as  I  would  have  been.  But  immediately 
after  my  apprehension,  he  so  shined  on  me,  and  ever  since,  that  he 
and  his  cross  are  to  me  far  beyond  whatever  he  was  before.  There- 
fore, let  none  scare  or  stand  at  a  distance  from  their  duty  for  fear  of 
the  cross  ;  for  now  I  can  say  from  experience,  that  it  is  as  easy,  yea, 


JOHN    NISBET    OF    HARDHILL.  5-3 

and  more  sweet,  to  lie  in  prison  in  irons,  than  it  is  to  be  at  liberty. 
But  I  must  forbear  at  present." 

Upon  the  26th,  he  was  ordered  by  the  council  to  be  prosecuted 
before  the  justiciary.     Accordingly,  on  the  30th,  lie  was  before  the 


clog,  had  arms,  and  made  use  of  them  against  the  king's  forcefl  ;  that 
he  was  at  Glasgow ;  and  that  he  was  at  a  field  meeting  within  these 
two  months,  betwixt  Eaglesham  and  Kilbride,"  &c. ;  which  l>ein:_r 
read,  he  adhered  to,  but  refused  to  subscribe  it.  The  jury  broughl 
him  in  guilty,  and  the  lords  sentenced  him  to  be  executed  at  the 
Grassmarket,  December  4,  betwixt  two  and  four  in  the  afternoon,  and 
his  lands,  goods,  and  gear,  to  be  forfeited  to  the  king. 

It  was  inserted  by  the  council  in  his  confession,  that  the  reason 
why  he  could  not  join  with  Argyle  was,  that  one  Cleland  told  him 
that  Argyle  and  his  party  were  against  all  kingly  government.  Mr 
Wodrow  thinks  this  false,  and  that  it  was  only  foisted  in  l.\  the  clerl 
of  the  council — it  not  being  the  first  time  that  things  of  this  nature 
had  been  done  by  them.  But  he  happens  to  have  been  in  a  mistake 
here;  for  in  one  of  Hardhill's  papers,  in  MS.,  left  behind  him  in 
way  of  testimony,  he  gives  this  as  the  first  reason  for  his  not  joining 
with  Argyle;  and  the  second  was  to  the  same  purpose  witli  what  Mr. 
Wodrow  has  observed,  viz.,  because  the  societies  could  not  espous< 
his  declaration,  as  the  state  of  the  quarrel  was  not  concerted  accord- 
ing to  the  ancient  plea  of  the  Scottish  Covenanters,  and  beca 
opened  a  door  to  a  sinful  confederacy. 

His  sentence  was  accordingly  executed  ;  he  appeared  upon  the 
scaffold  wTith  a  great  deal  of  courage  and  Christian  composun 
died  in  much  assurance,  and  with  a  joy  which  none  of  his  persecn 
tors  could  interfere  with.     It  was  affirmed  by  some  who  were  pn 
at  his  execution,  that  the  scaffold  or  gibbet  gave  way  and  came  down. 
which  made  some  present  flatter  themselves  that,  by  Borne  laws  in 
being,  he  had  saved  his  life,  as  they  used  to  say  in  such  cases.     Hut 
behold  a  disappointment  here,  for  he  behoved  not  to  escape  bo,  for  to 
this  end  he  was  born.    Immediately  all  was  replaced,  and  the  martyr 
executed. 


574  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 


ALEXANDER  PEDEN. 


Alexander  Peden  was  born  in  the  parish  of  Sorn,  in  the  shire  of 
Ayr.  After  he  had  finished  his  university  curriculum,  he  was  for 
sometime  employed  as  schoolmaster,  precentor,  and  session-clerk,  to 
Mr.  John  Guthrie,  minister  of  the  Gospel  at  Tarbolton. 

A  little  before  the  Restoration,  he  was  ordained  minister  at  New 
Luce  in  Galloway,  where  he  continued  for  about  the  space  of  three 
years,  until  thrust  out  by  the  violence  and  tyranny  of  the  times.  On 
the  afternoon  of  the  Sabbath  previous  to  his  leaving  the  parish,  he 
preached  from  Acts  xx.  32.  "  And  now,  brethren,  I  commend  you 
to  the  word  of  his  grace,"  and  continued  his  discourse  till  night. 
"When  he  closed  the  pulpit  door,  he  knocked  three  times  very  hard  on 
it,  with  his  Bible,  saying  thrice, — "I  arrest  thee,  in  my  Master's 
name,  that  none  ever  enter  thee,  but  such  as  come  in  by  the  door  as 
I  have  done  ;"  and  no  one  entered  it,  till  after  the  Revolution  it  was 
opened  by  a  Presbyterian. 

About  the  beginning  of  the  year  1666,  a  proclamation  was  emitted 
by  the  council  against  him  and  several  of  the  ejected  ministers,  where- 
in he  was  charged  with  holding  conventicles,  preaching,  and  baptiz- 
ing children,  at  Ralstoun  in  Kilmarnock,  and  at  Castlehill  in  Craigie 
parish,  where  he  baptized  twenty-four  children.  But  upon  his  non- 
appearance at  this  citation,  he  was  next  year  declared  a  rebel,  and 
forfeited  both  life  and  fortune. 

After  this,  he  joined  that  faithful  party,  which,  in  the  same  year, 
was  dispersed  at  Pentland  hills ;  and  with  them  he  came  the  length 
of  Clyde,  where  he  had  a  melancholy  view  of  their  end,  and  parted 
with  them  there.  Afterwards,  when  one  of  his  friends  said  to  him. 
"  Sir,  you  did  well  that  left  them,  seeing  you  was  persuaded  that  they 
would  fall  and  flee  before  the  enemy,"  he  was  offended  and  said, 
"Glory,  glory  to  God,  that  he  sent  me  not  to  hell  immediately,  for  I 
should  have  stayed  with  them,  though  I  should  have  been  cut  in 
pieces." 

In  the  same  year  he  met  with  a  very  remarkable  deliverance.  For, 
while  riding  in  company  with  Mr.  Welch,  and  the  laird  of  Glerover, 
they  met  a  party  of  the  enemy's  horse.  The  laird  fainted,  fearing 
they  should  be  taken  ;  Peden  seeing  this,  said,  "  Keep  up  your  cour- 
age and  confidence,  for  God  hath  laid  an  arrest  on  these"  men  that 
they  shall  do  us  no  harm."  When  they  met  they  were  courteous,  and 
asked  the  way.  Peden  went  off  the  way,  and  showed  them  the  ford 
of  the  water  of  Titt.  When  he  returned,  the  laird  said,  "  Why  did 
you  go  ?  you  might  have  let  the  lad  go  with  them."     "  No,"  said  he, 


ALEXANDER    FEDEX. 

"  They  might  have  asked  questions  of  the  lad,  which  might 
covered  us  ;  but,  as  for  me,  I  ihew  they  would  be  like  Egyptian 
they  could  nut  move  a  tongue  against  me,  my  time  not  beu 
come." 

He  passed  his  time  sometimes  in  Scotland,  ami   - 
land,  until  June,  1673,  when  he  was  by  major  Cockburn  taken  in  tin- 
house  of  Hugh  Ferguson  of  Enockdew,  in  Carrick,  who  had 
strained  him  to  stay  nil  night.     Peden  told  him  it  would 
night's  quarters  to  them  both  ;  accordingly  they  wen 

prisoners  to  Edinburgh.     There  the  said  Hugh  was  lined  in  1 1 

merks  fur  reset,  harbour,  and  convene  with  him.     Bonn  I 
his  examination,  Peden  was  sent  prisoner  to  the  B 

One  day,  as  he  was  walking  on  the  ruck,  some  Boldii  pass- 

ing by,  and  one  of  them  cried,  "The  devil  take  him.'*  He  said, 
"  Py,  fy  !  poor  man,  thou  knowest  nol  what  thou  art  Baying;  but 
thou  shalt  repent  that."  At  which  he  stood  astonished,  and  went  to 
the  guard  distracted,  crying  out  for  Peden,  Baying,  "  The  devil  would 
immediately  come  and  take  him  away."  Peden  came,  and 
and  prayed  with  him,  and  next  morning  came  t.»  him  again,  and 
found  him  in  his  right  mind,  under  deep  convictions  guilt 

The  guard  being  to  change,  they  commanded  him  to  hi  it  he 

refused  ;  and  said,  "  He  would  lift  no  arms  against  J<  -t,  his 

cause,  and  his  people;  I  have  done  that  too  l^n^." 
threatened  him  with  death  to-morrow  by  ten  ■  lently 

said,  three  times  over,  "That  though  he  should  tear  him  in 
should  never  lift   arms  that   way."      About  three  di  r,   the 

governor  put  him  forth  of  the  garrison,  setting  him  ash  id  he. 

having  a  wife  and  children,  tuuk  a  huuse  in  East  Lothian,  where  he 
became  a  singular  Christian. 

Peden  was  brought  from  the  Bass  to  Edinburgh,  and  was  sent.  : 
in  December,  1678,  along  with  other  sixty   ; 
cause,  to  be  banished  to  America,  neverto  be  seen  again  in  S 
under  pain  of  death.     After  this  sentence  was  paot 
"That  that  ship  was  not  vet  built  that  should  take  him 
prisoners  to   Virginia,  or  any  other  of  the  English  plantatio 
America."      AYhen  they  were  on  shipboard  in  the  r 
there  was  a  report  that  "the  enemy  were  to  Ben  1  down  thumb 
keep  them  in  order;  on  which  they  were  much  tie 

went  above  deck,  and  said.  -Why  are  you  so  much 
you  need  nut  fear,  there  will  neither  thumbkins  nor  bootkinfl 
'here;  lift  up  your  hearts,  fur  the  day  of  your  redemption  d 
near  :  if  we  were  once  at  London,  we  will  all  be 
In 


576  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

terian  principles,  he  would  sail  the  sea  with  none  such.  In  this  con- 
fusion, the  one  captain  refusing  to  receive  them,  and  the  other  not 
choosing  to  retain  them  on  account  of  the  expense,  they  were  set  at 
liberty.  Some  say  the  captain  got  compliments  from  friends  in  Lon- 
don. Others  assure  us,  that  they  got  off  through  means  of  the  Lord 
Shaftesbury,  who  was  always  friendly  to  the  Presbyterians.  How- 
ever, it  is  certain  they  were  all  liberated  at  Gravesend,  without  any 
bond  or  imposition  whatever.  And,  in  their  way  homeward,  the 
English  showed  them  no  small  degree  of  kindness.* 

After  they  were  set  at  liberty,  Peden  staid  at  London,  and  other 
places  of  England,  until  1679,  when  he  came  to  Scotland.  On  that 
dismal  day,  the  22d  of  June,  when  the  Lord's  people  fell  and  fled 
before  their  enemies  at  Both  well  Bridge,  he  was  sixty  miles  distant, 
being  near  the  border,  where  he  kept  himself  retired  until  the  middle 
of  the  da}7,  when  some  friends  said  to  him,  "  Sir,  the  people  are 
waiting  for  sermon,  it  being  the  Lord's  day."  To  whom  he  said, 
"Let  the  people  go  to  their  prayers  ;  for  me,  I  neither  can  nor  will 
preach  any  this  day ;  for  our  friends  are  fallen  and  fled  before-  the 
enemy  at  Hamilton,  and  they  are  hashing  and  bagging  them  down, 
and  their  blood  is  running  down  like  water." 

After  this,  in  the  year  1682,  he  married  that  singular  Christian, 
John  Brown,  at  his  house  in  Priesthill,  in  the  parish  of  Muirkirk  in 
Kyle,  to  one  Isabel  Weir.  After  marriage,  he  said  to  the  bride, 
"  Isabel,  you  have  got  a  good  man  to  be  your  husband,  but  you  will 
not  enjoy  him  long :  prize  his  company,  and  keep  linen  by  you  to  be 
his  winding-sheet,  for  you  will  need  it  when  you  are  not  looking  for 
it,  and  it  will  be  a  bloody  one,"  which  sadly  came  to  pass  in  the  be- 
ginning of  May,  1685. 

In  the  same  year,  1682,  he  went  to  Ireland  again,  and  coming  to 
the  house  of  William  Steel  in  Glenwhary,  in  the  county  of  Antrim, 
he  inquired  at  Mrs.  Steel  if  she  wanted  a  servant  for  thrashing  of 
victual.  She  said,  they  did  ;  and  asked  what  his  wages  were  a-day 
and  a-week.  He  said,  the  common  rate  was  a  common  rule.  To 
which  he  assented.  At  night  he  was  put  to  bed  in  the  barn  with  the 
servant-lad,  and  that  night  he  spent  in  prayer  and  groaning.  On  the 
morrow  he  thrashed  with  the  lad,  and  the  next  night  he  spent  in 
the  same  way.  The  second  day  the  lad  said  to  his  mistress,  "This 
man  sleeps  none,  but  groans  and  prays  all  night ;  I  can  get  no  sleep 
with  him  ;  he  thrashes  very  well,  and  not  sparing  himself,  though  I 

*  Among  those  against  whom  this  iniquitous  sentence  was  passed,  there  was  one,  by 
name  Alexander  Anderson,  who  was  only  fifteen  years  of  age,  and  deserves  to  be  remem- 
bered, at  once  for  his  youth,  and  his  piety.  The  historian  Wodrow  gives  the  following  ac- 
count of  a  testimony  which  he  left  behind  him  : — "  He  takes  notice,"  says  he,  "  that  he  is 
the  youngest  prisoner  in  Scotland,  and  that  the  Lord  had  opened  his  eyes,  and  revealed  his 
Son  in  his  heart  since  he  came  under  the  cross;  that  he  had  much  difficulty  to  part  with  his 
friends  and  relations ;  yet  he  had  now  found,  fellowship  with  Christ  did  much  more  than 
balance  the  worth  of  the  company  of  his  dearest  relations;  that  though  he  be  so  very  young, 
as  could  not  be  admitted  as  a  witness  among  men,  yet  he  hopes  that  Christ  hath  taken  him 
as  a  witness  to  his  cause.  He  makes  an  apology  that  he  who  is  but  a  child,  should  leave 
anything  of  this  nature  behind,  but  joys  that  he  was  constrained  to  it,  to  testify  that  God 
perfects  strength  out  of  the  mouth  of  babes.  He  leaves  his  commendations  to  the  cross  of 
Christ,  and  blesses  the  Lord  for  carrying  him  through  temptations,  and  enabling  him,  one 
of  the  lambs  of  his  flock,  to  stand  before  great  men  and  judges  ;  and  closes  with  his  good 
wishes  to  all  the  friends  of  Christ."     See  Wodrow,  i.  024. 


ALEXANDER    PEDF.X. 

D  .  i 

think  be  has  not  been  used  to  it ;  and  when  I  pnt  the  bam  in  order 
lie  goes  to  such  a  place,  and  Brays  forthe  afflicted  Chun 
and  names  so  many  people  in  the  furnace."     He  wrought  the  - 
day;  his  mistress  watched,  and  overheard  him  praying  as  the  lad  Lad 
said.     At  night  she  desired   her  husband  to  inquire  if  be   \ 
minister;  which  he  did,  and  desired  him  to  be  live  with  bim,  and  be 
should  not  only  be  no  enemy  to  him  but  a  friend.     Peden  said,  be 
was  not  ashamed  of  his  office,  and  gave  an  account  of  bie  circum- 
stances.    But  he  was  no  more  set  to  work,  or  to  lie  with  the  lad.    He 
staid  some  considerable  time  in  that  place,  and  wi 
ment  in  the  conversion  of  some,  and  the  civilizing  of  oth< 

Before  he  left  Ireland,  he  preached  in  several  places,  particularly 
one  time  in  1685,  M'here  he  made  a  most  clear  discovery  of  the  many 
hardships  his  fellow-sufferers  were  then  undergoing  in  Scotland;  anil 
of  the  death  of  Charles  II, — the  news  of  which  came  not  to  Ireland 
till  twenty-four  hours  thereafter. 

Afterthis  he  longed  to  be  out  of  Ireland  ;  both  from  a  fearful  ap- 
prehension of  that  dismal  rebellion  that  broke  out  there  aboul  four 
years  after,  and  from  a  desire  he  had  to  take  part  with  the  Bufferere 
of  Scotland.  Before  his  departure  from  thence,  he  baptized  a  child 
to  one  John  Maxwell,  a  Glasgow  man,  who  had  lied  over  from  the 
persecution. 

After  he  and  twenty  Scots  sufferers  came  aboard,  he  went  on 
and  prayed — there  not  being  then  the  least  wind — where  he  made 
a  rehearsal  of  times  and  places  when  and  where  the  Lord  had  helped 
them  in  the  day  of  their  distress,  and  now  they  were  in  a  great  .-trait. 
"Waving  his  hand  to  the  west,  from  whence  he  desired  the  wind,  ln- 
said,  "  Lord,  give  us  a  loot-full  of  wind ;  fill  the  sails,  Lord,  and  give 
us  a  fresh  gale,  and  let  us  have  a  swift  and  safe  passage  over  to  the 
bloody  land,  come  of  us  what  will."  When  he  began  to  pray  the  Bails 
were  hanging  all  straight  down,  but  ere  he  ended,  they  were  all  Mown 
full,  and  they  got  a  very  swift  and  safe  passage  over.  In  the  morn- 
ing, after  they  landed,  he  lectured,  ere  they  parted,  on  a  bra< 
in  which  he  had  some  awful  threatenings  against  Scotland,  Baying, 
"  The  time  was  coming,  that  they  might  travel  many  miles  in  Gal 
loway,  Kithsdale,  Ayr," and  Clyde-dale,  and  not  see  a  reeking  house, 
or  hear  a  cockcrow  ;"  and  further  added,  "  My  Boul  trembles  to  think 
what  will  become  of  the  indulged,  backslidden,  and  upsetting  minis- 
ters of  Scotland ;  as  the  Lord  lives,  none  of  them  shall  ever  be  honoured 
to  put  a  right  pin  in  the  Lord's  tabernacle,  nor  assert  Christ's  kinglj 
prerogative  as  Head  and  King  of  his  Church." 

After  his  arrival  in  Scotland,  in  the  beginning  of  the  year  1685,  he 
met  with  several  remarkable  deliverances  from  the  enemy.  One 
time,  fleeing  from  them  on  horseback,  he  was  obliged  to  ride  a  water, 
where  he  was  in  imminent  danger.  After  having  crossed,  be  cried, 
"  Lads,  do  not  follow  me,  for  I  assure  you,  ye  want  my  boat  and  so 
will  drown;  and  consider  where  your  landing  will  he;"  which  af- 
frighted them  from  entering  the  water.  At  another  time  being  also 
hard  pursued,  he  was  forced  to  take  a  bog  and  moss  before  him. 
One  of  the  dragoons  being  more  forward  than  the  rest,  run  bit 
37 


578  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

into  that  dangerous  bog,  where  he  and  the  horse  were  never  seen 
more. 

About  this  time  he  preached  one  Sabbath  night  in  a  sheep-fold, 
the  hazard  of  the  time  affording  no  better.  That  night  he  lectured  upon 
Amos  vii.  8,  "  And  I  will  set  a  plumb  line  in  the  midst  of  my 
people,  the  house  of  Israel,"  <fcc.  In  this  lecture,  he  said,  "  I'll  tell 
you  good  news.  Our  Lord  will  take  a  feather  out  of  Antichrist's 
wing,  which  shall  bring  down  the  duke  of  York,  and  banish  him  out 
of  these  kingdoms.  And  there  shall  never  a  man  of  the  house  of 
Stuart  sit  upon  the  throne  of  Britain,  after  the  duke  of  York,  whose 
reign  is  now  short,  for  their  lechery,  treachery,  tyranny,  and  shed- 
ding the  precious  blood  of  the  Lord's  people.  But,  oh  !  black, 
black,  will  the  clays  be  that  will  come  upon  Ireland !  so  that  they 
shall  travel  forty  miles,  and  not  see  a  reeking-house,  or  hear  a  cock 
crow."  When  ended,  he  and  those  with  him  lay  down  in  the  sheep- 
house,  and  got  some  sleep ;  and  early  next  morning  went  up  a  burn 
side,  and  spent  a  long  time  in  meditation.  When  he  came  back  he 
sung  the  32d  psalm,  from  the  7th  verse  to  the  end  ;  and  then  repeated 
that  verse, — 

•'  Thou  art  my  hilling  place,  thou  shalt 
From  trouble  keep  me  free  ; 
Thou  with  songs  of  deliverance 
About  shalt  compass  me  :" 

Saying,  "  These  and  the  following  are  sweet  lines,  which  I  got 
at  the  burn-side  this  morning,  and  will  get  more  to-morrow  ;  and  so 
will  get  daily  provision.  He  was  never  behind  any  who  put  their 
trust  in  Him,  and  we  will  go  on  his  strength,  making  mention  of  his 
righteousness,  and  of  his  only."  He  met  with  another  remarkable 
deliverance  ;  for  the  enemy  coming  upon  him  and  some  others,  they 
were  pursued  by  both  horse  and  loot  a  considerable  way.  At  last, 
getting  some  little  height  between  them  and  the  enemy,  he  stood 
still,  and  said,  "  Let  us  pray  here  ;  for  if  the  Lord  hear  not  our 
prayers,  and  save  us,  we  are  all  dead  men."  Then  he  began,  saying, 
k'  Lord,  it  is  thy  enemy's  day,  hour,  and  power,  they  may  not  be 
idle.  But  hast  thou  no  other  work  for  them,  but  to  send  them  after  us  \ 
Send  them  after  to  whom  thou  wilt  give  strength  to  flee,  for  our 
strength  is  gone.  Twine  them  about  the  hill,  Lurd,  and  cast  the  lap 
of  thy  cloak  over  old  Sandy,  and  thir  puir  things,  and  save  us  this 
one  time  ;  and  we'll  keep  it  in  remembrance,  and  tell  it  to  the  com- 
mendation of  thy  goodness,  pity,  and  compassion,  what  thou  didst 
for  us  at  such  a  time."  And  in  this  he  was  heard ;  for  a  cloud  of 
mist  intervened  immediately  betwixt  them ;  and,  in  the  mean  time, 
a  post  came  to  the  enemy,  to  go  in  quest  of  Mr.  Ren  wick,  and  ;» 
great  company  with  him. 

At  this  time  it  was  seldom  that  Peden  could  be  prevailed  on  to 
preach ;  frequently  answering  and  advising  people  to  pray  much, 
saying,  "  It  was  praying  folk  that  would  get  through  the  storm  ; 
they  would  yet  get  preaching,  both  meikle  and  good,  but  not  much 
good  of  it,  until  judgment  was  poured  out  to  lay  the  land  desolate." 

In  the  same  year,  1685,  being  in  Carrick,  John  Clerk  of  Muir- 
brook,  being  with  him,  said,  "  Sir,  what  think  you  of  this  time?     Is 


ALEXANDER    PEDEN. 


it  not  a  dark  and  melancholy  day  ?    Can  there  be  a  mow  discoung- 

ing  time  than  this?    He  said,  "Yes,  John,  this  is  a  dark  discoura* 
ing   time,  but  there  will  he  a  darker  time   than  this ;    these    nlly 
graceless  creatures,  the  curates,  shall  go  down  ■  and  after  then 
arise  a  party  called  Presbyterians,  but  having  little  more  but  the 
name;  and  these  shall,  as'really  as  Christ  was  crucified  without  the 
gates  of  Jerusalem  on  Mount  Calvary  bodily,  I  Bay,  they  Bball  as 
really  crucify  Christ,  in  his  cause  and  interest  in  Scotland  ;  and  -hall 
lay  him  in  his  grave,  and  his  friends  shall  give  him   his  winding- 
sheet,  and  he  shall  lie  as  one  buried  for  a  considerable  than 
then,  John,  there  shall  be  darkness  and  dark  days,  such  .-. 
Church  of  Scotland  never  saw  the  like,  nor  ever  shall  see,  if  once 
they  were  over;  yea,  John,  they  shall  be  so  dark,   that    it"  a 
thing  would  go  between  the  east  sea-bank  and   the  wesl   Bea-bank, 
seeking  a  minister  to  whom  they  would  communicate  thai 
tell  them  the  mind  of  the  Lord  concerning  the  time,  be  Bball  ii"t  lind 
one."    John  asked,  where  the  testimony  should  be  then  I     He  answer- 
ed, "In  the  hands  of  a  few,  who  would  be  despised  and  undervalued  of 
all,  but  especially  by  those  ministers  who  buried   Chri-t:  hut  after 
that  he  shall  get  up  upon  them;  and  at  the  crack  of  bis  winding- 
sheet,  as  many  of  them  as  are  alive,  who  were  at  the  burial,  .-hall  be 
distracted  and  mad  with  fear,  not  knowing  what  to  do:  then.  J 
there  shall  be  brave  days,  such  as  the  Church  of  Scotland  never  Baw 
the  like;  I  shall  not  see  them,  but  you  may." 

About  this  time,  as  he  was  preaching  in  the  day-time  in  the  parish 
of  Girvan,  and  being  in  the  fields,  one  David  Mason,  then  a  pi 
or,  came  in  haste,  trampling  upon  the  people  to  be  near  him.  Ar 
which  he  said,  "There  comes  the  devil's  rattle-bag.  we  do  not  want 
him  here."  After  this,  the  said  David  became  officer  and  informer 
in  that  bounds,  running  through,  rattling  ami  summoning  the  people 
to  their  unhappy  courtslbr  non-conformity  ;  at  which  he  and  bisfamily 
got  the  name  of  the  devil's  rattle-bag.  Since  the  Revolution,  he 
complained  to  his  minister  that  he  and  his  family  got  that  i 
The  minister  said,  "Ye  well  deserved  it;  and  he  was  an  honest  man 
that  gave  you  it:  you  and  yours  must  enjoy  it :  there  is  no  help  for 
that." 

His  last  sermon  was  preached  in  the  Collimw 1,  at  the  water  of 

Ayr,  a  short  time  before  his  death.  In  the  preface  before  this 
sermon,  he  said,  "  There  are  four  or  live  things  1  have  to  tell  you 
this  night;  1st,  A  bloody  sword,  a  bloody  sword,  a  bloody  -word, 
for  thee,  O  Scotland,  that  shall  pierce  the  heart.-  oi  many.  2dly, 
Many  milesshall  ye  travel,  and  see  nothing  but  desolation  and  i 
wastes  in  thee,  6  Scotland.  3dly,  The  most  fertile  places  ...  thee 
shall  be  as  waste  as  the  mountains,  -ithly,  lhe  women  witn  child 
shall  be  ript  up  and  dashed  in  pieces.  And.  5thly,  Many  io  uven- 
tide  has  God  had  in  thee,  0  Scotland  ;  but, ere  lone,  God  will  make 
a  conventicle  that  will  make  Scotland  tremble  Many  a  preaching 
has  God  bestowed  on  thee  ;  but,  ere  long,  God  i  judgment-  -mi  1  be 
as  frequent  as  these  precious  meetings,  wherein  he  sent  forth  his 
faithful  servants  to  give  faithful  warning  o  the  hazard  ofthj 
apostasy  from  God,  in  breaking,  burning,  and  burying  Ins  covenant, 


530  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

persecuting,  slighting,  and  contemning  the  gospel,  shedding  the 
precious  blood  of  his  saints  and  servants.  God  sent  forth  a  Wel- 
wood,  a  Kid,  a  King,  a  Cameron,  a  Cargill,  and  others  to  preach  to 
thee  ;  but,  ere  long,  God  shall  preach  to  thee  by  fire  and  a  bloody 
sword.  God  will  let  none  of  these  men's  words  fall  to  the  ground, 
that  he  sent  forth  with  a  commission  to  preach  these  things  in  his 
name."  In  the  sermon,  he  further  said,  that  a  few  years  after  his 
death,  there  would  be  a  wonderful  alteration  of  affairs  in  Britain  and 
Ireland,  and  Scotland's  persecution  should  cease  ;  upon  which  every 
one  would  believe  the  deliverance  was  come,  and,  consequently, 
would  fall  fatally  secure ;  but  you  will  be  all  very  far  mistaken,  for 
both  Scotland  and  England  will  be  scourged  by  foreigners,  and  a  set 
of  unhappy  men  in  these  land  taking  part  with  them,  before  any  of 
you  can  pretend  to  be  happy,  or  get  a  thorough  deliverance  ;  which 
will  be  a  more  severe  chastisement  than  any  other  they  have  met 
with,  or  can  come  under,  if  once  that  were  over. 

After  much  wandering  from  place  to  place,  through  Kyle,  Carrick, 
and  Galloway,  his  death  drawing  near,  he  came  to  his  brother's 
house,  in  the  parish  of  Sorn,  where  he  was  born,  where  he  caused 
them  to  dig  a  cave,  with  a  willow-bush  covering  the  mouth  thereof, 
near  to  his  brother's  house.  The  enemy  got  notice,  and  searched 
the  house  narrowly  several  times,  but  him  they  found  not.  While 
in  this  cave,  he  said  to  some  friends, — 1st,  "  That  God  would 
make  Scotland  a  desolation.  2dly,  There  would  be  a  remnant  in 
the  land  whom  God  would  spare  and  hide.  3dly,  They  would  be  in 
holes  and  caves  of  the  earth,  and  be  supplied  with  meat  and  drink ; 
and  when  they  came  out  of  their  holes,  they  would  not  have  freedom 
to  walk  for  stumbling  on  dead  corpses.  And,  4thly,  A  stone  cut  out 
of  the  mountain  would  come  down ;  and  God  would  be  avenged  on 
the  great  ones  of  the  earth,  and  the  inhabitants  of  the  land,  for  their 
wickedness :  and  then  the  church  would  come  forth  in  beauty  and 
glory,  as  a  bride  adorned  for  her  husband.  And  he  wished  that  the 
Lord's  people  might  be  hid  in  their  caves,  as  if  they  were  not  in  the 
world  :  for  nothing  would  do  until  God  appeared-  with  his  judg- 
ments." And  withal  gave  them  this  sign,  "  That  if  he  be  but  once 
buried,  they  might  be  in  doubt,  but  if  oftener  than  once  they  might, 
be  persuaded  that  all  he  had  said  would  come  to  pass ;  and  earnestly 
desired  them  to  take  his  corpse  out  to  Airsmoss,  and  bury  him  beside 
Eichie — meaning  Mr.  Eichard  Cameron — that  he  might  have  rest  in 
his  grave,  for  he  had  got  little  during  his  life.  But  he  said,  bury 
him  where  they  would,  he  would  be  lifted  again;  but  the  man  who 
would  first  put  hands  to  his  corpse,  four  things  would  befall  him  : — 
1st,  He  would  get  a  great  fall  from  a  house."  2dly,  He  would  fall 
into  adultery.  3dly,  In  theft,  and  for  that  he  should  leave  the  land, 
•ithly,  Make  a  melancholy  end  abroad  for  murder."  All  which 
came  to  pass.  ^  This  man  was  one  Murdoch,  a  mason  by  trade,  but 
then  in  the  military  service,  being  the  first  man  who  put  his  hands 
to  his  corpse. 

Peden  had  for  some  time  been  too  credulous  in  believing  the  obli- 
quous  misrepresentations  of  some  false  brethren  concerning  Mr. 
J  ames  Eenwick,  whereby  he  was  much  alienated  from  him ;  which 


ALEXANDER    FEDEX. 

exceedingly  grieved  Mr.  Renwick,  stumbled  some  of  hia  foil* 
and  confirmed  some  of  his  adversaries,  who  boasted  that  do*  P 
was  turned  his  enemy.    But  now,  when  dying,  be  Bern*  for  him.    \\- 
Renwick  came  to  him  in  all  haste,  and  round  him  lying   in 
low  state.     When  he  came  in,  he  raised  himself  upon  niselbovi 
his  head  on  his  hand,  and  said,  "Are  yon  the  Mi'.  .lam.-  Renwick 
there  is  so  much  noise  about?"    He  answered,  "  Father,  my  name 
is  James  Renwick,  but  I  have  given  the  world   no  ground  to  make 
any  noise  about  me,  for  I  have  espoused  no  new  principles  or  prac- 
tices, but  what  our  reformers  and  Covenanters    maintained."     He 
caused  him  to  sit  down,  and  give  him  an  account  of  his  ••..in, 
principles,  and  call  to  the  ministry.     All  which  Mr.  Renwick  did,  in 
a  most  distinct  manner.     When  ended,  Peden  Baid,"Sir,  you  bare 
answered  me  to  my  soul's  satisfaction  ;  I  am  wry  Borry  that  I  should 
have  believed  any  such  evil  reports  of  you,  which  not  only  que] 
my  love  to,  and  marred  my  sympathy  with  you,  but  made  mi 
press  myself  so  bitterly  against  you,  for  which  I  haw  Badly  smarted. 
But  sir,  ere  you  go,  you  must  pray  for  me,  for  I  am  old,  and 
to  leave  the  world."     This  he  did  with  more  than  ordinary  en 
ment.     When  ended,  Peden  took  him  by  the  hand,  and  drew  hi 
him,  and  kissed  him,  saying,  '"Sir,  I  find  you  a  faithful  Bervant  to 
your  Master;   go  on  in  single  dependence  upon  the  Lord,  an 
will  get  honestly  through,  and  clear  off  the  stage,  when  many 
who  hold  their  heads  high,  will  lie  in  the  mire,  and  make  foul  hands 
and  garments."    And  then  he  prayed  that  the  Lord  might  spirit, 
strengthen,  support,  and   comfort  him  in   all  his  duties   and   diffi- 
culties.* 

"  A  little  before  his  death,  he  said,  "Ye  will  all  be  displeased 
where  I  will  be  buried  at  last;  but  I  charge  you  not  to  lift  my 
corpse  again."  At  last,  one  morning  early  he  left  the  cave,  and 
came  to  his  brother's  door.  His  brother's  wife  said,  M  Where  are  ye 
going?  the  enemy  will  be  here. '  He  said,  "  I  know  that"  "Alas! 
Sir,"  said  she,  "  what  will  become  of  you  1  you  must  go  back  to  the 
cave  again."  lie  said,  "I  have  done  with  that,  for  it  is  discovered  : 
but  there  is  no  matter;  for,  within  forty-eight  hours,  I  will  h 
yond  the  reach  of  all  the  devil's  temptations,  and  his  instruments 
in  hell  and  on  earth,  and  they  shall  trouble  me  no  more."  About 
three  hours  after  he  entered"  the  house-  the  enemy  came,  and  not. 
having  found  him  in  the  cave,  searched  the  bam  narrowly,  ca 
the  unthrashed  corn,  went  through  the  house,  Btabbed  the  beds,  but 
entered  not  into  the  place  where  he  lay.  And  within  forty-right 
hours  after  this,  he  closed  his  pilgrimage,  and  became  an  inhabitant 
of  that  land  where  the  weary  are  at  rest,  being  beyond  Bixtj  yi 
age. 

He  was  buried  in  the  laird  of  Aucbinleck's  isle,  but  a 
dragoons  came  and  lifted  his  corpse,t  and   carried  it  two  m 

*  Some  have  doubted  of  the  certainty  of  this  interview  ;  however,  there  if  M  -• 
improbability  in  it;  nor  is  it  any  disparagement  to  either  Peden  or  .Mr.  Renvni  i 

t  After  this  (says  Patrick  Walker)  that  troop  of  dragoons  came  lo  q 
nethan;  two  of  them  were  quartered  in  the   house  of  James  G 
lances;  and,  being  frightened  in  their  sleep,  started   up,  and   clap 
'■Peden    Peden  ,;'     These  two  dragoons  affirmed,  that,  out 

t'.e  coffin  to  see  his  body,  and  it  had  no  smell,  though  he  had  bee,. 


5S2 


SCOTS    WORTHIES. 


Cumnock  Gallows-foot,  after  he  Lad  been  forty  days  in  the  grave, 
where  he  lies  buried  beside  other  martyrs. 

Thus  died  Alexander  Peden,  so  much  famed  for  his  singular  piety, 
zeal,  and  faithfulness,  and  indefatigableness  in  the  duty  of  prayer ; 
hut  especially  who  exceeded  all  we  have  heard  of  in  latter  times, 
for  that  gift  of  foreseeing  and  foretelling  future  events,  both  with  re- 
spect to  the  church  and  nation  of  Scotland  and  Ireland,  and  parti- 
cular persons  and  families,  several  of  which  are  already  accom- 
plished. A  gentleman,  when  speaking  in  his  writings  of  Peden, 
savs,  "Abundance  of  this  good  man's  predictions  are  well-known  to 
be  already  come  to  pass."*  And  although  these  things  are  now 
made  to  stoop  or  yield  to  the  force  of  ridicule,  and  the  sarcasms  of 
the  profane,  and  the  fashions  of  an  atheistical  age  and  generation  ; 
yet  we  must  believe  and  conclude  with  the  Spirit  of  God,  that  the 
secrets  of  the  Lord  both  have  been,  are,  and  will  be,  with  them  who 
fear  his  name. 


JOHN  BLACKADDER. 


John  Blackadder  was  a  lineal  descendant,  and  the  only  represen- 
tative of  the  house  of  Tulliallan.  After  he  had  gone  through  his 
course  of  classical  learning,  he  was  ordained  minister  of  the  gospel 
at  Troqueer,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Dumfries.  Being  nominated 
by  the  unanimous  voice  of  the  people,  he  received  ordination  from 
the  presbytery  of  Dumfries,  and  was  admitted  to  his  benefice,  June 
7th,  1653. 

ISTo  sooner  had  Blackadder  commenced  his  labours,  than  his  first 
exertions  were  directed  to  the  suppression  of  vice  and  profanity, — a 
work  rendered  the  more  difficult,  as  it  was  necessary  in  the  present 
case  to  begin  with  the  eldership,  who  appear,  through  complete  in- 
dolence, to  have  suffered  all  proper  discipline  to  fall  into  disuse. 
This  accomplished,  Blackadder  made  next  an  effort  on  his  parishion- 
ers ;  and,  as  he  found  them  completely  ignorant  on  the  matter,  he 
commanded  the  Session  Becords  to  be  produced.  After  this,  he  ap- 
pointed teachers,  who  were  instructed  at  once  to  reason  with  heretics, 

*  John  Kerr  of  Kersland,  in  his  Memoirs,  page  S,  where  he  adds,  that  when  some  peo- 
ple were  going  to  join  Argyle  in  1685.  Peden.  after  a  short  ejaculation,  bid  them  stop,  for 
Ai'jjyle  was  fallen  a  sacrifice  that  minute.  Some  taking  out  their  watches,  marked  the 
time,  which  accordingly  answered  to  his  being  taken. 


JOHN    BLACKADDER. 

and  to  expound  the  Scriptures  to  those  whose  intellectual  faculties 
were  naturally  weak.  His  own  Sabbath  discourses  had  chiefly  for 
their  object  the  instruction  of  his  hearers  in  the  elementary  parte  of 
religion.     In  addition  to  this  he  had  weekly  sermons,  which,  thoueb 

addressed  especially  to  converts,  became  soon  bo  popular  thai  nol 
only  his  own  people,  but  we  are  told  several  honest  andsodlyper 
sons  from  other  parishes,  flocked  to  hear  him.  He  catechised  the 
parish  once  every  half-year,  and  formed  a  plan  with  two  • 
brethren,  Mr.  Welch  of  Irongray,  and  Mr.  Johnstone  of  Lochrutton, 
ot  visiting  on  certain  occasions,  the  parishes  of  each  other 
presbytery,  when  the  proposal  was  made,  agreed  to  il  at  ce  The 
united  labours  of  these  brethren   were  attended  wit!  erable 

success^  Indeed,  the  happy  effects  of  Blackaddert  labours  wen- 
soon  visible  in  the  altered  lives  and  conduct  of  a  great  many  of  his 
parishioners.  Two  years  had  scarcely  elapsed,  when,  over  all  the 
parish,  there  prevailed  an  exemplary  regularity  in  the  performance 
of  the  duties  of  private  and  public  worship.  Religious  knowledge 
increased,  and  household  prayer  was  almost  universally  attended  to. 
Blackadder  was  very  attentive  in  his  visitation  of  sick'  persons,  and, 
indeed,  all  who  laboured  under  any  distress,  whether  or  body  or  of 
mind.  ^  The  proper  discharge  of  this  duty  appeared  to  him  one  of  the 
most  difficult  and  delicate  parts  of  his  work.  To  suit  himself  to  the 
different  tempers  and  circumstances  of  men — to  preach  to  the 
science — to  warn  the  sinner  of  his  peril — and  to  unfold  the  promises 
of  divine  grace,  appeared  to  him  to  require  no  ordinary  prudence. 
Blackadder  was  rather  reserved  in  his  usual  intercourse  with  his 
people,  and  he  seldom  consented,  though  always  asked,  to  attend 
parties  at  feasts,  marriages,  or  baptisms. 

In  this  manner,  Blackadder  continued  faithfully  to  discharge  his 
official  duties,  until,  with  a  number  more  of  eminent  ministers,  he 
was  ejected  from  his  charge  by  the  infamous  act  of  Glasgow,  L662. 
This  act  was  preceded  by  several  encroachments,  which  were  fitted 
to  excite  suspicion  and  alarm  on  the  part  of  the  ministers.  On  this 
occasion,  Blackadder  stood  manfully  at  his  post  :  and  for  three  Sao 
baths  previous  to  his  final  ejectment,  he  testified  from  the  pulpit 
against  the  abuses  and  enormities  of  the  age.  It  so  happened  that 
the  last  Sabbath  was  the  one  set  apart  in  Edinburgh  for  the  consecra- 
tion of  the  new  bishops,  and  Blackadder  is  said  to  have  entered  his 
protest  against  the  ceremony  before  the  congregation. 

"When  the  parliament  met,  the  first  of  their  proceedings,  which 
gave  general  dissatisfaction,  was  the  ratification  of  the  act  in 
tion.   Against  it  the  Dumfries  Presbytery  protested,  as  being  a! 
at  variance  with  all  the  previous  practices  and  laws  of  the  church. 
But,  on  other  grounds,  the  act  was  quite  objectionable,  as  it  virtual!} 
condemned  as  rebellious  all  the  acts  of  the  General  Assembly  for  tin- 
last  twenty  years.    When  news  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Presbytery 
of  Dumfries  had  reached  Edinburgh,  the  commissioner  immediately 
despatched  a  military  force  to  that  town,  with  orders  to  place  the  whole 
sacred  court  under  arrest.     Accordingly,  a  troop  of  fifty  hoi 
a  certain  captain  Scott,  arrived  at  Dumfries  on  Monday  evi 
found  that  several  of  the  ministers,  aware  of  their  intention-,  had 


5g4  SCOTS    WORTHIES 

already  fled.  Among  these  were  the  two  ministers  of  Dumfries,  Mr. 
Campbell  and  Mr.  Henderson.  Blackadder  had,  in  their  abscence, 
been  requested  by  the  magistrates  to  supply  their  place,  and  had 
actually  commenced,  when  the  military  arriving,  he  judged  it  pru- 
dent to  desist,  not  choosing  to  bring  a  stranger  congregation  into  dif- 
ficulties by  any  rash  expression  that  might  escape  his  own  lips.  On 
Monday,  an  order  was  sent  round  to  all  the  clergy  within  the  bounds, 
to  present  themselves  before  the  commissioner,  and  march  next  day 
as  prisoners  to  Edinburgh.  As  this  proved  rather  inconvenient, 
Tuesday  being  appointed  for  the  meeting  of  presbytery,  his  lordship 
was  graciously  pleased  to  postpone  the  time  of  their  departure  till 
"Wednesday.  Four  gentlemen  of  the  guard  waited  upon  them  after 
dinner  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  their  minds  relative  to  their 
intended  journey.  The  brethren  politely  offered  them  wine,  and 
though  the  invitation  was  complied  with,  yet,  fearing  a  tumult,  the 
captain  requested  that  next  morning  by  ten  o'clock,  they  would,  in 
as  private  a  manner  as  possible,  leave  the  town.  They  complied 
with  this  request;  and,  when  within  half-a-mile  of  Edinburgh,  they 
were  desired  to  ride  in  before  the  commander,  who  appears  to  have 
been  afraid  of  popular  clamour  had  he  ventured  to  treat  them  as 
prisoners.  With  this  proposal  the  ministers  appear  to  have  agreed. 
Xext  day  they  were  brought  before  the  court,  and  after  a  few  inter- 
rogatories, were  allowed  to  return  to  their  own  parishes, — a  favour 
which  it  seems  was  procured  to  Blackadder  by  some  of  his  friends. 
Here,  however,  Blackadder  was  not  long  permitted  to  remain.  By 
the  severe  orders  of  the  court  he  was  soon  obliged  to  leave  his  charge, 
which  he  accordingly  did  on  the  last  Sabbath  of  October,  after  taking 
farewell  of  his  sorrowing  and  affectionate  people  in  a  pathetic  arm* 
energetic  discourse. 

From  Troqueer  Blackadder  removed  to  Glencairn,  ten  miles  dis- 
tant, in  the  beginning  of  October,  1662.  As  the  parish  was  quite 
sequestered,  he  had  great  hopes  that  the  persecuting  party  would 
allow  him  to  remain  unmolested  ;  and,  accordingly  after  residing 
there  for  about  three  months,  he  resumed  his  public  duties,  and  in 
February,  1G63,  he  ventured  back  to  his  old  parish,  where  he  visited, 
catechised,  and  lectured  privately.  The  consequence  of  this  was, 
that  letters  of  council  were  directed  against  him,  and  about  a  dozen 
of  his  confederates,  namely,  Welch,  Semple,  Arnot,  and  Peden,  for 
performing  a  number  of  acts  connected  with  the  ministerial  function. 
The  consequence  was,  that  he  resolved  forthwith  to  depart  the  coun- 
try ;*  and,  as  Edinburgh  seemed  to  offer  the  likeliest  opportunity  for 

*  On  Saturday,  he  took  his  leave  of  his  parishioners  to  seek  a  place  of  safety.  Next  day, 
the  soldiers  attacked  the  manse  in  quest  of  him.  and  behaved  with  great  insolence  to  his  wife 
and  young  family.  One  of  his  sons,  then  a  child,  narrates  what  happened: — "  A  party  of 
the  king's  life-guard  of  horse,  came  from  Dumfries  to  Troqueer  to  search  for  and  apprehend 
my  father,  for  what  occasion  I  know  not ;  whether  he  stayed  beyond  the  set  day  for  trans- 
porting himself  and  numerous  family  of  small  children  ten  miles  from  his  parish  church,  or 
because  he  was  of  the  number  of  those  who  refused  to  observe  the  29th  of  May.  So  soon 
as  the  above  party  entered  the  close,  and  came  into  the  house,  cursing  and  swearing,  we 
that  were  children,  were  frightened  out  of  our  little  wits,  and  ran  up  stairs,  and  I  among 
them  ;  who,  when  I  heard  them  all  roaring  in  the  room  below,  had  the  childish  curiosity  to 
get  down  upon  my  belly,  and  peep  through  a  hole  in  the  floor,  to  see  what  monsters  of 
creatures  they  were ;  and  it  seems  they  were  monsters  indeed  for  cruelty  ;  for  one  of  them 


JOHN    BLACKADDER. 

concealment,  he  determined  to  direct  bis  Btepa  thithi   . 
ingly,  in  a  short  time  became  a  resident,  alone  with  bis  fami 
that  ancient  capital.     Procuring  a  private  lodging  in  the  Cano 
he  there  spent  the  remainder  of  the  winter,  being  disabled 
preaching  by  a  severe  illness.     lie  attended,   however,  during 
following  summer,  a  number  of  private  meetings  in  the  I  ! 
being  joined  by  about  seven  or  eight  ministers  from  NTithsdi 
Galloway. 

The  defeat  at  Pentland  hills  interrupted  these  conventicl<  s.     Black- 
adder  was  at  that  time  in  Edinburgh,  and  had   it   nol   been  for  the 
unfavorable  accounts  which  lie  received  of  the  Btate  of 
ters'_  army,  wonld  assuredly  have  joined  them    on   that 
During  the  murderous  executions  which  followed  th  ment, 

Blackadder  had  an  opportunity   of  extending  his   human! 
suffering  countrymen  in  the  south.     In   Septembi 
auspices  of  a  milder  administration,  Blackadder  was  invited  to  preach 
and  dispense  ordinances  in  various  parishes  in  the 
In  Dunlop,  he  baptized  forty-two  children  in  one  house  :  and  in  the 
manse  of  Xewmills,  eleven.     Similar  duties  were  performed  by  him 
at  Eaglesham, — always  at  night,  for  fear  «•('  discovery.    The  new 
administration  was  much   more  liberal  than  the   former,   in   c 
quence  of  which,  for  more  than  a  year,  he  was  permitted  to  p] 
in  Edinburgh.     In  January,  1GG9,  he  received  a  second  and  pr< 
call  to  the  west,  in  consequence  of  which   he  went  to   Fenwii 
January  28,  and  preached  there  a  public  discourse,  being  th. 
which  the  people  of  the  place  had  listened  to  from  any  of  the  | 
cuted  ministers,  since  the  battle  of  Pentland.     Here   hi-  labours 
were  so  great,  and  his  exertions  fur  the  spiritual  benefit  of  tin   j 
so  unremitting,  that  his  health  suffered  materially.     Being  advised 
by  the  physicians  to  try  the  benefit  of  the  mineral  waters  at  Newmills, 
he  went  there  annually  for  seven   years,  remain; 
the  space  of  six  weeks.     The  same  year  he  went   •  rhere 

he  staid  a  few   days  in   Strathmiglo,  and  preached  to  numerous 
crowds,  who  flocked  from  all  quarters  to  hear  him. 

Government  began  to  take  alarm  at  these  conventicle- ;  mini 
were  forbidden  to  officiate  at  them  under  pain  of  final  imprisonment, 
and   the  military  were  called  out  to  carry  into  effect   the      . 
enactments  of  the  court.     Among  the  first  armed  eonventicl 
they  were  called,  was  that  kept  by   Blackadder  at  Beith-hill,  on  the 
18th  of  June,  1670.     Though  he  foresaw   the   risk  which  he  ran.  yet 
love  to  the  souls  of  men   made   him   encounter   all    hazards,     lie 
requested  Mr.  Dickson,  who  willingly  consented,  to  assist    him  on 
the  occasion. 

Exaggerated    reports   of    this   conventicle    spread    over   all    the 

iierceivin"  what  I  was  doing,  immediately  drew  l.i-  sword,  and  thursl  it  up,  will. 

force  where  I  was  peeping,  so  that  the  mark  of  Ihe  poinl  «  'e  ho1'. 

though  no  thanks  to  the  murdering  ruffian,  who  designed  to  run  it  up  through  n 

mediately  after,  we  were  forced  to  pack  up, bag  and  baggage.and  to 

miles  from  Troqueer.     We  who  were  children  w  i 

us  cried  out  coming  thresh  the  Rri-end  of  Dumfries,  •  I  m  banish  t,  I  nn  I 

happened  to  ask.  '  Who   has   banish't  ye,  my  bairn  ' 

Bishop)  has  banish't  me.'  " 


5S6  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

country.  The  two  ministers  were  summoned  to  appear  before  the 
council,  August  11  ;  but  failing  to  answer  the  citation,  they  were 
denounced,  and  put  to  the  king's  horn.  Blackadder  concealed 
himself  in  Edinburgh  ;  but  a  strict  search  being  instituted,  he  was 
compelled  to  fly  to  tho  Merse,  where  he  remained  until  the  tumult 
subsided,  when  he  again  showed  himself;  and,  resuming  his  public 
ministrations,  he  preached  at  Mordington,  and  several  other  par- 
ishes. In  the  spring  of  1671,  he  visited  Borrowstounness,  and  the 
neighbourhood.  Feeling  rather  indisposed,  he  intended  to  keep 
himself  private ;  but  early  on  Sabbath  morning,  lady  Hilderstone's 
house,  where  he  had  taken  up  his  residence,  was  surrounded  by  vast 
crowds  of  people,  who  insisted  upon  his  coming  out  to  address  them. 
For  this  meeting,  lady  Hilderstone,  her  son,  and  many  of  the  people, 
were  severely  fined.  All  this,  however,  could  not  abate  the  ardour 
of  the  people  from  favouring  field-preaching.  Scarcely  three  weeks 
after  the  meeting  at  Hilderstone,  Blackadder  preached  at  the  Black 
Dub  at  Livingstone.  He  left  Edinburgh  early  in  the  morning,  and 
returned  the  same  evening.  His  reason  for  doing  this  was  to 
prevent  the  people  from  being  brought  into  trouble  on  his  account, 
which  certainly  would  have  been  the  case  had  the  rumour  gone 
abroad  that  he  was  harbouring  among  them.  Sentence  of  outlawry 
was  this  year  passed  upon  him,  but  this  did  not  discourage  him  from 
still  continuing  to  preach  the  gospel.  Accordingly,  we  find  him, 
about  the  end  of  summer,  addressing  a  vast  assemblage  of  people 
near  Lillies-leaf,  in  Roxburghshire.  In  the  same  year  also,  he  fre- 
quently dispensed  the  sacrament  of  the  supper  in  the  open  fields.* 
The  communions  principally  noted,  and  most  numerously  attended, 
were  four,  viz.,  Kirkcudbright,  Irongray,  Carrick,  and  East  Nisbet, 
in  the  Merse.  Next  year,  1678,  Blackadder  was  invited  to  preach 
at  Devon  in  Fife ;  and  in  July,  the  same  year,  he  held  a  meeting 
near  Culross,  about  a  mile  from  Blairhole,  the  ancient  residence  of 
his  ancestors.  Afterwards,  he  was  invited  to  preach  at  Caitloch, 
where  he  found  a  large  assembly  had  collected.  A  short  account  of 
what  took  place  here  is  given  in  the  life  of  Mr.  Welch.     Blackadder 

*  Multitudes,  amidst  persecution  and  contempt,  dared  to  follow  those  who  went  forth  to 
the  moors  and  the  mounlains  preaching  the  everlasting  gospel.  Fines,  imprisonment, 
tortures,  and  death,  were  each  in  their  turn  employed,  yet  the  spirit  of  the  Covenanters 
remained  unbroken.  They  took  joyfully  the  spoiling  of  their  goods.  They  met  in  the 
lone  glen,  or  on  the  wild  moor,  by  day  and  by  night,  that  they  might  listen  to  the  truth  of 
God  from  the  lips  of  those  by  whom  they  believed  it  was  best  taught.  They  had  their 
seasons  of  communion  also ;  though  their  passover  was  indeed  eaten  in  haste ;  for  the 
vyatches  sat  on  the  neighbouring  heights  to  give  the  alarm  if  the  persecutors  came  in 
sight.  Yet  these  were  times  of  great  refreshing:  multitudes  were  pricked  to  the  heart. 
It  seemed  as  if  God  had  touched  the  lips  of  the  Ministers  with  a  live  coal  from  his  altar. 
One  who  was  often  at  these  communions,  says,  "Though  our  vows  were  not  offered 
within  the  courts  of  God's  house,  they  wanted  not  sincerity  of  heart,  which  is  better  than 
the  reverence  of  sanctuaries:  we  offered  up  our  gratitude,  and  sung  with  a  joyful  voice  to 
the  Rock  of  our  salvation."  The  melody  most  frequently  used  in  singing  their  psalms  was 
that  called  "  The  Martyrs ,-"  and  in  some  parts  of  Scotland,  this  lune  has  been  handed  down 
by  a  rude  rhyme. — 

"This  was  the  tune  the  martyrs  sang, 
when  they  were  gaen  to  dee, 
When  at  the  gallows  tree  they  stood, 
their  God  to  glorifie." 


JOHN   BLACKADDKR. 

seems  to  Lave  been  employed  only  in  the  tal 
however,   engaged  on  the   Monday    following.      On   the   Sabbath 
previous  to  the  meeting  at  Drumcloe,  he  ventured  to  preach  al 
moor   in  Livingstone.     A   severe   rheumatism  confined    him 

month    afterwards    to   his  room,  during    winch    time    the 
Both  well  Bridge  was  fought;  in  consequence  of  which  be  could  do! 
be    implicated    as  having    any    personal    share    in    it.     Indeed,    he 
appears  to  have  had  considerable  doubts  as  to  the  propriety  of  the 
risings   which   were   on    that   occasion    suppressed.       He    did 
however,  in  the  least,  shrink  fr<un  the   discharge  of  his   duty, 
immediately  after  the  act  of  indemnity  and  indulgence,  which  per 
mitted   conventicles  to  be  held  in  private  houses,  he  atill  | 
in  his  own  practice  of  preaching  publicly   in   the  open  air.     ] 
meetings  raised  a  great  outcry ;  but  Blackadder,  nothing  daunted, 
was  found  next  week  preaching  at  lord  Torphicfa 
boldness    than    before.     The    kirk  was  within    hearing,   where   the 
curate  was  haranguing  to  sixteen  persons.     From  thence  he  went  to 
Borrowstounness,  where  the  meeting  was  dispersed  by  the  soldiers 
from  Blackness,  and  he  himself  nearly   taken.     After  this,  I  Hack 
adder  preached  at  Kirkaldy,  Galawater,  and  Livii 

About  the  end  of  May,  1680,  he  resolved  on  a  voyage  for  Holland, 
as  his  eldest  son  was  about  to  commence  the  study  of  medicil 
Leyden ;  and  during  his  stay  at  Rotterdam,  which  la-ted  fifteen 
weeks,  he  preached  every  Sabbath.  About  the  end  of  September 
he  returned  to  Scotland  again;  and,  what  is  very  remarl 
arrived  in  Edinburgh  on  the  very  day  that  Mr.  John  Dickson  was 
sent  prisoner  to  the  Bass. 

We  find  him  in  January,  1681,  visiting  Troqueer,  at  the  re 
of  his  old  parishioners,  and  preaching  a*  agreal  variety  of  places,  winch 
it  would  be  too  tedious  to  mention,  both  on  his  way  thither  and  on  his 
return   to  Edinburgh.     He   concluded  bis  public  labours   in 
Lothian  about  ten  days  before  he  was  apprehended.    The  circum 
stances  which  attended   his  capture   and   examination,  I 
lows  :— On  Tuesday  morning,  April  5,  the  party  came  to  his  house 
before  he  arose.    His  daughter  and  servant  were  ap.     About  uveor 
six  o'clock  one  knocked  softly  at  the  hanging  gate;  she  opened  the 
door,  and  it  proved  to  be  Johnston,  the  town-major,  with  a  party   at 
his  back,  who  came  into  the  hall,  and   asked   if  there  wen 


the   oca,  saia,  "now  nuw,  jix.ij.ji,  10  "■«•  •■"•..  ,  , 

but  where  is  'your  order  !»    The  other  «ud,  "  Foe  are onlj 
and  come  down  to  a  friend  in  the  Canongate."       Well,     eia 
mintor,  "if  I  were  dreeeed,  I .   urn  >v,lv."        •  --  ' 
quietly  to  his  men  to  wait  on  the  prisoner.    Bui   Ik    bin 
Lth  and  went   quickly  to  DaMel   in  the  Canongate 
returned,  the  minister  calling  for  a  drink,  eonghl  a  MM 


588 


SCOTS    WORTHIES. 


caused  give  them  all  to  drink,  and  went  forth ;  his  wife  being  very 
sickly,  yet  behaved  more  quietly  than  he  could  have  believed. 
The  "major  took  him  clown  the  Cowgate,  himself  on  the  one  hand, 
and  the  minister's  son  Thomas  on  the  other,  the  party  following,  and 
brought  him  to  Dalziel's  lodgings,  near  the  foot  of  the  Canongate. 
The  major  went  first,  the  minister  following,  Dalziel  himself  opening 
the  door.  The  major  told  him  he  had  brought  the  prisoner  ;  Dalziel 
bade  him  take  him  to  the  guard.  The  minister  stepping  up  stairs, 
said,  "May  I  speak  a  little ?"  At  which  he  rudely  raged,  "  Tou, 
Sir,  have  spoken  too  much  ;  I  would  hang  you  with  my  own  hands 
over  that  outshot."  He  knew  not  yet  who  he  was,  nor  what  was 
laid  to  his  charge  till  afterward,  as  the  minister  perceived  by  a 
strange  alteration  of  his  calmness  to  him  when  he  came  to  the  court 
at  twelve  o'clock. 

The  minister,  finding  him  in  such  ill-mood,  turned  about,  and 
came  away  with  the  major,  who  put  him  not  in  the  common  guard. 
At  eleven  o'clock,  he  was  brought  before  the  common  council,  when 
the  following  questions  were  proposed  : — Chan.  Are  you  a  minister  '. 
A.  I  am.  Chan.  Where,  and  how  long  since?  A.  At  Troqueer,  in 
Galloway,  since  1653.  Chan.  Did  you  excommunicate  the  king  ;  or 
was  you  at  Torwood  at  that  time  ?  A.  I  have  not  been  at  Torwood 
these  four  years.  Chan.  But  what  do  you  think  of  it;  do  you  approve 
of  it?  A.  Though  I  be  as  free  to  answer  to  that  as  well  as  to  all  the 
former ;  yet  I  must  tell  you  I  came  here  to  give  account  of  my  judg- 
ment to  no  man  :  therefore,  seeing  that  this  is  an  interrogating  of  me 

i it  -r-k 

about  my  thoughts,  I  humbly  beg  to  be  excused.  Produce  a  libel, 
and  I'll  endeavour  to  answer  it  as  I  can.  [On  this  point  he  was  re- 
peatedly interrogated  by  the  chancellor  and  advocate,  but  to  no  pur- 
pose.] Chan.  But  do  you  approve  of  taking  the  king's  life,  and  con- 
demning him  in  soul  and  body  ?  A.  No,  I  do  not,  and  no  good  man 
will.  Chan.  But  you  have  preached  in  the  fields  ;  that  is,  on  moors 
and  hill-sides?  A.  I  place  no  case  of  conscience,  or  make  any  dif- 
ference betwixt  preaching  in  houses  or  in  the  fields.  Chan.  You 
know,  and  no  doubt  have  seen,  the  laws  discharging  such  preaching  ? 
A.  My  lord,  no  doubt  I  have,  and  I  am  sorry  that  there  ever  should 
have  been  laws  and  acts  made  against  preaching  the  gospel.  [After 
this  the  chancellor  rose,  and  went  forth  with  the  other  two,  it  being 
near  one  o'clock,  their  dinner  hour.] 

On  the  morning  of  the  second  day's  examination,  he  sent  his  son 
Thomas  to  tell  colonel  Blackadder,  who  went  and  informed  general 
Dalziel  better  what  he  was.  After  that  Dalziel  was  most  calm,  and 
tar  from  the  temper  he  was  in  before. 

Chan.  Have  you  not  been  in  Fife  sometimes,  and  kept  conventicles 
there?  A.  No  doubt,  my  lord,  I  have  been  several  times  in  Fife. 
Chan.  I  suppose  I  be  little  obliged  to  you  in  Fife,  as  I  hear  ?  A.  As 
I  can  put  little  obligation  on  a  person  of  such  quality,  so  I  know  as 
little  wherein  I  have  disobliged  your  lordship. 

At  two  o'clock  on  Wednesday,  captain  Maitland,  who  was  on 
guard,  told  the  prisoner  that  he  was  to  carry  him  up  to  the  council 
at  three,  and  desired  him  to  be  ready.  When  he  came  to  the  Par- 
liament Close,  the  captain  sent  four  soldiers  to  wait  on  the  prisoner 


^/^^j§r^ 


Enmh  of  2SIatfea^cir. 


JOHN    BLACKADDER. 

in  an  outer  room,  till  he  should  be  called.  He  was  not  called,  how 
ever,  but  sent  his  son  Thomas  to  inquire  what  word  was  concerning 
him;  who  answered,  he  believed  he  was  sentenced  to  tin-  Bass. 

This  sentence  was  accordingly  carried  into  execution.  <  >n  April  7. 
1681,  Blackadder  was  conveyed  from  Castleton  in  an  open  boat  to 
the  Bass,  where,  about  five  in  the  afternoon,  he  was  delivered  to  the 
governor. 

Blackadder  continued  in  this  prison  for  about  four  years ;  after  which 
his  health  suffered  so  severely  from  the  nngenial  air  of  the  plfl 
to  endanger  his  life.   His  friends  solicited  liberty  for  him  to  be  brought 
to  Edinburgh.     This,  however,  was  not  granted  ;  and  he  was  merely 
allowed  to  change  his  place  of  residence  to  Dunbar  or  Qaddi] 
prison,  as  he  might  choose.     Meanwhile,  his  distemper,  it  api 
had  increased,  and  gave  symptoms  of  fatal  termination,  which  being 
again  represented  to  the  council,  he  was  at  last  permitted  to  come  to 
the  town  of  Edinburgh.    The  order  came  too  late,  for  Blackadder 
had  already  died.    lie  was  subsequently  buried  in  the  churchyard 
of  North  Berwick,  where  a  handsome  tombstone  still  mark-  his  grave, 
containing  the  following  epitaph  : — 

Blest  John,  for  Jesus  sake,  in  Patmos  bound. 

His  prison  Bethel,  Patmos  Pisgah  found  : 

So  the  blessed  John,  on  yonder  rock  confined, 

His  body  suffered,  but  no  chains  could  bind 

His  heaven-aspiring  soul ;  while  day  by  day, 

As  from  Mount  Pisgah's  top,  he  did  survey 

The  promised  land,  and  view"d  the  crown  by  faith 

Laid  up  for  those  who  faithful  are  till  death. 

Grace  form'd  him  in  the  Christian  Hero's  mould — 

Meek  in  his  own  concerns — in  's  Masters  bold  , 

Passions  to  Reason  chained,  Prudence  did  lead  : 

Zeal  warm'd  his  breast,  and  reason  cool'd  his  head. 

Five  years  on  the  lone  rock,  yet  sweet  abode, 

He  Enoch-like  enjoyed,  and  walk'd  with  God  ; 

Till,  by  long  living  on  this  heavenly  food, 

His  soul  by  love  grew  up  too  great,  too  good 

To  be  confined  to  jail,  or  flesh  and  blood. 

Death  broke  his  fetters  off,  then  swift  he  (led 

From  sin  and  sorrow  ;  and,  by  angels  led, 

Enterd  the  mansions  of  eternal  joy  ; — 

Blest  soul,  thy  warfare's  done,  praise,  love,  enjoy  ! 

His  dust  here  rests  till  Jesus  come  again, — 

Even  so,  blest  Jesus,  come.     Come,  Lord.     Amen. 


\ 


590 


SCOTS    WORTHIES 


JAMES  RENWICK. 


James  Renwick  was  born  in  the  parish  of  Glencairn  in  Nithsdale, 
February  15,  1662.  His  parents,  though  not  rich,  were  yet  exemplary 
for  piety.  His  father,  Andrew  Renwick,  a  weaver  by  trade,  and  his 
mother,  Elizabeth  Corsan,  had  several  children  before  James,  who 
died  young;  for  which,  when  his  mother  was  giving  forcible  expres- 
sion to  her  sorrow,  her  husband  used  to  comfort  her  with  declaring, 
that  he  was  well  satisfied  to  have  children,  whether  they  lived  or 
died,  young  or  old,  providing  they  might  be  heirs  of  glory.  This, 
however,  did  not  satisfy  her :  for  in  her  prayers  to  Go-d,  she  entreated 
for  a  child  that  might  not  only  be  an  heir  of  glory,  but  might  live  to 
serve  him  in  his  generation  ;  whereupon,  when  James  was  born,  she 
took  it  as  an  answer  of  prayer,  and  regarded  herself  as  lying  under 
manifold  engagements  to  dedicate  him  to  the  Lord. 

After  James  had  learned  to  read  the  Bible,  when  about  six  years 
old,  the  Lord  gave  him  some  tokens  of  future  grace,  training  him  in 
his  way,  exercising  him  with  doubts  and  debates  above  childish 
apprehension,  about  the  Maker  of  all  things,  how  all  things  were 
made,  and  for  what  end ;  and  with  strange  suppositions  of  so  many 
invisible  worlds,  above  and  beneath,  with  which  he  was  transported 
into  a  train  of  musing,  and  continued  in  this  exercise  for  about  the 
space  of  two  years,  until  he,  by  prayer  and  meditation  on  the  history 
of  the  creation,  came  to  a  thorough  belief  that  God  made  all  things, 
and  that  all  which  he  made  was  very  good.  And  yet  after  he  came 
to  more  maturity,  he  relapsed  to  a  deeper  labyrinth  of  darkness  about, 
these  foundation  truths,  and  was  so  assaulted  with  temptations  of 
atheism,  that  being  in  the  fields  and  looking  to  the  mountains,  he 
said,  "  If  these  were  all  devouring  furnaces  of  burning  brimstone,  he 
would  be  content  to  go  through  them  all,  if  so  he  could  be  assured 
there  was  a  God."  Out  of  which  he  emerged,  through  grace,  into 
the  sweet  serenity  of  a  settled  persuasion  of  the  being  of  a  God,  and 
of  his  interest  in  him. 

From  his  younger  years  he  was  remarkable  for  obedience  to  his 
parents,  whose  orders,  if  they  had  spoken  of  putting  him  to  any  trade, 
he  would  cheerfully  have  complied  with  ;  yet  his  own  taste  was  de- 
cidedly literary,  until  Providence  at  last  saw  proper  to  gratify  him, 
by  raising  friends  whe  were  so  enamoured  of  his  hopeful  disposition, 
that  they  took  him  to  Edinburgh,  and  earnestly  promoted  his  educa- 
tion.    When  he  was  ready  for  the  university,  they  encouraged  bin 


JAMES    RENWICK.  ;  <I 

to  engage  in  teaching  the  sons  of  the  gentry  for  mutual  im] 

ment;  this   kind  of  society,  however,  :is   nsnally  happen 

him,  with  others,  to  spend  too  much  of  hie  time  in  gaming  and  recre 

ations.     This  was  the  reason  that  some  who  knew  him 

sion  to  reproach  him  in  after  years,  with  profanity  and  flagitious) 

which  his  nature  ever  abhorred.     When  bis  time  at  tl  i 

near  an  end,  he  evinced  such  a  tenderne  -  of  offending  I 

that  upon  his  refusal  of  the  oath  of  allegiance  then  tendered,  he 

denied  his  share  of  the  public  solemnity  of  laureatkm  with  tin 

of  the  candidates,  hut  received  it  privately  at  Edinburgh.     After 

which  he  continued  his  studies,  attending  <>n  the  then  private  and 

persecuted  meetings  for  gospel-ordinance>  for  a  time. 

But  upon  a  deplorable  discovery  of  the  unfaithfulness  of  the  gene- 
rality even  of  nonconformist  ministers,  he  was  again  for  sunn-  time 
plunged  in  the  deeps  of  darkness,  doubting  what  should  be  the 
of  such  backsliding  courses:  until,  upon  a  stricter  search  after  such 
ministers  as  were  most  free  from  these  defection*,  he  found  more 
light,  and  his  knowledge  of  the  iniquity  of  these  conn  nted, 

and  his  zeal  increased.     And  being  more  confirmed,  when  be  beheld 
how  signally  the  faithful  ministers  were  owned  of  the  Lord,  and  car- 
ried off  the  stage  with  great  steadfastness,  faith,  and  patience, 
cially  after  the  death  of  that  faithful   minister   and    martyr,    Mr. 
Donald  Cargill,  at  whose  execution  he  was  present,  Jnly  27,  1681,  be 
was  so  moved,  that  he  determined  to  embark  with  these  v. 
that  cause   for  which   they  suffered;    and   he  was   afterwar 
strengthened  and  established  in  that  resolution,  getting  instructions 
about  these  things  in  and  from  the  word,  bo  sealed  with  a  Btrong 
hand  upon  his  soul,  that  all  the  temptations,  tribulation  oppo- 

sitions, and  contradictions  he  met  with  from  all  hands  to  the  day  of 
his  death,  could  never  afterwards  in  the  least  unsettle  hi-  faith. 

On  the  strength  of  these  conclusions,  and  upon   grounds 
ture  and  reason,  he,  in  Oetdber,  1681,  accordingly  held  a  m< 
with  some  of  these  faithful  witnesses  of  Christ,  and  conferred  about 
the  testimonies  of  some  other  martyrs  lately  executed,  which  he  was 
very  earnest  always  to  gather  and"  keep  on  record,  refresl 
greatly,  by  discourse,  in  which  he  showed  how  much  he  \. 
and  offended  with  those  who  heard  the  curates,  pleaded  for  a  38-paj 
ing,  and  defended  the  owning  of  the  tyrant's  authority,  and  h< 
it  was  to  him  that  none  were  giving  a  formal  testimony  against  thee 
things.     In  the  end  he  added,  "  That  he  w.-uld  think  it  a  great  ease 
to  his   mind  to  know  and  be  engaged   with   a   lvmnanl    that   would 
singly  prosecute  and  propagate  the  testimony  against  the  comipti 
of  the  times  to  the  succeeding  generations,  and  would  d(  -ire  ool 
more  than  to  be  helped  to  he  serviceable  to  them." 

At  his  first  coming  among  them,  he  could  not  hut  he  tal 
of;  for,  while  some  were  speaking  of  removing  the 
martyrs  lately  executed  at  the  Gallowlee,  Ken  wick  wa  rward 

to  promote  it;  and  when  those  who  adhered  to  the  testimoi 
revised  by  Messrs.  Cameron  and  Cargill,  towards  the  end  ol    IB81 
began  to  settle  a  correspondence  for  preserving  union,  understand,!, 
one  another's  minds,  and  preventing  declensions  to  ngh1  i  r  Lefl 


592 


SCOTS    WORTHIES. 


extremes,  and  agreed  on  emitting  that  declaration  published  at 
Lanark,  January  12,  1682,  Renwick  was  employed  proclaiming  it, 
but  had  no  hand  in  the  penning  thereof,  otherwise  it  might  have  been 
more  considerately  worded  than  what  it  was ;  for,  though  he 
approved  of  the  matter  of  it,  yet  he  always  acknowledged  there  were 
some  expressions  therein  rather  unadvised. 

After  publishing  this  declaration,  the  next  general  meeting — 
finding  themselves  reproached,  and  informed  against  both  at  home, 
and  abroad  in  foreign  churches,  as  if  they  had  fallen  from  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  Church  of  Scotland — thought  it  expedient  to  send  the 
laird  of  Earlstoun  to  the  United  Provinces  to  vindicate  themselves 
from  these  reproaches,  and  to  crave  that  sympathy  which  they  could 
not  obtain  from  their  own  countrymen.  This  at  length,  through 
mercy,  proved  so  encouraging  to  them,  that  a  door  was  opened  to 
provide  for  a  succession  of  faithful  ministers,  by  sending  some  to  be 
fitted  for  the  work  of  the  ministry  there.  Accordingly,  Renwick, 
with  some  others,  went  thither.  His  comrades  were  ready,  and 
sailed  before,  which  made  him  anxious  to  follow. 

When  he  went  over,  he  was  settled  at  the  University  of  Groningen, 
where  he  plied  his  studies  so  hard,  and  with  such  success,  that,  from 
the  necessities  of  his  friends  in  Scotland,  who  were  longing  for  his 
labours,  and  his  own  ardent  desire  to  be  at  the  work,  in  a  short  time 
he  was  ready  for  ordination.  To  hasten  this,  his  dear  friend  Mr. 
Robert  Hamilton,  who  merited  so  much  of  those  who  reaped  the 
benefit  of  Renwick's  labours  afterwards,  applied  to  one  Mr.  Brake], 
a  godly  Dutch  minister,  who  was  much  delighted  at  first  with  the 
motion,  and  advised  it  should  be  done  at  Embden ;  but  this  could 
not  be  obtained,  because  the  principal  man  there  who  was  to  have 
the  management  of  the  affair,  was  in  his  judgment  Cocceian.  Where- 
upon, Mr.  Hamilton  solicited  the  classes  of  Groningen  to  undertake 
it ;  which  they  willingly  promised  to  do,  and,  calling  for  the  testi- 
monials of  Renwick,  and  the  rest  who  went  over  at  that  time,  Ren- 
wick's was  produced — being  providentially  in  readiness  when  the 
others  were  wanting — and  though  in  a  rude  dress,  were  sustained. 
The  classes  being  convened,  they  were  called  in  and  had  an  open 
harangue,  wherein  open  testimony  was  given  against  all  the  forms 
and  corruptions  of  their  church ;  at  which  they  were  so  far  from 
being  offended,  that,  after  a  solemn  consideration  of  their  cause, 
they  declared  it  was  the  Lord's,  and  cost  what  it  would,  though  all 
the  kings  of  the  earth  were  against  it,  they  would  go  through  with 
it.  They  all  three  should  have  passed  together,  but  upon  some  dis- 
content arising,  the  other  two  were  retarded.  It  was  the  custom  of 
the  place,  that  every  one  that  passes  must  pay  twenty  guilders  for 
the  use  of  the  church  ;  but  the  classes  jointly  declared  that  they 
would  be  at  all  the  charges  themselves. 

The  next  difficulty  was,  that,  being  told  it  was  impossible  for  any 
to  pass  without  subscribing  their  "Catechism,  and  observing  that 
their  forms  and  corruptions  are  therein  justified,  Renwick  resolutely 
answered,  "  He  would  do  no  such  thing,  being  engaged  by  a  solemn 
covenant  to  the  contrary."  This  was  like  to  spoil  all ;  but  at  last 
they  consented  that  lie  subscribe  the  Confession  and  Catechism  of 


JAMES    RENWICK. 


the  Church  of  Scotland,— a  practice  never  before  heard  of  in  that 
land  ;  which  was  accepted.  On  the  day  of  ordination,  Renwick  was 
called  in   a   very   respectful  way.     After  Bpend  time  in 

prayer,  the  examination  began,  which  lasted  from  ten  in  the  morn- 
ing to^  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.     Then  his  friends,  who  were 
attending  in  the  church,  were  called  in,  amongsl    whom   was  bis 
honoured  friend  Mr.  Hamilton,  and  another  elder  of  the  Church  of 
Scotland,  to  be  witness  to  the  laving  on  of  the  hands;  which, 
the  exhortation,  they  performed  with  prayer,  the  wholi 
melting  in  tears;  and  thereafter,  he  haa  a  discourse  to  the  cl 
With   this    solemnity  the   classes    were  so  much    affected,  tl 
dinner,  to  which  he  and  his  friends  were  invited,  the  ; 
the  great  satisfaction  all  the  brethren  had  in    Renwick;  thai 
thought  the  whole  time  he  was  before  them,  he  was  bo  tilled   with 
the  Spirit  of  God,  that  his  face  seemed  to  shine  ;  and  that  they  had 
never  seen  or  found  so  much  of  the  Lord's  Spirit  accompanying  any 
work  as  that.     But  no  sooner  were  these  difficulties  over,  than 
of  a  more  disagreeable  aspect  began  to  arise,  which,  if  they  had 
appeared  but  one  day  sooner,  might  have  Btopped  tin-  ordination,  at 
least  for  a  time.     On  the  very  next  day.  Mr.    Brake!  told  them,  that 
a  formal  libel  was  coming  from  the  Scottish  ministers  at  Rotterdam, 
containing  heavy  accusations   against   the   poor  society-people    in 
Scotland,  which  they  behoved  either  to  vindicate,  or  else  the  ordina- 
tion must  be  stopped  ;  but  this  being  too  late  as  to  Renwick,  it  came 
to  nothing  at  last. 

After  his  ordination,  he  was  very  desirous  of  improving  his  talents 
for  the  poor  persecuted  people  in  Scotland;  ana  having  received 
large  testimonials  of  his  ordination  and  learning — particularly  in  the 
Hebrew  and  Greek  tongues — from  the  classes,  and  finding  a  .-hip 
ready  to  sail,  he  embarked  at  the  Brill ;  but,  waiting  Borne  'lav-  upon 
a  wind,  he  was  so  discouraged  by  Borne  profane  passengers  pr< 
the  king's  health,  that  he  was  forced  to  leave  thi  and  take 

another  bound  for  Ireland.  A  sea-storm  compelled  them  to  put  in 
to  Eye  harbour  in  England,  about  the  time  when  there  was  bo  much 
noise  of  the  Kyehouse  plot,  which  created  him  no  small  danger; 
but,  after  man v  perils  at  sea,  he  arrived  safe  at  Dublin,  when-  In- 
had  many  conflicts  with  the  ministers  there,  anent  their  defections 
and  indifference  ;  and  vet  in  such  a  gaining  and  gospel-way,  that  he 
left  convictions  on  their  spirits  of  his  being  a  pious  aid  zealous 
youth,  which  induced  them  to  assist  him  in  procuring  a  - 
passage  to  Scotland.  In  this  passage  he  had  considerable  dangers, 
and  a  prospect  of  more,  as  not  knowing  how  or  where  he  Bhould 
come  to  land,  all  ports  being  then  so  strictly  observed,  and  the 
skipper  refusing  to  let  him  go  till  his  name  was  given  up.  But  vet 
at  last  he  was  prevailed  on  to  give  him  a  east  to  the  shore,  where  he 
beo-an  his  weary  and  uncertain  wanderings— which  continued  with 
him  till  he  was  apprehended— through  an  unknown  wilde 
amongst  unknown  people,  it  being  some  time  before  he  could  meet 
with  any  of  the  societies.  .  . 

In  September,  1683,  he  commenced  his  ministerial  work  in 
land,  taking  up  the  testimony  of  the  standard  ot  Christ  where 
38 


594: 


SCOTS    WORTHIES. 


fixed,  and  bad  fallen  at  the  removal  of  the  former  witnesses,  Messrs. 
Cameron  and  Cargill,  which,  in  the  strength  of  his  Master,  he 
undertook  to  prosecute  and  maintain  against  opposition  from  all 
hands. 

In  the  midst  of  these  difficulties,  he  was  received  by  a  poor  perse- 
cuted people,  who  had  lost  all  their  worldly  means  of  enjoyment,  for 
the  sake  of  the  gospel.  His  first  public  meeting  was  in  a  moss  at 
Darmead,  where,  for  their  information  and  his  own  vindication,  he 
thought  it  expedient  not  only  to  let  them  know  how  he  was  called  to  the 
ministry,  and  what  he  adhered  to,  but  also  to  unbosom  himself 
about  the  perplexing  questions  of  the  time,  particularly  concerning 
ministers'  defections,  showing  whom  he  could  not  join  with,  and  his 
reasons  for  so  doing ;  and,  in  the  end,  told  them  on  what  grounds  he 
stood. 

After  this,  many  other  attempts  were  made,  not  only  by  the 
profane,  but  even  by  many  professors ;  some  saying,  he  had  excom- 
municated all  the  ministers  in  Scotland,  and  some  after  they  were 
dead ;  whereas,  he  only  gave  reasons  why  he  could  not  keep 
communion  with  them  in  the  present  circumstances.  Others  said, 
that  he  was  no  Presbyterian,  and  that  his  design  was  only  to 
propagate  schism.  But  the  truth  was,  he  was  professed  witness 
against  all  the  defections  of  Presbyterians  from  any  part  of  their 
covenanted  work  of  reformation.  Again,  other  ministers  alleged  he 
was  a  Sectarian,  Independent,  or  Anabaptist,  or  they  knew  not 
what.  But  when  he  had  sometimes  occasion  to  be  among  them,  in 
and  about  Newcastle  and  Northumberland,  they  were  as  much 
offended  as  any  at  his  faithful  freedom  in  discovering  the  evil  of 
their  way,  and  declared  that  they  had  never  met  with  such  severe 
dealing  from  any  Presbyterian  before  him. 

But  the  general  outcry  was,  that  he  had  no  mission  at  all.  Others 
slandering  him,  that  he  came  only  by  chance,  at  a  throw  of  the  dice  ; 
with  many  other  calumnies,  refuted  by  the  foregoing  relation. 

On  the  other  hand,  some  gave  out  that  he  and  his  followers 
maintained  the  murdering  principles  and  the  delirious  and  detesta- 
ble blasphemies  of  Gibb  ;  all  which  shameless  and  senseless  fictions 
he  ever  opposed  and  abhorred.  Yea,  some  ministers,  more  seeming- 
ly serious  in  their  essays  to  prepossess  the  people  against  him,  said, 
"That  they  had  sought  and  got  the  mind  of  the  Lord  in  it,  that  his 
labours  should  never  profit  the  Church  of  Scotland,  nor  any  soul  in 
it,"  assuring  themselves  he  would  break,  and  bring  to  nothing,  him 
and  them  that  followed  him  ere  it  were  long ;  comparing  them  to 
Jannes  and  Jambres,  who  withstood  Moses.  All  which  reproaches 
he  was  remarkably  supported  under,  and  went  on  in  his  Master's 
business,  while  he  had  any  work  for  him  to  do. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  noise  that  went  through  the  country 
concerning  him,  attracted  the  notice  of  the  council ;  and,  being 
enraged  at  the  report  of  his  preaching  in  the  fields,  they  raised  a 
hotter  and  more  cruel  persecution  against  him  than  had  ever  been 
the  case  before  respecting  any  one  man  in  the  nation.  For,  having 
publicly  proclaimed  him  a  traitor  and  rebel,  they  proceeded  to 
pursue  his  followers  with  all  the  rigour  that  hellish  fury  and  malice 


JAMES    RENWICK. 

could  suggest  or  invent ;  and  yet  the  more   they  opposed,  the   more 
they  grew"  and  increased. 

In  1684,  his  difficulties  from  enemies,  and  discount  from 
friends  opposed  to  him,  and  manifold  vexations  from  all  han 
to  increase  more  and  more;  yet,  all  the  while,  he  would  not  intermit 
one  day's  preaching,  but  was  still  incessant  and  undaunted  in  bis 
work.  This  made  the  ministers  inform  against  him,  as  if  be  had  in- 
truded upon  other  men's  labours  ;  alleging,  that  when  another  minis- 
ter had  engaged  to  preach  in  a  place,  he  anex] tedly 

preached  in  the  same  parish.   They  instanced  one  tim 
in  which  case  he  went  upon  a  call  from  several  in  that  bounds,  with- 
out knowing  whether  there  was  such  a  minister  in  that  country.      I* 
is  confessed,  that  he  had  sometimes  taken  the  cburche  h  in, 

when  either  the  weather,  instant  hazard  at  the  time,  or  reap 
secrecy  and  safety,  did  exclude  from  every  other  place.     But,  could 
this  be  called  intrusion,  to  creep  into  the  church  for  one  night,  when 
they  could  not  stand,  nor  durst  they  be  seen  without '. 

This  year,  in  prosecution  of  a  cruel  information,  the  soldiers 
came  more  vigilant  in  their  indefatigable  diUgeno  and  hunt 

after  him  :  and  from  them  he  had  many  remarkable  deli 
particularly  in  the  month  of  July  he  had  one  when  he  was  >_r"ing  to 
a  meeting;  a  countryman,  seeing  him  wearied,  gave  him  a  hor 
some  miles  to  ride  on,  they  were  surprised  by  lieutenant  Dundas  and 
a  party  of  dragoons.  The  two  men  with  him  were  taken  and  pitifully 
wounded.  He  escaped  their  hands,  and  went  up  Dungavel  hill  ;  but 
was  so  closely  pursued — they  being  so  near  that  they  fired  at  him  all 
the  time — that  he  was  forced  to  leave  the  horse,  losing  thereby  his 
cloakbag,  with  many  papers.  Seeing  no  other  refuge,  he  tied,  in  their 
sight,  towards  a  heap  of  stones,  where,  for  a  little  moment,  getting 
out  of  their  sight,  he  found  a  hollow  place  into  which  he  crepi  :  and 
committing  himself  by  earnest  ejaculation  to  God,  in  submission  to 
live  or  die  ;  and  also  believing,  that  he  should  be  reserved  for  greater 
work,  that  part  of  Scripture  often  coming  into  his  mind,  Psalm  vi.  8, 
"  Depart  from  me  all  ye  workers  of  iniquity,"  together  with  I 
words,  Psalm  xci.  11,  "For  he  shall  give  his  angels  charge,"  &c.  In 
the  mean  time,  the  enemy  searched  up  and  down  the  hill,  yet  were 
restrained  from  looking  into  that  place  where  he  was.  Many  such 
sore  and  desperate  chases  he  and  those  with  him  met  ;  some  con- 
tinuing whole  nights  and  days  without  intermission,  in  the  wildest. 
places  of  the  country,  for  many  miles  together,  without  so  much  as  a 
possibility  of  escaping  the  sight  of  those  who  pursued  them. 

This  year  (September  21),  letters  of  intercommuning  were  issued 
out  against  him,  commanding  all  to  give  him  no  reset  or  supply,  nor 
furnish  him  with  meat,  drink,  house,  harbour,  or  anything  useful  to 
him;  and  requiring  all  sheriffs  to  apprehend  and  commit  to_  prison 
his  person,  wherever  they  could  find  him;  by  virtue  of  which  the 
sufferers  were  reduced  to  incredible  straits,  not  only  in  being  mur- 
dered, but  also  from  hunger,  cold,  harassings,  &c. ;  in  which  per- 
plexity, being  neither  able  to  flee,  nor  fight,  they  were  forQ 
publish  an  apologetical  representation  of  the  approved  principl 
practices,  and  covenant-engagements  of  our  Reformers,  and  to  en- 


596 


SCOTS    WORTHIES. 


force  and  reduce  to  practice  that  privilege  of  extraordinary  executing 
of  judgment,  on  the  murdering  beasts  of  prey,  who  made  a  daily 
trade  of  destroying  innocents.  When  this  declaration  was  first  pro- 
posed, Renwick  was  somewhat  averse  to  it,  fearing  the  sad  effects  it 
might  produce ;  but,  considering  the  necessity  of  the  case  would 
admit  of  no  delay,  he  consented,  and  concurred  in  the  publication 
thereof.  Accordingly  it  was  fixed  upon  several  market-crosses  and 
parish-church  doors,  November  8,  1684. 

After  the  publication  of  this  declaration,  rage  and  reproach  seemed 
to  strive  which  should  show  the  greatest  violence  against  the  publish- 
ers and  owners  of  it.  The  council  published  a  proclamation  for  dis- 
covering such  as  own,  or  will  not  disown  it ;  requiring  that  none 
above  the  age  of  sixteen  travel  without  a  pass,  and  that  any  who 
would  apprehend  any  of  them  should  have  500  merks  for  each  per- 
son ;  and  that  every  one  should  take  the  oath  of  abjuration  ;  whereby 
the  temptation  and  hazard  became  so  dreadful  that  many  were  shot 
instantly  in  the  fields;  others,  refusing  the  oath,  were  brought  in, 
sentenced  and  executed  in  one  day ;  yea,  spectators  at  executions 
were  required  to  say,  whether  these  men  suffered  justly  or  not.  All 
which  disastrous  effects  Renwick,  with  a  sad  and  troubled  heart,  ob- 
served, and  was  often  heard  to  say,  that  he  wished  from  his  heart  the 
declaration  had  never  been  published. 

Neither  was  the  year  1685  anything  better.  For  it  became  now 
the  enemy's  greatest  ambition  and  emulation  who  could  destroy  most 
of  those  poor  wandering  mountain-men — as  they  were  called — and 
when  they  had  spent  all  their  balls,  they  were  nothing  nearer  their 
purpose  than  when  they  began ;  for  the  more  they  were  afflicted,  the 
more  they  grew.  "  The  bush  did  burn,  but  was  not  consumed,  be- 
cause the  Lord  was  in  the  bush." 

Charles  II.  being  dead,  and  the  duke  of  York,  a  professed  Papist, 
proclaimed  in  February,  1685,  Kenwick  could  not  let  go  this  oppor- 
tunity of  witnessing  against  that  usurpation  of  a  papist  upon  the 
government  of  the  nation,  and  his  design  of  overturning  the  covenanted 
work  of  Reformation,  and  introducing  popery.  Accordingly,  he  and 
about  200  men  went  to  Sanquhar,  May  28,  1685,  and  published  that 
declaration,  afterwards  called  the  Sanquhar  Declaration. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  earl  of  Argyle's  expedition  taking  place, 
Renwick  was  much  solicited  to  join  with  them.  He  expressed  the 
esteem  he  had  of  his  honest  and  laudable  intention,  and  spoke  ver}7 
favourably  of  him,  declaring  his  willingness  to  concur,  if  the  quarrel 
and  declaration  were  rightly  stated  ;  but,  because  it  was  not  concerted 
according  to  the  ancient  plea  of  our  Scottish  Covenants,  he  could  not 
agree  with  them ;  which  created  him  a  new  series  of  troubles  and 
reproach,  and  that  from  all  hands,  and  from  none  more  than  the  in- 
dulged. 

In  1686,  Renwick  was  constrained  to  be  more  public  and  explicit 
in  his  testimony  against  the  designs  and  defections  of  the  time  ; 
wherein  he  met  with  more  contradictions  and  oppositions  from  all 
hands,  and  more  discouraging  and  distracting  treatment,  even  from 
some  who  once  followed  him  :  and  was  much  troubled  with  letters  of 
accusation  against  him  from  many  hands.     One  of  the  ministers  that 


JAMES    RENWICK. 

came  over  with  Argyle  wrote  a  very  vindictive  letl 
which  letter  he  answered  at  large.    Hewaa  also  traduced,  1 
home  and  abroad,  by  one  Alexander  Gordon,  who  sometime^  i 
with  that  suffering  party;  but  by  none  more  than  one   \l 
cart,  in  Carnck,  who  wrote  a  scurrilous  libel  against  him,  from  which 
Renwick  vindicated  himself  in  the  plainest  terms.    But  thU 
tying  the  said  Robert  Cathcart,  he  did,  in  the  name  of  bie  f 
Carnck,  and  the  shire  of  Wigton,  though  without  the 
the  half  of  them,  take  a  protest  against  Benwick's  preaching  o 
versing  within  their  jurisdiction;  giving  him  occasion,  wil 
to  complain,  "They  speak  with  vanity,  their  heart  ,  ini- 

quity; yea,  mine  own  familiar  friend,  in  whom  I  trusted,  hath 
up  his  heel  against  me.'' 

Notwithstanding  all  former  obloquies  he  sustained   from  all 
of  opposers,  he  had  one  faithful  and  fervent  v  □  his  side.  M:\ 

Alexander  Peden  ;  and  yet,  a  little  before  his  death,  these  reproacbera 
so  far  prevailed  with  him,  as  to  instigate  him  to  a  declared  o] 
tion  against  Renwick;   which  not  only  contribul 
much,  but  was  also  an  occasion  of  stumbling  to    many-  oth< 
the  well-affected,  and  to  the  confirmation  of  his  oppon 
theless,  he  continued  to  traverse  the  country,  preach  in  j 
and  baptizing;  travelling  through  Galloway,  w) 
counter  a  most  insolent  protestation  given  in  against  him,  1 
professors  between  Dee  and  Cree,  subscribed  by  one   B  m:  a 

paper  which  he  read  over  at  a  public  meeting   in  that  bounds, 
a  lecture  from  Psalm  xv.,  and  a  sermon  from  Song  ii..  2  .  '       rraing 
the  people  what  was  done  in  their  name,  making  several  anima 
sions  thereon,  as  having  a  tendency  to  overturn  several 
valuable  Reformation  ;  exhorting  them,  if  there  were  any  v.h 
curred  therein,  that  they  would  speedily  retract  their  hand  fi 
an  inicjuity. 

Shortly  after  this,  while  his  work  was  increasing  daily  on  | 
and  his  difficulties  multiplying,  his  labours  were  diminished   b 
help   of  Mr.   David    Houston   from   Ireland,    and    Mr.    Alexi 
Shields,  which  was  very  refreshing  to  him,  a-  it  famished  him  with 
an  answer  to  those  who  said,  that  he  neither  desired  to  join  with 
another  minister,  nor  so  much  as  to  meet  with  any  othi 
The  first  was  already  confuted;    and,   as  for  the  other,  it  i- 
known  how  far  he  travelled  both  in  Scotland  and   Ens 
with  ministers  for  a  coalescence,  which  they  superciliously  refused. 
He  once  sent  a  friend  for  that  purpose  to  a  minister  of  great  d 
Glendale  in  Northumberland;   but  he  peremptorily  refused. 
previous  time,  in  the  same  country,  happening  to  be  in  a  mi, 
spected  gentlewoman's  house,  where  providentially  Dr.  Ruli 
visit,  Renwick,  in  another  room,  overheard   him   forbidding   Ik 
many  arguments,  to  entertain  or  countenance  him  if  he  Bhould  i 
that  way.     Upon  this  he  sent  for  the  Doctor,  and  informed  him  that 

*  Mr.  Peden  on  his  deathbed  Bent  for  him,  and,  after 
had  been  misinformed  anenl  him;  exhorting  him  ' 
honestly  through;  asking  his  forgiveness, and  desiring  him  t.»  pray  with 

parted  ;  all  which  Renwick  did  with  great  cheerful 


593  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

the  same  person  was  in  the  house,  and  that  he  wished  to  converse 
with  him  on  that  head  ;  but  this  he  refused. 

After  this,  one  informed  against  him  to  the  ministers  in  Holland, 
who  returned  back  with  Mr.  Brakel's  advice  to  Ren  wick  and  others  ; 
but  as  it  relished  of  a  gospel  spirit,  not  like  that  of  his  informers,  it 
was  noway  offensive  to  him.  Mr.  Roelman,  another  famous  Dutch 
divine,  and  a  great  sympathizer  once  with  Itenwick  and  that  afflicted 
party,  by  their  information  turned  also  his  enemy,  which  was  more 
weighty  to  him  that  such  a  great  man  should  be  so  credulous ;  but 
all  these  things  never  moved  him,  being  fully  resolved  to  suffer  this 
and  more  for  the  cause  of  Christ. 

In  1687  a  proclamation  was  issued,  February  12,  tolerating  the 
moderate  Presbyterians  to  meet  in  their  private  houses  to  hear  the 
indulged  ministers,  while  the  field-meetings  should  be  prosecuted 
with  the  utmost  rigour  of  law.  A  second  proclamation  was  given, 
June  28,  allowing  all  to  serve  God  in  their  own  way,  in  any  house. 
A  third  was  emitted,  October  5,  declaring  that  all  preachers  and 
hearers  at  any  meetings  in  the  open  fields  should  be  prosecuted  with 
the  utmost  severity  that  law  would  allow  ;  and  that  all  Dissenting 
ministers  who  preach  in  houses  should  teach  nothing  that  should 
alienate  the  hearts  of  the  people  from  the  government ;  and  that  the 
privy-counsellors,  sheriffs,  &c,  should  be  acquainted  with  the  places 
set  apart  for  their  preaching.  This  proclamation,  it  seems,  was 
granted  as  an  answer  to  an  address  for  the  toleration  given  in,  in 
name  of  all  the  Presbyterian  ministers,  July  21, 1687. 

Upon  this,  Renwick  found  it  his  duty  not  only  to  declare  against 
the  granters,  but  also  against  the  accepters  of  this  toleration  ;  warn- 
ing also  the  people  of  the  hazard  of  their  accession  to  it.  At  this 
the  indulged  were  so  incensed,  that  no  sooner  was  their  meeting  well 
settled  than  they  began  to  evince  their  malignity,  by  calling  him  an 
intruder,  a  Jesuit,  a  white  devil  going  through  the  land  carrying 
the  devil's  white  flag  ;  and  asserting  that  he  had  done  more  hurt  to 
the  Church  of  Scotland  than  its  enemies  had  done  these  twenty 
years.  To  render  him  odious,  they  also  circulated  papers  through 
the  country,  as  given  under  his  hand. 

Yet,  though  he  was  not  only  the  butt  of  the  wicked,  but  the  scorn 
of  professors  also,  who  were  at  their  ease,  he  still  continued  at  his 
work,  his  inward  man  increasing  more  and  more,  when  his  outward 
man  was  much  decayed  ;  and  his  zeal  for  fulfilling  his  ministry,  and 
finishing  his  testimony,  increasing  the  more,  the  less  peace  and 
accommodation  he  could  find  in  the  world.  At  the  same  time  he 
became  so  weak  that  he  could  not  mount  or  sit  on  horseback,  and 
behoved  to  be  carried  to  the  place  of  preaching. 

In  the  meantime,  the  persecution  against  him  was  so  furious,  that 
in  less  than  five  months  after  the  toleration,  fifteen  most  desperate 
searches  were  made  for  him.  To  encourage  which,  a  proclamation 
was  made,  October  18,  offering  a  reward  of  £100  sterling  to  any  one 
who  would  bring  in  the  persons  of  him  and  some  others,"  either  dead 
or  alive. 

In  the  beginning  of  168S,  being  now  approaching  the  limits  of  his 
course,  he  ran  very  fast,  and  wrought  very  hard,  both  as  a  Christian 


JAMES    RENWICK. 


and  as  a  minister.   Having  fur  some  time  had  a  design  to  emit 
thing  by  way  of  testimony  against  both  the  granters  and  accept 
the  toleration  that  might  afterwards  stand  on  record,  he  wenl  to 
Edinburgh;  and  on  his  way,  at  Peebles,  very  narrowly  escaped  being 
apprehended.     While  at  Edinburgh  he  was  uneasy  till   he  got  that 
delivered,  which,  with  the  concurrence  of  some  others,  he  haa  drawn 
up  in  form;   and,  upon  inquiry,  hearing  that  then  be  no 

presbytery  nor  synod  of  tolerated  ministers  for  some  time,  he  went  to 
Mr.  Hugh  Kennedy,  who  he  heard  was  moderator,  and  di 
protestation  into  his  hands;  and  then,  for  Beveral  reasi 
in  public  as  his  testimony  against  the  toleration. 

From  thence  he  went  to  Fife,  and  preached  Beveral  Sabbaths,  and, 
upon  the  29th  of  January,  delivered   his  la-1   Bermon  at    Borrow* 
stounness.     Then  he  returned  to  Edinburgh,  and  lodged  in  a  I', 
house  in  the  Castlehill,  who  dealt  in  uncustomed  goods;  and  want- 
ing his  former  circumspection — his  time  being  erne  -"tie  John 
tice,  a  waiter,  discovered  the  house  that  very  night  ;  and  hearing 
him  praying  in  the  family,  suspected  who  it  was,  attacked  the  house 
next  morning,  February  1,  and,  pretending  to  search   for  smuj 
goods,  they  got  entrance  ;  and  when  Renwick  came  to  the  doorj  M.. 
Justice  challenged  him  in  these  words,  u  My  life  for  it,  this  is  M:. 
Renwick !"     After  which  he  went  to  the  street,  crying  for 
to  carry  the  dog  Renwick  to  the  guard. 

In  the  meantime,  Renwick  and  other  two  friend  I   to  make 

their  escape  at  another  door,  but  were  repelled  by  the  waiters.  On 
this  he  discharged  a  pistol,-which  made  the  assailants  give  way  ;  but 
as  he  passed  through  them,  one  with  a  long  stall'  hit  him  on  the 
breast,  which  doubtless  disabled  him  from  running.  Going  down 
the  Castle-wynd,  towards  the  head  of  the  Cowgate,  having  lost  his 
hat,  he  was  taken  notice  of,  and  seized  by  a  fellow  on  I 
while  the  other  two  escaped. 

He  was  taken  to  the  guard,  and  there  kept  some  time. — One 
Graham,  captain  of  the  guard,  seeing  him  of  a  little  statu; 
comely  youthful  countenance,  cried,  "What!  is  this  the  boy  Ken 
wick  that  the  nation  hath  been  so  much  troubled  with  '."  At  the 
same  time,  one  bailie  Charters  coming  in,  with  great  insolence 
accused  him  of  licentious  practice-,  which  he  replied  to  with  deserv- 
ed disdain.  Then  he  was  curried  before  a  quorum  of  the  council  ; 
and  when  Graham  delivered  him  oil'  his  hand,  he  was  heard  to  Bav, 
"  Now,  I  have  given  Renwick  up  to  the  Presbyterians,  let  them  do 
with  him  what  they  please."  What  passed  here  could  not  be  learned. 

He  was  committed  close  prisoner,  and  laid   in  irons;  when-,  as 
soon  as  he  was  left  alone,  he  betook  himself  to  prayer  to  his 


fully  acknowledged  before  his  execution. 

Before  he    received    his    indictment,   he    was   token    before  the 
chancellor,  into  the  viscount  of  Tarbet's  lodging,  and  then 
concerning  his  owning  the  authority  of  James   VII.,    he 
carrying  arms  at  field-meetings,  and  delivered  himself   wit] 


QQQ  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

freedom  and  boldness  as  astonished  all  present.  The  reason  why  he 
was  interrogated  anent  the  cess  was,  that  a  pocket-book  was  found 
about  him,  in  which  were  the  notes  of  two  sermons  he  had  preached 
on  these  points  which  he  owned.  There  were  also  some  capitals  in 
the  same  book;  and  because  the  committee  was  urgent  to  know 
these  names,  partly  to  avoid  torture,  and  knowing  they  could  render 
the  persons  no  more  obnoxious,  he  ingenuously  declared  the  truth  of 
the  matter,  which  ingenuity  did  much  allay  their  rage  against  him  ; 
and  being  asked  by  the  Chancellor,  What  persuasion  he  was  of? 
He  answered,  Of  the  Protestant  Presbyterian  persuasion.  Again, 
How  it  came  to  pass  he  differed  so  much  from  other  Presbyterians, 
who  had  accepted  of  the  toleration,  and  owned  the  king's  authority  ? 
and  what  he  thought  of  them  ?  He  answered,  He  was  a  Presbyte- 
rian, and  adhered  to  the  old  Presbyterian  principles,  principles 
which  all  were  obliged  by  the  covenant  to  maintain,  and  were  once 
generally  professed  and  maintained  by  the  nation  from  1610  to  1660, 
from  which  they  had  apostatized  for  a  little  liberty,  they  knew  not 
how  long,  as  you  yourselves  have  done  for  a  little  honour.  The 
chancellor  replied,  and  the  rest  applauded,  That  they  believed  that 
these  were  the  Presbyterian  principles,  and  that  all  Presbyterians 
would  own  them  as  well  as  he,  if  they  had  but  the  courage.  How- 
ever, on  February  3,  he  received  his  indictment  upon  the  three 
foresaid  heads,  viz.,  disowning  the  king's  authority,  the  unlawfulness 
of  paying  the  cess,  and  the  lawfulness  of  defensive  arms.  All  which 
he  was  to  answer  on  February  8.  To  the  indictment  was  added  a 
list  of  forty -five,  out  of  which  the  jury  was  to  be  chosen,  and  a  list 
of  the  witnesses  to  be  brought  against  him. 

After  receiving  his  indictment,  his  mother  got  access  to  see  him, 
to  whom  he  spoke  many  savoury  words.  And  on  Sabbath,  February 
5,  he  regretted  that  now  he  must  leave  his  poor  flock  ;  and  declared, 
"  That  if  it  were  his  choice — he  could  not  think  of  it  without  terror 
— to  enter  again  into,  and  venture  upon,  that  conflict  with  a  body  of 
sin  and  death  ;  yet,  if  he  were  again  to  go  and  preach  in  the  fields, 
he  durst  not  vary  in  the  least,  nor  flinch  one  hair-breadth  from  the 
testimony,  but  would  look  on  himself  as  obliged  to  use  the  same 
freedom  and  faithfulness  as  he  had  done  before.  And  in  a  letter,  on 
February  6,  he  desired  that  the  persons  whose  names  were  decipher- 
ed might  be  accmainted  with  it ;  and  concludes,  "  I  desire  none  may 
be  troubled  on  my  behalf,  but  rather  rejoice  with  him,  who  with 
hope  and  joy  is  waiting  for  his  coronation  hour."  Another  time,  his 
mother  asked  him  how  he  was  ;  he  answered,  he  was  well ;  but  that 
since  his  last  examination  he  could  scarcely  pray.  At  which  she 
looked  on  him  with  an  affrighted  countenance,  and  he  told  her,  he 
could  hardly  pray,  being  so  taken  up  with  praising,  and  ravished 
with  the  joy  of  the  Lord.  When  his  mother  was  expressing  her 
fear  of  fainting,  saying,  "  How  shall  I  look  upon  that  head  and  those 
hands  set  up  among  the  rest  on  the  port  of  the  city  ?"  He  smiled, 
telling  her,  she  should  not  see  that ;  for,  said  he,  I  have  offered  my 
life  unto  the  Lord,  and  have  sought  that  he  may  bind  them  up  ; 
and  I  am  persuaded  that  they  shall  not  be  permitted  to  torture  my 
body,  nor  touch  one  hair  of  my  head  farther.     He  was  at  first  much 


JAMES   RENWICK. 

afraid  of  the  tortures ;  bm\now,  having  that 

these  were  not  to  be  his  trials,  through  grace  he  was  helped  t 
•  lhat  the  terror  of  them   was  bo  removed,  that  he   would   r 
choose  to  be  cast  into  a  caldron  of  boiling  oil,  than  do  anything  that 
might  wrong  truth."    When  some  other  friends  wen  ted  to 

see  him,  lie  exhorted  them  to  make  Bure  their  peace  with   I 
to  study  steadfastness  in  His  ways  ;  and  when  they  i 
loss  of  him,  he  said,  "They  had  more  need  to  thank  tl  .  that 

he  should  now  be  taken  away  from  these  reproa  rhich  had 

broken  his  heart,  and  which  could  not  otherwise  be  wiped 
though  he  should  get  his  life,  without  yielding  in  the  leai  I 

Monday,  February  8,  he  appeared  before  the  justiciary,  and   \ 
his  indictment  was  read,  the  justice-clerk  asked  him,  If  ! 
to  his  former  confession,  and  acknowledged  all  that  was  in  the  libel) 
lie  answered,  "  All  except  where  it  is  said  I  have  cast  off  all  fear  of 
God  :  that  I  deny;  for  it  is  because  I  fear  to  offend  God,  and  violate 
his  law,  that  I  am  here  standing  ready  to  he  condemned."     Th 
was  interrogated,  If  he  owned  authority,  and  James  VII.  to  he  hie 
lawful  sovereign?     lie  answered,  "I  own  all  authority  that  hath  its 
prescriptions  and  limitations  from  the  word  of  God  ;  hut  cannot 
this  usurper  as  lawful  king,  seeing,  both  by  tin-  word  of  h  an 

one  is  incapable  to  bear  rule,  and  likewise  by  the  ancient  law-  <>f  the 
kingdom,  which  admit  none  to  the  crown  of  Scotland,  nnti: 
to  defend  the  Protestant  religion  ;    which  a  man  of 
could  not  do."     They  urged,  Could  he  deny   him  to  be  kin 
he  not  the  late  king's  brother?     Had  the  late  king  any   children 
lawfully  begotten  ?     Was  he  not  declared  to  be  hi  y  act 

of  parliament?  He  answered,  "  He  was  no  doubt  king  </•  / 
but  not  de  jure;  that  he  was  brother  to  the  other  king,  he  knew 
nothing  to  the  contrary;  what  children  the  other  had  he  knew  not  : 
but  from  the  word  of  God,  that  ought  to  be  the  rule  of  all  lav 
from  the  ancient  laws  of  the  kingdom,  it  could  not  be  shown  that  be 
had,  or  ever  could  have  any  right."  The  next  question  was,  If  be 
owned,  and  had  taught  it  to  be  unlawful  to  pay  cesses  and  taxation. 
to  his  majesty?    lie  answered,  "  For  the  present  »  1   for 

the  present  usurper,  I  hold  it  unlawful  to  pay  it,  both  in  regard  it  is 
oppressive  to  the  subject,  for  the  maintenance  of  tyranny,  and 
because  it  is  imposed  for  suppressing  the  go-pel.  Would  it  have 
been  thought  lawful  for  the  Jews,  in  the  day,  of  Nebucha 
have  brought  every  one  a  coal  to  augment  the  flame  of  the  furnace 
to  devour  the  three  children,  if  so  thev   had  been  required  by  that 

}  Next  they  moved  the  question,  If  he  owned  he  had  taught  his 
hearers  to  come  armed  to  their  meetings,  and  in  case  ol 
to  resist?     He  answered,  «  It  were  inconsistent  with  reason  and  reli- 
gion both  to  do  otherwise:   you  yourselves  would  do  it  in  the  like 

circumstances.     I  own  that  L  taught  them  to  carrj  a  ms  to 

E Vended  that  their  successors  should  be  charged  With  &U  «n* 


602 


SCOTS    WORTHIES. 


themselves,  and  resist  your  unjust  violence."  Further,  tkeyasked, 
It'  he  owned  the  note-book,  and  the  two  sermons  written  therein,  and 
that  he  had  preached  them  ?  He  said,  "  If  ye  have  added  nothing, 
I  will  own  it ;  and  am  ready  to  seal  all  the  truths  contained  therein 
with  my  blood." — All  his  confession  being  read  over,  he  was  required 
to  subscribe  it.  He  said,  "  He  would  not  do  it,  since  he  looked  on 
it  as  a  partial  owning  of  their  authority."  After  refusing  several 
times,  he  said,  "  With  protestation,  I  will  subscribe  the  paper  as  it 
is  my  testimony,  but  not  in  obedience  to  you." 

Then  the  assizers  were  called  in  by  fives,*  and  sworn  ;  against 
whom  he  objected  nothing;  but  protested,  "  That  none  might  sit  on 
his  assize  that  professed  Protestant  or  Presbyterian  principles,  or  an 
adherence  to  the  covenanted  work  of  Reformation."  He  was  brought 
in  guilty,  and  sentence  passed,  That  he  should  be  executed  in  the 
Grassmarket,  on  the  Friday  following.  Lord  Linlithgow,  justice- 
general,  asked,  if  he  desired  longer  time  !  He  answered,  "  It  was 
all  one  to  him  ;  if  it  was  protracted,  it  was  welcome  ;  if  it  was  short- 
ened, it  was  welcome  ;  his  Master's  time  was  the  best."  Then  he 
was  returned  to  prison.  Without  his  knowledge,  and  against  his 
will,  yea,  after  open  refusing  to  the  advocate  to  desire  it,  he  was  re- 
prieved to  the  17th  day,  which  gave  occasion  to  severals  to  renew 
their  reproaches. 

Though  none  who  suffered  in  the  former  part  of  this  dismal  period 
spoke  with  more  fortitude,  freedom,  and  boldness  than  Renwick,  yet 
none  were  treated  with  so  much  moderation.  The  lenity  of  the 
justiciary  was  much  admired  beyond  their  ordinary ;  for  they 
admitted  him  to  say  what  he  pleased,  without  threatening  and  in- 
terruption, even  though  he  gave  none  of  them  the  title  of  lord  except 
Linlithgow,  who  was  a  nobleman  by  birth.  And  though  his  friends 
— which  was  not  usual  after  sentence — were  denied  access,  yet  both 
Papists  and  Episcopalians  were  permitted  to  see  him.  Bishop 
Paterson  often  visited  him  ;  nay,  he  sought  another  reprieve  for  him, 
which  would  easily  have  been  granted,  had  he  only  petitioned  for  it. 
The  bishop  asked  him,  Think  you  none  can  be  saved  but  those  of 
your  principles  ?  He  answered,  "  I  never  said  nor  thought  that  none 
could  be  saved  except  they  were  of  these  principles ;  but  these  are 
truths  which  I  suffer  for,  and  which  I  have  not  rashly  concluded  on, 
but  deliberately,  and  of  a  long  time  have  been  confirmed,  that  they 
are  sufficient  points  to  suffer  for."  The  bishop  took  his  leave, 
declaring  his  sorrow  for  his  being  so  tenacious,  and  said,  "It  had 
been  a  great  loss  he  had  been  of  such  principles,  for  he  was  a  pretty 

*  And  it  is  to  be  remarked,  that  many  of  the  jury  were  professors,  and  eminent  in  the 
tolerated  meetings ;  while  others,  even  of  the  malignants,  chose  rather  to  run  the  hazard 
of  the  penalty  ;  as  the  laird  of  Torrence,  who  compeared  not,  and  Sommerville,  chamber- 
lain of  Douglas,  who,  though  when  he  appeared,  yet  when  he  saw  Renwick  turn  about 
and  direct  his  speech  to  them,  he  ran  away,  saying,  "  He  trembled  to  think  to  take  away 
the  life  of  such  a  pious-like  man.  though  they  should  take  his  whole  estate."  The  list  of 
the  assizers  is  as  follows: — James  Hume  of  Kimmergem ;  John  Hume,  of  Ninewells ; 
John  Martin,  clerk  to  the  manufactory  ;  Alexander  Martin,  some  time  clerk  of  — ;  Robert 
Halyburton,  merchant ;  Thomas  l.awrie,  merchant ;  Archibald  Johnston,  merchant ;  Tho- 
mas Wylie.  merchant ;  James  Hamilton,  vintner ;  William  Cockburn,  merchant:  James 
Hamilton  jun.,  stationer;  Robert  Carrie,  stationer;  Joseph  Young,  merchant;  John  Cun- 
ningham, merchant  in  Glasgow  ;  Ninian  Bannantine  of  Kaims.  Chancellor. 


JAMES    RENWH  EL 


lad."     Again,  the  night  before  he  Buffered,  be  senl  to  him, 
his  readiness  to  serve  him  to  the  utmost  of  his  powi  r.      R  nwici 
thanked  him  for  his  courtesy,  but  knew  nothing  he  could  do,  or  that 
he  could  desire. 

Mr.  M'Naught,  one  of  the  curates,  made  him  a  visit  in  hi 
ical  habit,  which  Pienwiek  did  not  like.  The  curate  among  other  things 
asked  his  opinion  concerning  the  toleration,  and  those  that  ac 
Renwick  declared  that  he  was  against  the  toleration  :  but  as  for  them 
that  embraced  it,  he  judged  them  to  be  godly  men.  The  curat.- 1 
him,  commended  him  for  one  of  great  gravity  and  ing 
rymple,  the  king's  advocate,  came  also  to  visit  him,  and 
that  he  was  sorry  for  his  death,  and   that  it  Bhould  fall  out  in  bis 
short  time.     Several  popish  priests  and  gentlemen  of  the  guard,  with 
some  of  the  tolerated  ministers,  were  permitted   to  converse  with 
him.    The  priest,  at  leaving  him,  was  overheard  Baying,  he   ■ 
most  obstinate  heretic  ;  for  he  had  used  such  freedom  with  him,  that 
it  became  a  proverb  in  the  tolbooth  at  the  time,  "  !'  Mi 

Renwick  said  to  tiie  priests." 

Several  petitions  were  written  from  several  hands,  of  the  most 
favourable  strain  that  could  be  invented,  an  1  sent  him  to  Bubscribe, 
but  all  in  vain  ;  yea,  it  was  offered  to  him,  if  In-  would  hut  let  a  drop 
of  ink  fall  on  a  bit  of  paper,  it  would  satisfy  :  hut  he  would  not.  In 
the  mean  time,  he  was  kept  so  close  that  he  Could  get  nothing  \ 
His  begun  testimony  which  he  was  writing  Was  taken  from  him. 
pen  and  ink  removed. 

On  Tuesday  the  14th,  he  was   brought   before  the    council,   on 
account  of  the  informatory  vindication  ;  but  what  past  can- 

not be  learned,  farther  than  their  signifying  how  much  kindness  they 
had  shown  him,  in  that  they  had  reprieved  him  without  his  applica- 
tion, a  thing  never  done  before,     lie  answered  with  extraordinary 
cheerfulness,  rejoicing  that  he  was  counted  worthy  to  Buffer  Bhame 
for  the  name  of  his  faster.     A  friend  asking  him.  How  he 
said,  Very  well ;  and  he  would   be   better   within   three  day-,     lb- 
told   his   mother,  That   the   last  execution  lie   was  v. 
Robert  Gray's  :  and  that  he  had  a   strong  impression  on 
that  he  should  be  the  next :  and  often  said.  He  Baw  need  fi 
fering  at  this  time;    and  that  he  was  persuaded  his  death  would  do 
more°i!-ood  than  his  life  for  many  years  eould    have  done.      D 
asked/What  he  thought  God  would  do  with   the  remnant  behind 
him?  he  answered,  tt  would  he  well  with  them  j   for  God  v. 
forsake  nor  cast  off  his  inheritance. 

On  the  day  of  his  execution,  the  chief  jailor  begged   that,  at  the 
place  of  execution,  he  would  not  mention  the  causes  >\  hi-  death,  and 
would  forbear  all  reflections.     Renwick  told  him,  That  whal 
would  o-ive  him  to  speak,  that  would  he  speak,  and  nothing 
jailor  told  him  that  he  might  still  have  his  life,  if  he  would  bul 
1   at  petition  which  he  offered  him.     He  answered,  Thai 
read  in  Scripture,  or  in  history,  where  martyrs  petitioned 
lives  whencalledto  Bufferfor  truth* though  they  might  require 
not  to  take  their  life,  and  remonstrate  the  v 


(504:  SCOTS    WORTHIES. 

them  ;  but  in  the  present  circumstance  he  judged  it  would  be  found 
a  receding  from  truth,  and  a  declining  from  a  testimony  for  Christ. 

His  mother  and  sisters  having  obtained  leave  to  see  him,  after 
some  refreshment,  in  returning  thanks,  he  said,  "  O  Lord,  thou  hast 
brought  me  within  two  hours  of  eternity,  and  this  is  no  matter  of 
terror  to  me,  more  than  if  I  were  to  lie  down  in  a  bed  of  roses  ;  nay, 
through  grace,  to  thy  praise,  I  may  say  I  never  had  the  fear  of 
deathsince  I  came  to  this  prison  ;  but  from  the  place  where  I  was 
taken  I  could  have  gone  very  composedly  to  the  scaffold.  O  !  how 
can  I  contain  this,  to  be  within  two  hours  of  the  crown  of  glory  !"  He 
exhorted  them  much  to  prepare  for  death  ;  "  For  it  is,"  said  he,  "  the 
king  of  terrors,  though  not  to  me  now,  as  it  was  sometimes  in  my 
hidings  ;  but  now  let  us  be  glad  and  rejoice,  for  the  marriage  of  the 
Lamb  is  come,  and  his  wife  hath  made  herself  ready.  Would  ever 
I  have  thought  that  the  fear  of  suffering  and  of  death  could  be  so 
taken  from  me?  But  what  shall  I  say  to  it  ?  It  is  the  doing  of  the 
Lord,  and  marvellous  in  our  eyes.  I  have  many  times  counted  the 
cost  of  following  Christ,  but  never  thought  it  would  be  so  easy  ;  and 
now  who  knows  the  honour  and  happiness  of  that,  '  He  that  confess- 
ed me  before  men,  him  will  I  confess  before  the  Father?'"  He 
said  many  times,  "  Now  I  am  near  the  end  of  time,  I  desire  to  bless 
the  Lord ;  it  is  an  inexpressibly  sweet  and  satisfying  peace  to  me 
that  he  hath  kept  me  from  complying  with  enemies  in  the  least." 
Perceiving  his  mother  weep,  he  exhorted  her  to  remember,  that  they 
who  loved  anything  better  than  Christ,  were  not  worthy  of  him. 
"  If  ye  love  me,  rejoice  that  I  am  going  to  my  Father,  to  obtain  the 
enjoyment  of  what  eye  hath  not  seen,"  &c.  Then  he  went  to  prayer, 
wherein  he  ran  out  much  in  praise,  and  pleaded  much  in  behalf  of 
the  suffering  remnant ;  that  the  Lord  would  raise  up  witnesses  that 
might  transmit  the  testimony  to  succeeding  generations,  and  that  the 
Lord  would  not  leave  Scotland  ;  asserting,  with  great  confidence  of 
hope,  that  he  was  strengthened  in  the  hope  of  it,  that  the  Lord  would 
be  gracious  to  Scotland. 

At  length,  hearing  the  drums  beat  for  the  guard,  he  fell  into  a 
transport,  saying,  "  Yonder  the  welcome  warning  to  my  marriage ; 
the  bridegroom  is  coming  ;  I  am  ready,  I  am  ready."  Then  taking 
his  leave  of  his  mother  and  sisters,  he  entreated  them  not  to  be  dis- 
couraged ;  for,  ere  all  were  done,  they  should  see  matter  of  praise  in 
that  day's  work.  He  was  taken  to  the  low  council-house,  as  was 
usual,  where,  after  his  sentence  was  read,  they  desired  him  to  speak 
what  he  had  to  say  there.  He  said,  "  I  have  nothing  to  say  to  you, 
but  that  which  is  written  in  Jer.  xxvi.  14,  15,  '  As  for  me,  behold,  I 
am  in  your  hand,'"  &c.  He  was  told  that  the  drums  would  beat  at 
the  scaffold  all  the  time,  and,  therefore  they  desired  him  to  pray 
there  ;  but  he  refused,  and  declared  he  would  not  be  limited  in  what 
he  would  say,  and  that  he  had  premeditated  nothing,  but  would  speak 
what  was  given  him.  They  offered  him  any  minister  to  be  with  him  , 
but  he  answered,  "  If  I  would  have  had  any  of  them  for  my  counsel- 
lors or  comforters,  I  should  not  have  been  here  this  day.  I  require 
none  with  me  but  this  one  man" — meaning  the  friend  that  was  wait- 
ing upon  him. 


JAMES    RENWICK. 

_    He  went  from  thence  to  the  scaffold  with  great  che<  rfuli  i 
in  a  transport  of  triumphant  joy,  and  had  the  greatest  crov, 

tatorsthat  has  perhaps  been  seen  at  any  execution;  hut  lit!! 
heard,  on  account  of  the  heating  of  the  drums  all  the  time  without 
intermission,  from  his  first  ascending  the  scaffold  until  he  i 
over,     let,  from  the  friends  and  others  permitted  | 
-were  some  of  his  last  words  collected. 

When  he  went  first  unto  the  scaffold,  Borne  forbade  him 
anything;  because  the  people  could  not  hear;  which  he  took  do 
notice  of.    There  was  a  curate  standing  at  the  Bide  of  th< 
who,  tempting  him,  said,  "  Own  our  king,  and  we  shall  pray  for  yon." 
He  answered,  "  I  will  have  none  of  vour  prayers :  I  am  come  - 
my  testimony  against,  you,  and  such  as  you  are."    The  curat. 
"  Own  our  king,  and  pray  for  him,  whatever  you  Bay  against  as."    lb 
replied,  "  I  will  discourse  no  more  with  you  ;  I  am  within  a  little  to 
appear  before  him  who  is  King  of  kings,  and  Lord  of  lords,  whi 
pour  shame,  contempt,  and  confusion,  upon  all  the  kings  of  thi 
who  have  not  ruled  for  him." 

Then  he  sang  Psalm  ciii.,  read  Eev.  xix. ;  then  prayed,  commend- 
ing his  soul  to  God  through  the  Redeemer,  and  his  cause  to  bi 
dicated  in  his  own  time  ;  and  appealed  to  the  Lord  if  this  was  not  the 
most  joyful  day  he  ever  saw  in  the  world,  a  day  that  he  had  much 
longed  for.     He  insisted  much  in  blessing  the  Lord  in  honouring  him 
with  the  crown  of  martyrdom,  an  honour  which  the  angels  were  nut 
privileged  with,  being  incapable  of  laying  down  their  Eves  for  their 
princely  Master.    He  complained  of  being  disturbed  in  worshipping 
God  :  but,  said  he,  "  I  shall  be  above  these  clouds ;  then  Bhall 
joy  thee,  and  glorify  thee,  without  interruption,  or  inter:  . 
ever." 

Here  they  made  him  desist,  and  go  up  the  ladder,  where  he  prayed, 
and  said,  "  Lord,  I  die  in  the  faith  that  thou  wilt  not  1.  land. 

but  that  thou  wilt  make  the  blood  of  thy  witnesses  t'  f  thy 

church,  and  return  again  and  be  glorious  in  our  land.     And  now. 
Lord,  I  am  ready;  the  bride,  the  Lamb's  wife,  hath  made  heraelf 
ready."     The  napkin  being  tied  about  his  face,  he  .-aid  to  his  friend 
attending,  "Farewell;  be  diligent  in  duty,  make  your  peace  with 
God  through  Christ.     There   is  a  great  trial  coming.     As    to  tin 
remnant  I  leave,  I  have  committed  them  to  God.   Tell  them  from  me 
not  to  weary  nor  be  discouraged  in  maintaining  the  testimony,  and 
the  Lord  will  provide  you  teachers  and   ministers;  and   when  he 
comes,  he  will  make  these  despised  truths  glorious  in  the  earth."    lb 
was  turned  over,  with  these  words   in   his  mouth,  "Lord,  into  thy 
hands  I  commend  my  spirit,  for  thou  hast  redeemed  me,  Lord 
of  truth." 

Thus  died  the  faithful,  pious,  and  zealous  Ren  wick,  on  the  third 
day  over  the  20tli  year  of  his  age,  a  young  man,  and  a voung  i 
ter,  but  a  ripe  Christian,  and  renowned  martyr  of  Christ,  for  - 

sake  he  loved  not  his  life  unto  the  death,  by  whose  bl I,  and  the 

word  of  his  testimony,  he  overcame,  and  thus  got  above  all  Bnan 
sorrow,  and,  to  the  conviction  of  many  that  formerly  reproached 


qqq  RISING    AT    PENTLAND. 

was  as  signally  vindicated  of,  as  he  was  in  Lis  life  shamefully  reproached 
with,  alt  the  aspersions,  obloquies,  and  calumnies,  that  were  cast  upon 
him  for  prosecuting  that  testimony  for  truth,  which  now  he  sealed 
with  his  blood,  in  such  a  treasure  of  patience,  meekness,  humility, 
constancy,  courage,  burning  love,  and  blazing  zeal,  as  did  very  much 
confound  enemies,  convince  neutrals,  confirm  halters,  comfort  friends, 
and  astonish  all. 

He  was  of  stature  somewhat  low,  of  a  fair  complexion,  and,  like 
another  young  David,  of  a  ruddy  and  beautiful  countenance.  Most 
men  spoke  well  of  him  after  he  was  dead  ;  even  his  murderers,  as 
well  as  others,  said,  they  thought  he  went  to  heaven.  Malignants 
generally  said,  he  died  a  Presbyterian.  The  viscount  of  Tarbet,  one 
of  the  counsellors,  one  day  in  company,  when  speaking  of  him,  said, 
"  That  he  was  one  of  the  stiffest  maintainers  of  his  principles  that 
ever  came  before  them.  Others  we  used  always  to  cause  one  time  or 
other  to  waver,  but  him  we  could  never  move.  "Where  we  left  him, 
there  we  found  him.  "We  could  never  make  him  yield  or  vary  in 
the  least.  He  was  the  man  we  have  seen  most  plainly  and  perti- 
naciously adhering  to  the  old.  way  of  Presbyterian  government,  who, 
if  he  had  lived  in  Knox's  days  would  not  have  died  by  any  laws  then 
in  being."  He  was  the  last  that  on  a  scaffold  sealed  his  testimony 
for  religion,  liberty,  and  the  covenanted  work  of  .Reformation  in 
Scotland. 


ACCOUNT  OF  THE  KISING-  WHICH  ENDED  IN  THE 
DEFEAT  AT  PENTLAND.    ANNO  1666. 


On  Monday,  the  12th  of  November,  it  fell  out  that  (M^Lellan  of) 
Barscobe,  and  other  three,  who  had  been  sometime  under  hiding, 
adventured  to  come  down  from  the  hills  to  a  little  town  called  the 
Clachan  of  Dairy,  where  four  of  Turner's  men  were  cruartered.  It 
was  early  in  the  forenoon ;  for,  hunger,  and  lying  in  the  cold  rain, 
had  brought  them  from  the  mountains.  They  came  into  an  alehouse, 
and  called  for  breakfast ;  and  while  taking  it,  there  was  a  cry  in  the 
town,  that  the  four  soldiers  had  bound  an  old  man  in  his  own  house, 
and  were  threatening  to  strip  him  naked,  and  set  him  on  a  hot  grid- 
iron, because  he  could  not  pay  his  church  fines ;  which  when  they 
heard,  they  were  necessitated  to  leave  their  breakfast,  and  go  to  the 
house ;  where  finding  the  man  bound,  they  called  to  the  soldiers, 


RISING    AT   PENTLAND. 


"Why  do  ye  bind  the  old  man  P    They  answered,  u  How  dan 

challenge?"     Some  of  the  fcompany  offering  I  e  him,  the 

die-re  drew  on  them  with  their  swords;  and  one  of  Bfl 

pany  shot  a  pistol  loaden  with  tobacco  stopple,  which  wounded 

and  made  him  fall.     The  soldiers  violently  assaulting, 

were  wounded,  and  all  four  surrendered  themselv< 

report  soon  reached  Balmaclellan,  where  a   party  with  a  mi 

were  at  prayer,  who,  fearing  to  be  involved,  seized 

James'  men  that  were  quartered  in   the   neighbourh I.     1! 

once  embarked,  fear  made  them  proceed;    as  Turner,  they  I 
would  make  terrible  reprisals.     They  resolved  to  be  beforehand  with 
him,  and  to  surprise  him  and  his  garrison  at    Dmnfri. 
private  advertisement  through  the  country,  that  all  who  were  ready 
should  come  in  companies  to  Irongray  kirk,  on  Wednesday  night, 
that  they  might  enter  Dumfries  by  daybreak.     Ere  they  could  mus- 
ter, the  sun  was  up  ;  and  it  was  ten  o'clock  before  tin  1  mm- 
fries.     They  approached  without  giving  the  least  Burpriee.     Turner 
and  his  men  were  so  secure,  they  had  not  even  a   wab              Qtinel 
at  the  bridge  that  leads  from  Galloway  to  the  town.     They  were 
fifty  horse,  provided  with  cloaks  girded  over  their  shoulder  for  fight- 
ing, and  about  two  hundred  foot.    Marshalled  in  order,  they  ca 
the  Bridgend  of  Dumfries,  their  commander  riding  before.    The 
horse  marched  into  the  town;    the  foot  stayed   without.     I 
and  Robinson,  with  other  two,  were  to  ride  up  quickly  to  Turner's 
quarters,  the  rest  of  the  party  to  follow  at  a  little  distance.     When 
the  four  came  to  the  foot  of  the  stair,  and  foregainst  the  window 
where  Turner  lodged,  he  was  in  bed;  but  hearing  a  noise  of  I 
he  came  running  on  the  alarm,  to  the  window,  in  hi-   night-gown. 
Seeing  Corsack,  with  others,  he  cries,  "Quarters,   _ 
Christ's  sake,  quarters  :  there  shall  be  no  resistance."     ft 
Corsack,  a  meek  and  generous  gentleman,  cried  to  him,   M  I 
come  down  to  us,  and  make  no  resistance,  on  the  word  of  a  gentle- 
man you  shall  have  quarters."     While  they  were  Bpeaking, 
mander  comes  up,  and  seizing  Turner,  presented  a  pistol,  or  cara- 
bine, to  have  shot  him  ;  but  Corsack   interfered,  Bavii 
as  soon  kill  me;  for  I  have  given  him  quarters/'    Boheforl 

A  party  was  sent  up  to  search   his  rooms,  and  bring  down  bifl 
papers  and  trunks,  which  were  much  emptied,  he  bavin-  b 
the  money  he  had  exacted  in  oppression,  to  Glasgow,  as  1 
in  some  loads.     They  brought  himself  down  stairs  in  bis  n 
night-cap,  drawers,  and  socks,  and  set  him  on  a  little  b 
backed,  with  a  halter  on  the  beast's  head,  and  carried  him  towards 
the  cross;   where,  to  show  their  loyalty,  they  drank  the  king     I 


Parties  were  sent  here  and  there  to  apprehend  the  rest 


alone  in  a  great  panic,  expecting  they  were  going  to  hang  nim  up 
with  -reat  solemnity.    Alter  a  little  consultation,  theyretui 
him  in  the  same  posture  to  his  quarters,  and   bade  him   I  i 
ready  to  go  with  them.    They  warned  all  the  inhabitants  to  bring 


608 


RISING    AT   PENTLAND. 


the  arras  they  had  to  the  cross,  arid  there  they  were  dealt  out  among 
the  foot.  In" the  afternoon,  they  marched  him  and  other  prisoners 
towards  the  west  country,  uncertain  what  was  to  be  the  issue  of  this 
sudden  adventure. 

During  all  this  time  there  was  no  appearance  of  stir  among  all  the 
gentlemen  and  noblemen  in  the  country  to  assist  or  oppose  them  ;  so, 
in  the  afternoon,  they  marched  with  him  and  the  rest  of  their 
prisoners  the  length  of  the  kirk  of  Glencairn,  where  most  of  them 
kept  guard,  and  sent  some  from  them  to  advertise  some  in  the  west 
country  of  what  was  done  there,  that  they  must  be  in  readiness  at 
their  coming  up.  However,  they  were  in  great  perplexity,  getting 
so  little  increase  to  their  company,  by  reason  the  country  could  not 
he  ready,  being  so  surprised.  After  they  had  met  with  some  out  of 
a  few  parishes  in  the  west,  they  came  to  the  town  of  Lanark,  where 
it  is  said,  they  must  have  been  near  2,000,  the  greatest  they  had, 
and  there  they  solemnly  renewed  the  Covenant,  after  some  word  of 
exhortation  by  several ;  Dalziel,  with  his  men,  being  on  the  one  side 
of  the  water.  It  is  said,  they  had  the  best  opportunity  there  to  have 
fought,  and  their  men  were  most  resolute.  This  was  on  Monday 
before  Pentland ;  but,  shunning  that  opportunity,  they  resolved  to 
march,  and  did  inarch  that  night,  to  the  parish  of  Bathgate,  being  in 
expectation  there  to  meet  with  a  recruit.  However,  that  night  being 
both  dark  and  stormy,  with  wind  and  rain,  and  the  march  far  (about 
twenty  miles),  many  wandered  and  fell  off.  When  they  came  to 
Bathgate,  there  had  been  a  company  of  gentlemen  met,  who,  upon 
hearing  their  approach,  fled  hard  into  Linlithgow,  alarming  them 
with  great  fear.  On  the  morrow,  being  Thursday,  they  marched 
toward  Collington,  where  they  kept  guard,  and  quartered  some 
places  thereabout.  That  night,  some  Lothian  gentlemen  fell  upon  a 
house  where  some  of  them  were,  shot  in  at  the  windows,  and  killed 
one  of  them.  But  after  that  alarm,  the  countiy  people  getting  to 
their  horses  pursued  them  near  to  Edinburgh. 

After  this,  being  anxious  what  to  do  in  that  sad  posture,  the 
enemy  following,  and  all  the  country  appearing  as  their  enemies, 
they  resolved  to  march  back  toward  Galloway  and  Nithsclale,  and 
came  the  length  of  Pentland  hills,  five  or  six  miles  from  Edinburgh, 
where  they  drew  up  to  refresh  themselves  a  little.  This  meantime,  a 
party  of  the  Life  Guards  being  commanded  off  Dalziel's  array 
appeared  among  the  hills  about  eleven  o'clock  of  the  day,  against 
which  the  countrymen  commanded  forth  a  party  of  their  horse, 
which  encountering  with  them,  put  them  to  the  flight,  and  killed 
some.  Here  Mr.  Andrew  M'Cormick  and  Mr.  John  Crookshanks 
were  killed,  on  the  country  people's  side. 

When  this  was  past,  they  might  have  had  time  to  march  forward  ; 
for,  it  is  said,  for  three  hours'  time  the  body  of  Dalziel's  army  did 
not  appear :  however,  they  staid  till  they  saw  them  appear.  Dal- 
ziel's men  sent  forth  a  party  of  their  horse,  and  the  countrymen  sent 
forth  a  party  of  theirs,  and  after  some  little  conflict,  Dalziel's  men 
did  run  ;  the  other  pursued  them  near  to  their  body,  and  then  also 
retired  to  their  body,  which  stood  on  the  knowe.  After  this,  a  greater 
party  on  the  other  wing,  from  Dalziel's  army,  did  advance,  the  rest 


RISING    AT    I'EXTI.AXD. 

following.  The  countrymen  had  resolved  to  draw  forth  their  men 
both  on  the  right  and  left  wing;    but  only  those  on  the  left  bad 

engaged  with  the  enemy,  and  did   again  give  them  en  do  on 

that  hand,  but  were  not  so  readily  seconded   by  those  on 
hand.     Being  thronged  and  overpowered  with  multitudes,  they 
forced  to  wheel  and  run,  the  enemy  having  broken  t:  ■  win* 

ere  they  were  back  ;  so  they  all  lied.     Aboul  forty-five  of  the  i 
trymen   were  killed   on  the  place,  and  aboul   one   hundred 
prisoners,  and  brought   into  Edinburgh  that   night     [n  pr 
the  night  fell  on  ere  the  conflict  was  ended,  which  was  made  a 
of  the  country  people's  escaping. 

The  prisoners  were  examined  that  nighl  uracil.     E 

of  them  who  were  designed  to  die  presently  were  pul  in  thi 
booth.     The  rest  were  shut  within  the  west  end  of  St  Giles's  kirk. 
called  Haddock's  Hold  ;  where  many,  being  wounded,  died  of  their 
wounds.     Strong  guards  of  the  townsmen  were  appointed  to  ' 
that  place  every  night.     However,  by  .some  honest  woman's  careful 
ness,  in  God's  providence,  several  of  them  were  stolen  out  in  disg 
now  and  then,  till  at  length  a  way  was  found  to  get  Badd 
broken,  so  that  all  escaped  after  they  had  lain  there  about  a  quarter 
of  a  year,  and  no  noise  was  made  to  search  for  them  again  :  BO  that 
they,  with  others  who  had  escaped,  lurked  in  Edinburgh  till  buo 
While  in  prison,  they  were  kindly  entertained  by  the  town's  ] 
as  also  after  their  escape. 

As  for  the  rest  of  the  history  of  this  sad  disaster,  and  the  execution  i 
of  those  who  suffered,  with  their  excellent  speeches,  I  refer  to  that 
book  called  Naphtali ;  which  particularly  sets  down  their  nam. 
shall  only  notice  that  it  was  greatly  wondered,  thai  Buch  a  poor  in- 
considerable party  of  countrymen,  so  badly  armed  as  they  wei 
outwearied  with  cold,  travel,  and  hunger,  should  ever  bav< 
such  a  formidable  enemy;  there  being  scarce  900  of  them,  and  en 
gaged  against  8000  horse  and  foot,  besides  a  great  multitude,  attend- 
ants of  noblemen  and  gentlemen  in  the  country,  all  well  armed  with 
all  manner  of  furniture,  for  war  offensive  and  defensive  ;  and  yet  not 
only  in  the  morning,  but  twice  in  the  afternoon,  they  both  faced  them 
and*   resolutely  fought,  till  they  were  able  to  do  no  more,  being  on 
pressed  with  multitudes.     It  is  not  known  what  number  of  DalzielV 
men-fell  that  day;  but  those  who  Btood  on  the  hill,  when  the  K 
party  charged  the  enemy,  and  chased  them  Into  the  bodv,- 
honest  men,  I  say,  who  stood  among  the  rest  and  Baw  it,  affirm,  the\ 
saw  many  empty  horses  run  into  the  body  of  DaMel's  army. 

All  this  time  Turner  remained  in  their  hands,  and  waa  cond 
along  with  them,  under  an  escort  of  sixteen  horsemen,  •  were 

not  master  of  a  single  prison,  or  garrison,  in  all  Scotland.  On  the 
evening  of  the  battle  he  made  his  eseape,— by  making  acovenant 
with  his  keepers,  that  if  they  preserved  his  life  at  that  time  he  mould 
preserve  theirs  in  case  of  the  kings  forces'  victory:— a  ehicn 

he  afterwards  attempted,  but  could  not  accomplish.  to  >> 

noted,  that  that  people  was  little  given  to  revenge  ;  that,  though  tbey 
had  been  much  provoked  by  that  cruel  tyrant  yet,  when  th< 
him  in  their  hands,  they  did  not  so  much  as  offer  him  ■  stroke,  Ml 


39 


QIO  BATTLE    OF    DRUMCLOG. 

took  him  prisoner,  and  gave  him  fair  quarters  wherever  they  tra 
veiled. 


Account  of  the  Riding  which  originated  the  Battle  of  Dritmclog,  and 
ended  in  the  defeat  at  Bothwell-lridge.     Anno  1679. 

From  what  has  been  already  related  in  this  work,  we  may  easily 
form  a  judgment  of  the  dismal  state  of  the  nation  on  account  of  the 
arbitrary  proceedings  of  those  who  had  the  management  of  affaire, 
and  the  causeless  severities  which  many  innocent  people  endured. 

The  rigorous  and  military  execution  of  the  sanguinary  laws,  now  in 
force,  could  not  but  exasperate  those  who  were  by  this  means  robbed 
of  their  liberty  and  property,  and  of  everything  that  was  dear  and 
valuable,  especially  as  oppressions  of  every  kind  were  still  increasing. 
All  legal  methods  of  address  were  cut  off  from  the  poor  suffering 
people.  What  then  could  they  do  ?  Surely  one  may  think,  that  it 
was  incumbent  upon  them  to  fall  upon  measures  for  getting  from 
under  the  feet  of  their  cruel  oppressors  ;  for  who  would  choose  to  con- 
tinue in  misery,  if  they  could  by  any  lawful  justifiable  method,  extri- 
cate themselves  from  it  ?  They  were  most  averse  to  take  arms,  until 
they  were  forced  to  it  in  their  own  defence.  And  though  they  were 
obliged  to  have  recourse  to  this  expedient,  yet  they  never  desired  to 
have  an  opportunity  of  making  use  of  it ;  but,  being  declared  rebels 
on  this  account,  they  were  constrained  to  persevere  in  it,  till  the  fury 
of  the  persecutors  drove  them  to  the  rising  we  are  now  to  give  an 
account  of. 

When  they  found  that  small  meetings  were  more  exposed  to  danger 
than  greater  assemblies,  they  altered  their  method,  and  resolved  to 
assemble  in  one  meeting,  in  those  places  which  they  apprehended 
stood  in  most  need  of  the  gospel,  and  where  they  might  meet  together 
with  the  greatest  safety.  They  who  thus  assembled  were  generally 
those  who  were  averse  to  the  indulgence,  and  the  accepters  of  it ; 
and  many  of  them  came  armed.  The  orders  given  to  the  soldiers, 
and  the  severe  laws  made  on  account  of  the  Primate's  death,  tended 
to  increase  their  numbers ;  but  the  divisions  occasioned  by  the  un- 
happy indulgence  were  of  great  disadvantage  to  them,  and  at  last 
proved  their  ruin. 

The  numbers  of  the  persecuted  party  on  the  occasion  we  refer  to 
being;  considerably  augmented,  Mr.  Robert  Hamilton,  brother  to  the 
Laird  of  Preston,  and  some  others,  moved  that  something  might  be 
done  as  a  testimony  against  the  iniquity  of  the  times.  Accordingly, 
after  serious  consideration  and  prayer,  they  resolved  to  continue  to 
hear  the  gospel,  notwithstanding  all  the  dangers  to  which  they  might 
be  exposed,  and  to  publish  to  the  world  their  testimony  to  the  truth 
and  cause  which  they  owned,  and  against  the  sins  and  defections  of 
the  times.  In  consequence  of  this  resolution,  the  said  Mr.  Hamilton, 
together  with  Mr.  Thomas  Douglas,  one  of  the  preachers,  and  about 
eighty  armed  men,  were  pitched  upon  to  go  to  some  public  place  to 
publish  their  declaration,  and  burn  the  papers  mentioned  in  it.  They 
judged  that  the  29th  of  May  was  the  most  proper  time  for  putting 


BATTLE    OF    DRUMCLOG.  ,;\\ 

this  into  execution.     Accordingly,  on  the  afternoon  of  thai  day,  they 
came  to  Kutherglen,  a  small  royal  burgh  two  miles  fron   I 
where  they  extinguished  the  bonfires,*  put  their  resolution  in  prac 
tice,  and  affixed  a  copy  of  their  Declaration  to  the  market-cross. 

When  this  Declaration  was  published,  Mr.  Hamilton  and  the 
retired  from  Eutherglen  towards   Evandale  and    Newmill        T 
affair  made  a  great  noise  both  at  Glasgow  and  Edinburgh.     <  rraham 
of  Claverhouse  (afterwards  Viscount  of  Dundee,)  having  unlimited 
powers  to  kill  and  destroy  all  he  found  in  arms,  came  Buddenl?  up*  n 
the  town  of  Hamilton  on  Saturday  afternoon,  the  31st  of  May,  ana  in 
the  neighbourhood  seized  Mr.  John  King,  ;md  about  fourtei  n  others, 
who  were  not  in  arms,  nor  had  anything  laid  to  their  chart 
who  escaped,  and  some  who  joined  them  in  order  to  rescue  Mr.  King, 
repaired  to  the  meeting,  which  they  heard  Mas  to  be  at   Loudon-hill 
next  day,  expecting  assistance  from  thence. 

Meanwhile    Claverhouse,   having    likewise    intelligence   of   that 
meeting,  and  resolving  to  disperse  it.  marched  early  from  Hamilton 
on  Sabbath  morning  the  first  of  June,  107!',  and  carried  his  prisoners 
with  him,  bound  two  and  two,  his  men   driving  them   before   them 
like  so  many  sheep.    Public  worship  was  begun  by   Mr.    Douglas 
when  they  were  informed  of  Claverhouse's  approach.     Upon  tl 
who  were  armed,  resolved  to  leave  the  meeting,  face  the   soldiers, 
and  if  possible  relieve  the  prisoners.     Accordingly,  about  K)  horee 
and  150  or  200  foot  came  up  with  Claverhouse  and  his  pan;. 
Drumclog,  and  after  a  short  and  close  engagement  defeated  I 
and  rescued  the  prisoners.     Claverhouse  had  his   hone  shot   under 
him,  and  narrowly  escaped;  above  20  of  the  soldiers  were   killed, 
and  several  taken  prisoners,  whom  they  released  upon  their  being 
disarmed.     The  countrymen  lost  not  above  two  or  thn 

Tite  Battle  of  Drumclog. 

"It  was  on  a  fair  Sabbath  morning,  1st  June.  A.  I  >.  L679,  th 
assembly  of  Covenanters  sat  down  on   the  heathy    mountain 
Drumclog.    We  had  assembled  not  to  fight,  but  to  worship  the  <  tod  ot 
our  lathers.    We  were  far  from  the  tumult  of  cities,-  the  long  dark 
heath  waved  around  us;  and  we  disturbed  no  living  creatures,  saving 
the  pees-weep  (tee-wit  or  lapwing,)  and  the  heathercock.     As  u.-ual 
we   had  come  armed.    It  was  for  self-defence.     For  desperate  and 
ferocious   bands    made    bloody    raids    through    the   country,  and, 
pretending  to  put  down  treason,  they  waged  war  against  religion 
and  morals.     They  spread  ruin  and  havoc  over  the  lace  ot   bleeding 

Scotland.  ,   .        ,        ...       -  .• 

"The  venerable  Douglas  had  commenced  the  solemnities  oi  the 
day.    He  was  expatiating  on  the  execrable  evils  of  tyranny 

*  Kindled  on  occasion  of  the  Anniversary  observed  on  that  day,  in  honour  of  th.-  B 


ation 


,  To  preserve  -■^■£S1«Jr£tt£  TiJES  I 
esSate  of  the  characters  which  they  brought  urto  ,,l.y. 


612 


BATTLE    OF   DRUMCLOG. 


souls  -were  on  fire  at  the  remembrance  of  our  country's  sufferings 
and  the  wrongs  of  the  church.  In  this  moment  of  intense  feeling, 
our  watchman,  posted  on  the  neighbouring  height,  fired  his  carabine, 
and  ran  toward  the  congregation.  He  announced  the  approach  of 
the  enemy.  We  raised  our  eyes  to  the  minister.  'I  have  done,' 
said  Douglas,  with  his  usual  firmness. — You  have  got  the  theory, — 
now  for  the  practice;  you  know  your  duty;  self-defence  is  always 
lawful.  But  the  enemy  approaches.'  He  raised  his  eyes  to  heaven 
and  uttered  a  prayer — brief  and  emphatic — like  the  prayer  of 
Ki chard  Cameron,  'Lord,  spare  the  green,  and  take  the  ripe.' 

"  The  officers  collected  their  men,  and  placed  themselves  each  at 
the  head  of  those  of  his  own  district.  Sir  Eobert  Hamilton  placed 
the  foot  in  the  centre,  in  three  ranks.  A  company  of  horse,  well 
armed  and  mounted,  was  placed,  along  with  another  small  squadron, 
on  the  left.  These  were  drawn  back,  and  they  occupied  the  more 
solid  ground  ;  as  well  with  a  view  to  have  a  more  firm  footing,  as  to 
arrest  any  flanking  party  that  might  take  them  on  the  wings.  A 
deep  morass  lay  between  us  and  the  ground  of  the  enemy.  Our 
aged  men,  our  females,  and  children,  retired  ;  but  they  retired 
slowly.  They  had  the  hearts  and  the  courage  of  the  females  and 
children  in  those  days  of  intense  religious  feeling  and  of  suffering. 
They  manifested  more  concern  for  the  fate  of  relatives,  for  the  fate  of 
the  church,  than  for  their  own  personal  safety.  As  Claverhouse 
descended  from  the  opposite  mountain,  they  retired  to  the  rising 
ground  in  the  rear  of  our  host.  The  aged  men  walked  with  their 
bonnets  in  hand.  Their  long  grey  locks  waved  in  the  breeze.  They 
sang  a  cheering  psalm.  The  music  was  that  of  the  well-known  tune 
of  The  Martyrs  /  and  the  sentiment  breathed  defiance.  The  music 
floated  down  on  the  wind.  Our  men  gave  three  cheers  as  they  fell 
into  their  ranks.  Never  did  I  witness  such  animation  in  the  looks 
of  men.  For  me,  my  spouse  and  my  little  children  were  in  the  rear. 
My  native  plains,  and  the  halls  of  my  father,  far  below,  in  the  dale 
of  Aven,  were  full  in  view  from  the  heights  which  we  occupied. 
My  country  seemed  to  raise  her  voice — the  bleeding  church  seemed 
to  wail  aloud.  '  And  these,'  I  said,  as  Clavers  and  his  troops  winded 
slowly  down  the  dark  mountain's  side,  '  these  are  the  unworthy 
slaves,  and  bloody  executioners,  by  which  the  tyrant  completes  our 
miseries.' 

"  Hamilton  here  displayed  the  hero.  His  portly  figure  was  seen 
hastening  from  rank  to  rank.  He  inspired  courage  into  our  raw  and 
undisciplined  troops.  The  brave  Hackston,  and  Hall  of  Haugh-head, 
stood  at  the  head  of  the  foot  soldiers,  and  re-echoed  the  sentiments 
of  their  chief.  Burley  and  Cleland  had  inflamed  the  minds  of  the 
horsemen  on  the  left,  to  a  noble  enthusiasm.  My  small  troop  on  the 
right  needed  no  exhortation  ;  we  were  a  band  of  brothers,  resolved 
to  conquer  or  fall. 

"  The  trumpet  of  Clavers  sounded  a  loud  note  of  defiance — the 
kettle-drum  mixed  its  tumultuous  roll — they  halted — they  made  a 
long  pause.  We  could  see  an  officer  with  four  file  conducting  fifteen 
persons  from  the  ranks  to  a  knoll  on  their  left.  I  could  perceive  one 
in  black  :  it  was  my  friend  King,  the  chaplain  of  lord  Cardross,  who 


BATTLE    OF   DRUMCLOG. 

had  been  taken  prisoner  by  Clavers  at  Hamilton.     '  I 
shot  through  the  head,'  said  Clavers,  in  his  usual  dry  way,  '  if 
should  offer  to  run  away.'    We  could  see  him  view  our  position  with 
greatcare.     His  officers  came  around  him.     We  arned  that 

he  wishedto  treat  with  us.     He  never  betrayed  Bymptoms  of  mercy 
or  of  justice,  nor  offered  terms  of   reconciliation,  unless    whi 
dreaded  that  he  had  met  his  match:  and  even  men,  it  was  only  a 
manoeuvre  to  gain  time,  or  to  deceive.     His  flag  approached   the 
edge  of  the  bog.     Sir  Robert  held  a  flag  Bacred  ;  had  it  been  borne 
by  Clavers  himself,  he  had  honoured  it.     lie  demanded  the  j>> 
for  which  he  came.     'I  come,' said  he.  'in  the  name  of  I 
majesty,  and  of  colonel  Grahame,  to  offer  you  a  pardon,  on  condition 
that  you  lay  down  your  arms,  and  deliver  ii]>   your  ringleadi 
'Tell  your  officer,'  said   Sir  Robert,  '  that  we  are  fully  aware  of  the 
deception  he  practises.     He  is  not  clothed  with  any  powers  to  treat, 
nor  was  he  sent  out  to  treat  with  us,  and  attempt  a  reconciliation. 
The  government  against  whom  we  have  risen,  refuses  t"  n 
grievances,  or  to  restore  to  us  our  liberties.     Had  the  tyrant   wished 
to  render  us  justice,  he  had  not  sent  by  the  hands  of  such  a  ferocious 
assassin  as  CJaverhouse.     Let  him,  however,  show   hie  -.  and 

we  refuse  not  to  treat;  and  we  shall  lay  down  our  arms  to  treat, 
provided  that  he  also  lay  down  his.  Thou  hast  my  answer. — 'It 
is  a  perfectly  hopeless  case,'  said  Hurley,  while  he  called  after 
the  flag-bearer — 'Let  me  add  one  word  by  your  leave,  General. 
Get  thee  up  to  that  bloody  dragoon,  Clavers,  and  tell  him  that  we 
will  spare  his  life,  and  the  lives  of  his  troops,  on  condition  that  he, 
your  Clavers,  lay  down  his  arms,  and  the  arms  of  these  troops.  We 
will  do  more  :  as  we  have  no  prisons  on  these  wild  mountain-,  we 
will  even  let  him  go  on  his  parole,  on  condition  that  he  swear  never 
to  lift  arms  against  the  religion  and  the  liberties  of  his  countr 
loud  burst  of  applause  re-echoed  from  the  ranks;  and,  after  a  long 
pause  in  deep  silence,  the  army  sung  the  following  verses  of  a  psalm  : 

'  There,  arrows  of  the  bow  he  brake ; 

the  shield,  the  sword,  the  war, 
More  glorious  thou  than  hills  of  prey, 

more  excellent  art  far. 
Those  that  were  stout  of  heart  are  spoilM, 

they  slept  thtir  sleep  outright: 
Ami  none  of  those  their  hands  did  find 

that  were  the  men  of  might.' 

"When  the  report  was  made  to  Claverhouse,  he  gave  the 

with  a  savage  ferocity,  'their  blood  be  on  their  >>\vn  heads.  Be  No 
quarters  the  word  'this  day.'  His  fierce  dragoons  raised  a  v,  11, and 
'No  quarters'  re-echoed  from  rank  to  rank,  while  they  galloped 
down  the  mountain's  side.  It  is  stated  that  Hurley  was  heard  I 
x  Then  be  it  so — even  let  there  be  No  quart  rs  at  least  on  my  wing 
of  the  host.  So  God  send  me  a  meeting,5  cried  he  aloud,  '  with  that 
chief  under  the  white  plume.  My  country  would  bless  my  memory, 
could  my  sword  give  his  villanous  carcass  to  the  crows. 

"Our    raw    troops   beheld    with    firmness    the   approach    i 
foemen:  and  at    the  moment  when  the  enemy  halted    to  tire,  the 


Ql±  BATTLE    OF    DRUMCLOG. 

whole  of  our  foot  dropped  on  the  heath.  Not  a  man  was  seen  to 
remain  down,  when  the  order  was  given  to  rise  and  return  the  fire. 
The  first  rank  fired,  then  kneeled  down,  while  the  second  fired.  They 
made  each  bullet  tell.  As  often  as  the  lazy  rolling  smoke  was 
carried  over  the  enemy's  heads,  a  shower  of  bullets  fell  on  his  ranks. 
Manj*  a  gallant  man  tumbled  on  the  heath.  The  fire  was  incessant. 
It  resembled  one  blazing  sheet  of  flame,  for  several  minutes,  along 
the  line  of  the  Covenanters.  Clavers  attempted  to  cross  the  morass, 
and  break  our  centre.  '  Spearmen  !  to  the  front,' — I  could  hear  the 
deep-toned  voice  of  Hamilton  say — '  Kneel,  and  place  your  spears  to 
receive  the  enemy's  cavalry ;  and  you,  my  gallant  fellows,  fire — God 
and  our  country  is  our  word.'  Our  officers  flew  from  rank  to  rank. 
Not  a  peasant  gave  way  that  day.  As  the  smoke  rolled  off,  we 
could  see  Clavers  urging  on  his  men  with  the  violence  of  despair. 
His  troops  fell  in  heaps  around  him,  and  still  the  gaps  were  filled 
up.  A  galled  trooper  would  occasionally  flinch ;  but  ere  he  could 
turn  or  flee,  the  sword  of  Clavers  was  waving  over  his  head.  I 
could  see  him,  in  his  fury,  strike  both  man  and  horse.  In  the  fearful 
carnage,  he  himself  sometimes  reeled.  He  would  stop  short  in  the 
midst  of  a  movement,  then  contradict  his  own  orders,  and  strike  the 
man,  because  he  could  not  comprehend  his  meaning. 

"  He  ordered  flanking  parties  to  take  us  on  our  right  and  left. 
'  In  the  name  of  God,'  cried  he,  '  cross  the  bog,  and  charge  them  on 
the  flanks,  till  we  get  over  this  morass.     If  this  fail,  we  are  lost.' 

"  It  now  fell  to  my  lot  to  come  into  action.  Hitherto  we  had 
fired  only  some  distant  shot.  A  gallant  officer  led  his  band  down  to 
the  borders  of  the  swamp,  in  search  of  a  proper  place  to  cross. 
"We  threw  ourselves  before  him.  A  severe  firing  commenced.  My 
gallant  men  fired  with  great  steadiness.  We  could  see  many  tum- 
bling from  their  saddles.  Not  content  with  repelling  the  foemen, 
we  found  our  opportunity  to  cross,  and  attack  them  sword  in  hand. 
The  captain,  whose  name  I  afterwards  ascertained  to  be  Arrol,  threw 
himself  in  my  path.  In  the  first  shock,  I  discharged  my  pistols. 
His  sudden  start  in  his  saddle,  told  me  that  one  of  them  had  taken 
effect.  With  one  of  the  tremendous  oaths  of  Charles  II.  he  closed 
with  me.  He  fired  his  steel  pistol.  I  was  in  front  of  him  ; — my 
sword  glanced  on  the  weapon,  and  gave  a  direction  to  the  bullet, 
which  saved  my  life.  By  this  time,  my  men  had  driven  the  enemy 
before  them,  and  had  left  the  ground  clear  for  the  single  combat 
As  he  made  a  lounge  at  my  breast,  I  turned  his  sword  aside,  by  one 
of  those  sweeping  blows,  which  are  rather  the  dictate  of  a  kind  of 
instinct  of  self-defence  than  a  movement  of  art.  As  our  strokes 
redoubled,  my  antagonist's  dark  features  put  on  a  look  of  deep  and 
settled  ferocity.  No  man  who  has  not  encountered  the  steel  of  his 
enemy  in  the  field  of  battle,  can  conceive  the  looks  and  the  manner 
of  the  warrior,  in  the  moments  of  his  intense  feelings.  May  I  never 
witness  them  again ! — we  fought  in  silence.  My  stroke  fell  on  his 
left  shoulder ;  it  cut  the  belt  of  his  carabine,  which  fell  to  the  ground. 
His  blow  cut  me  to  the  rib,  glanced  along  the  bone,  and  rid  me  also 
of  the  weight  of  my  carabine.  He  had  now  advanced  too  near  to 
me,  to  be  struck  with  the  sword.     I  grasped  him  by  the  collar.     I 


BATTLE    OF    DRT/MCLOG.  *,« 

sword-belt     Our  horses  reared,  and    v.  boft  came  to  the  ground 

of  matters  that  my  brave  fellow,  had  returned  from  the  rout  of  the 
flanking  party,  to  look  alter  their  commander.  One  of  them  was 
actually  rushing  on  my  antagonist,  when  I  called  him  to  retire* 
We  started  to  our  feet.  Each  grasped  his  sword.  We  closed  in 
conflict  again  After  parrying  strokes  of  mine  enemy  which 
indicated  a  hellish  ferocity,  I  told  him  my  objecl   wa  him 

prisoner;  that  sooner  than  kill  him.  [shouldorder  my  men  to  seize  him 
'Sooner  let  my  soul  be  brandered  on  my  ribs  in  hell,'  Baid  he   '  than 
be    captured  by  a  Whigamore.    No   quarter   a  the   word  of  my 
Colonel,  and  my  word.     Have  at  thee,  Whig—]  dare  the  wh 
you  to  the  combat'    'Leave  the  madman  to  me— leave  tin-  field 
instantly,' said  I  to  my  party,  whom  I  could   hardly  restrain.     M 
swordfell  on  his  right  shoulder.     His  sword  dropped  from  his  hand.     I 
lowered  my  sword,  and  offered  him  his  life.     k  ffb  quarter?  said  be 
with  a  shriek  of  despair.     lie  Bnatched  his  Bword,  which  I  held  in 
my  hand,  and  made  a  lounge  at  my  breast     I  parried  hie 
he  was  nearly  exhausted  ;  but  gathering  up  his  huge  limb-.  ! 
forth  all  his  energy  in  a  thrust  at  my  heart     My   Ajidro   Ferrara 
received  it,  so  as  to  weaken  its  deadily  force;  but  it  made  a 
cut.    Though  I  was  faint,  with  loss  of  blood,  1  left  him  n 
another  blow.    My  sword  glanced  on  his  shoulder,  cut  through  his 
buff  coat,  and  skin,  and  flesh  ;  swept  through  his  jaw,  and  laid  open 
his  throat  from  ear  to  ear.     Tin;  tire  of  his  li"  e  was  quench- 

ed in  a  moment.  He  reeled,  and  falling  with  a  terrible  C 
he  poured  out  his  soul,  with  a  torrent  of  Mood,  on  the  heath.  I  rank 
down  insensible  for  a  moment.  My  faithful  men,  who  never  lost 
sight  of  me,  raised  me  up. — In  the  fierce  combat,  the  soldier  suffers 
most  from  thirst.  I  stooped  down,  to  till  my  helmet  with  the  water 
which  oozed  through  the  morass,  it  was  deeply  tinged  with  human 
blood,  which  flowed  in  the  conflict  above  me.  I  started  back  with 
horror;  and  Gawn  Witherspoon  bringing  up  my  Bteed,  wi 
forward  in  the  tumult  of  the  battle. 

"All  this  while,  the  storm  of  war  had  raged  on  our  left,      (      'and 
and  the  fierce  Burley  had  charged  tin-  strong  company  Bent  to  flank 
them.     These   officers  permitted    them   to   cross   the    swamp,    then 
charged  them  with  a  terrible  shout.     '  No  quarter,'  cried  the  dra 
goons.    'Be  JSro  quarter  to  you,  then,  ye  murderous  loons,'  • 
Burley  ;  and  at  one  blow  he  cut  their  leader  through  the  steel  cap, 
and  scattered  his  brains  on  his  followers.    Eie  every  blow  overthrew 
a  foeman.     Their  whole  forces  were  now  brought  up,  and  they  drove 
the  dragoons  of  Clavcrs  into  the  swamp.     They  rolled  o 
other     'All  stuck  fast.    The  Covenanters  dismounted,  and  fought  on 
foot.    They  left  not  one  man  to  bear  the  tidings  to  their  Colonel. 

*  It  was   on  this  occasion  that  the  Laird  QMd 
officer  settle  this  trifle— 1  never  take  odds  to  CO  no     ■  foe,  l-  be  i 


61G 


BATTLE    OF    DRUMCLOG. 


"  The  firing  of  the  platoons  had  long  ago  ceased,  and  the  dreadful 
work  of  death  was  carried  on  by  the  sword.  At  this  moment,  a 
trumpet  was  heard  in  the  rear  of  our  army.  There  was  an  awful 
pause ;  all  looked  up.  It  was  only  the  gallant  Captain  Nisbet,  and 
his  guide,  "Woodburn  of  Mains :  he  had  no  re-enforcements  for  us, 
but  himself  was  a  host.  With  a  loud  huzza,  and  flourish  of  his 
sword,  he  placed  himself  by  the  side  of  Burley,  and  cried,  '  Jump 
the  ditch,  and  charge  the  enemy.'  He  and  Burley  struggled  through 
the  marsh.  The  men  followed  as  they  could.  They  formed,  and 
marched  on  the  enemy's  right  flank. 

"  At  this  instant  Hamilton  and  Tlackstone  brought  forward  the 
whole  line  of  infantry  in  front.  '  God  and  our  Country,''  re-echoed 
from  all  the  ranks.  'iVb  quarters,'  said  the  fierce  squadrons  of 
Clavers.     Here  commenced  a  bloody  scene. 

"  I  seized  the  opportunity  this  moment  offered  to  me  of  making  a 
movement  to  the  left  of  the  enemy  to  save  my  friend  King  and  the 
other  prisoners.  We  came  in  time  to  save  them.  Our  swords 
speedily  severed  the  ropes  which  tyranny  had  bound  on  the  arms  of 
the  men.  The  weapons  of  the  fallen  foe  supplied  what  was  lacking 
of  arms ;  and  with  great  vigour  we  moved  forward  to  charge  the 
enemy  on  the  left  flank.  Claverhouse  formed  a  hollow  square — 
himself  in  the  centre ;  his  men  fought  gallantly ;  they  did  all  that 
soldiers  could  do  in  their  situation.  Wherever  a  gap  was  made 
Clavers  thrust  the  men  forward,  and  speedily  filled  it  up.  Three 
times  he  rolled  headlong  on  the  heath,  as  he  hastened  from  rank  to 
rank,  and  as  often  he  remounted.  My  little  band  thinned  his  ranks. 
He  paid  us  a  visit.  Here  I  distinctly  saw  the  features  and  shape  of 
this  far-famed  man.  He  was  small  of  stature,  and  not  well  formed  ; 
his  arms  were  long  in  proportion  to  his  legs ;  he  had  a  complexion 
unusually  dark  ;  his  features  were  not  lighted  up  with  sprigktliness, 
as  some  fabulously  reported ;  they  seemed  gloomy  as  hell ;  his 
cheeks  were  lank  and  deeply  furrowed  ;  his  eye-brows  were  drawn 
down,  and  gathered  into  a  kind  of  knot  at  their  junctions,  and  thrown 
up  at  their  extremities  ;  they  had,  in  short,  the  strong  expression 
given  by  our  painters  to  those  on  the  face  of  Judas  Iscariot ;  his 
eyes  were  hollow ;  they  had  not  the  lustre  of  genius,  nor  the  fire  of 
vivacity  ;  they  were  lighted  up  by  that  dark  fire  of  wrath  which  is 
kindled  and  fanned  by  an  internal  anxiety,  and  consciousness  of 
criminal  deeds  ;  his  irregular  and  large  teeth  were  presented  through 
a  smile,  which  was  very  unnatural  on  his  set  of  features ;  his  mouth 
seemed  to  be  unusually  large,  from  the  extremities  being  drawn 
backward  and  downward — as  if  in  the  intense  application  to  some- 
thing cruel  and  disgusting;  in  short,  his  upper  teeth  projected  over 
his  under  lip,  and,  on  the  whole,  presented  to  my  view  the  month  on 
the  image  of  the  Emperor  Julian  the  Apostate. — In  one  of  his  rapid 
courses  past  us,  my  sword  could  only  shear  oft'  his  white  plume  and 
a  fragment  of  his  buff  coat.  In  a  moment  he  was  at  the  other  side 
of  his  square.  Our  officers  eagerly  sought  a  meeting  with  him.  '  He 
has  the  proof  of  lead,'  cried  some  of  our  men — 'Take  the  cold  steel, 
or  a  piece  of  silver.'  '  No,'  cried  Burley ;  '  it  is  his  rapid  move- 
ment on  that  fine  charger  that  bids  defiance  to  anything  like  an 


BATTLE    OF  LOG. 

aim  in  the  tumult  of  the  bl ly  Pray.      I  could 

heathercocks  on  the  wine,  than  one  flyin 
hurley,  whose  eye  watched  his  antagonisVpushed  int..  the  1. 
square     But  Burley  was  too  impatient.     Bis  blow  waa  I. 
him  before  he  came  within  its  reach.     His  heavy  s* 
on  the  head  of  Clavers' horse,  and  felled  him  to  the 
leys  men  rushed  pell-mell  on  the  fallen   Clav.  faithful 

dragoons  threw  themselves  upon  them,  and  by  their 
force  drove  Burley  back.    Clavera  was,  in  an   i] 
steed.     His  bugleman  recalled  the  party  who  were  dri , 
flanking  party  of  Burley.     lie  collected  hi,  whole  to  • 
last  and  desperate  attack.     ITe  charged  our  infantry  with  such  fi  . 
that  they  began  to  reel.     It  was  only  for  a  moment  Hani 

Hamilton  snatched  the  white  nag  of  the  Covenant,  and  plac< 
self  in  the  fore-front  of  the  battle.     Our  men  shouted  '  G 
Country]  and  rallied  under   their   flag.     They  foughl    like  bero< 
Clavers  fought  no  less  bravely.     His  blows  were  aimed  at  oui 
cers.     His^  steel  fell  on  the  helmet  of  Hackston,  w] 
entangled  in  the  body  of  a  fierce  dragoon  who  had  just  wounded 
He  was  borne  by  his  men  into  the  rear.     I   directed  mj    ; 
Clayers.     ''Victory  or    deaih]  was    their    reply    to   me.      < 
received  us.     He  struck  a  desperate  blow  at  me,  as  b 
with  all  his  force  in  the  saddle.    My  steel  cs  ,.<l 

stroke  I  received  on  my  Eerrara,  and  his  steel  was  shivered  to  pie© 
We  rushed  headlong  on  each  other.     His  pi  it  had 

been  soaked  in  blood.     Mine  took  effect     But  the  wound  w 
deadly.     Our  horses  reared.     "We  rolled  on  the  ground, 
sought  to  grasp  each  other.    Inthe  mdS,  men  ami  hones  tumbled  on 
us.   We  were  for  a  few  moments  buried  under  our  men,  whose 
ness  to  save  their  respective  officers,  brought  them  in  mult  it  ml 
upon  us.     By  the  aid  of  my  faithful  man,  (iawn.  I  had   c.v 
myself  from  my  fallen  horse;  and  we  were  rushing  on  the  blo< 
Clavers,  when  we  were  again  literally  buried  under  a  ma--  of  m< 
for  Hamilton  had  by  this  time  brought  up  his  whole  line,  ami  he  baa 
planted  his  standard  where  we  and  Clavers  were  rolling  on  the  heath. 
Our  men  gave  three  cheers,  and  drove  in  tin 

I  was  borne  along  with  the  moving  mass  of  men  ;  and,  almost  suffo- 
cated, and  faint  with  the  loss  of  1>1 1,  I  knew  nothing  more  till  I 

opened  my  eyes  on  my  faithful  attendant.     He  had  dragged  me  B 
the  very  grasp  of  the  enemy,  ami  had   borne  me  into  the  rear,  and 
was  bathing  my  temples  with  water.     We  Bpeedily   regained  our 
friends;  and  what  a  spectacle  presented  itself]     It  seemed  a-  if  I 
held  an  immense  moving  mass  heaped  up  together  in  tin-  g 
confusion.     Some  shrieked,   some   groaned,   Borne  Bhouted.  horses 
neighed  and  pranced,  swords  rung  on  the  steel  helmets.     1  pta 
around  me  a  few  of  my  hardy  men,  and  we  rushed  into  tin'  thick 
of  the  enemy  in  search"  of  Clavers  ;  hut  it  was  in  vain.     At  thai 
stant  his  trumpet  sounded  the  loud  notes  of  lvtivat  ;  and  we 
a  knoll  Clavers  borne  away  by  his  men.     !!-•  threw  himself 
horse,  and  without  sword,  without  helmet,  he  fled  in  the  I 
the  retreating  host.     His  troops  galloped   up  the  hill  in 


£13  BATTLE    OF    DRUMCLOG. 

confusion.  My  little  line  closed  with  that  of  Burley's,  and  took  a 
number  of  prisoners.  Our  main  body  pursued  the  enemy  two  miles, 
and  strewed  the  ground  with  men  and  horses.  I  could  see  the  bare- 
headed Clavers  in  front  of  his  men,  kicking  and  struggling  up  the 
steep  sides  of  Calder-hill.  He  halted  only  a  moment  on  the  top  to 
look  behind  him,  then  plunged  his  rowels  into  his  horse,  and  darted 
forward  ;  nor  did  he  recover  from  this  panic  till  he  found  himself  in 
the  city  of  Glasgow." 

"  And,  my  children,"  the  Laird  would  say,  after  he  had  told  the 
adventures  of  this  bloody  day,  "  I  visited  the  field  of  battle  next  day ; 
I  shall  never  forget  the  sight.  Men  and  horses  lay  in  their  gory  beds. 
I  turned  away  from  the  horrible  spectacle.  I  passed  by  the  spot 
where  God  saved  my  life  in  the  single  combat,  and  where  the  un- 
happy Captain  Arrol  fell.  I  observed  that,  in  the  subsequent  fray, 
the  body  had  been  trampled  on  by  a  horse,  and  his  bowels  were 
poured  out.  Thus,  my  children,  the  defence  of  our  lives,  and  the  re- 
gaining of  our  liberty  and  religion,  has  subjected  us  to  severe  trials. 
And  how  great  must  be  the  love  of  liberty,  when  it  carries  men  for- 
ward, under  the  impulse  of  self-defence,  to  witness  the  most  disgust- 
ing spectacles,  and  to  encounter  the  most  cruel  hardships  of  war !" 

The  country  people  after  this  action  resolved,  since  they  could  not 
separate  without  evident  hazard,  to  keep  together  till  they  saw  how 
matters  wTould  turn  out.  They  marched  that  night  to  Hamilton, 
whilst  Claverhouse  escaped  to  Glasgow,  and  alarmed  the  soldiers 
there.  Next  day,  Mr.  Hamilton,  and  those  who  joined  them  in  their 
march,  being  too  much  flushed  with  their  success,  marched  to  Glas- 
gow, and  entered  the  town  about  ten  o'clock  ;  but  after  six  or  eight 
were  killed,  and  two  or  three  wounded,  they  were  obliged  to  quit  the 
place,  and  retire  to  Hamilton,  where  they  pitched  a  sort  of  camp. 

Such  was  the  inhumanity  of  the  soldiers,  that  seven  dead  bodies  lay 
on  the  street  from  eleven  in  the  forenoon  till  night ;  and  when  they 
were  taken  into  houses  to  be  dressed  for  their  burial,  the  soldiers  came 
and  stripped  them  of  their  dead-clothes ;  nay,  when  they  permitted 
them  to  be  buried,  none  durst  appear  to  perform  this  service  but 
women,  whom,  notwithstanding,  the  soldiers  attacked,  cutting  the 
palls  with  their  swords.  When  the  women  used  their  plaids  for  palls, 
the  soldiers  took  their  plaids  from  them.  In  short,  they  were  obliged 
to  set  the  coffins  in  the  alms-house,  near  the  High  Church,  where 
they  continued  till  the  soldiers  left  Glasgow. 

Early  on  the  3d  of  June,  the  council  met,  and  having  received  a 
false  account  of  these  transactions,  issued  a  proclamation  against  the 
rebels,  as  they  called  them.  The  council  issued  another  proclamation, 
ordering  the  militia  to  rendezvous,  and  to  join  and  act  with  the 
regular  forces,  under  severe  penalties  ;  and,  ordering  all  the  heritors 
and  freeholders  to  attend  the  king's  host,  made  all  preparations  they 
judged  necessary  for  suppressing  the  rebellion,  as  it  was  termed. 

On  the  same  day,  lord  Ross,  and  the  officers  in  Glasgow,  finding 
that  the  gathering  of  the  country  people  still  increased,  marched 
with  the  forces  to  Kilsyth,  and  carried  with  them  in  carts  some 
of  the  wounded  countrymen,  who  fell  into  their  hands  ;  and  on  the 
6th  were  joined  by  the   earl   of  Linlithgow  at  Larbertmuir;   but 


BATTLE    OF    DRUMCLOG. 

being  falsely  informed  that  the  west  country  army  wae    . 

they  wrote  to  the  council,  that  it  was  the  general 

that  Lis  majesty  should  be  applied  to  for  assistance  from  England. 

Meanwhile,  matters  were  so  managed  at  court,  thai  the 
Monmouth  Mas  pitched  upon  to  command  an  army  : 
the  insurrection.     When  the  council  received  the 
on  the  15th,  wrote  to  court,  and  proposed  that  Dalziel 
lieutenant-general  under  the  duke. 

The  success  which  the  countrymen   met  with  at   Drumi 
opportunity  to  many  to  join  them  from  all  quarters,  consii 
necessity  there  was  to  assist  them  in  this  extremity,  and  that  they 
themselves  were  liable  to  the  same  danger  from  their  enn 
rnies.    They  never,  as  Mr.  Wodrow  thinks,  exceeded 
Echard  would  have  them  to  be  17,000  when  they    .  ted  at 

Bothwell ;  but  then  many  were  but  ill  armed,  and  it  was  their  loss  thai 
they  had  not  officers  who  understood  the  art  of  war. 

When  the  king's  forces  left  Glasgow,  Mr.  Welch  and 
came  thither  from  Carrick,  and  interred  the  bodies  of  those  w 
been  killed  in  the  late  attempt,  together  with  the  heads  of  the 
ers  for  Pentland.     They  had  showed  the  like  kindness  to  the  heads 
and  hands  of  those  which  had  been  set  up  at  Kilmarnock,  Irvin  . 
Ayr,  and  were  well  received  by  the  good  people  everywhi 
marched  along. 

It  being  agreed  upon  to  publish  a  declaration  t<>  the  world,  Bhowing 
the  reasons  of  their  conduct,  Mr.  Hamilton,  who  took  upon  him  the 
command,  Mr.  Douglas,  Mr.  (.'argil,  and  Bome  others,  were  of  opinion 
that  the  indulgence  should  be  condemned  in  it.  This,  however,  was 
opposed  by  Mr.  Welch,  the  laird  of  Kaitloch,  and  others;  bul  Mr 
Hamilton  and  his  adherents  being  more  numerous,  the  following 
general  declaration  was  agreed  to  by  the  majority: — 

"  We,  who  are  here  providentially  convened  in  our  own  defence, 
for  preventing  and  removing  the  mistakes  and  misapprehensii 
all,  especially  of  those  whom  we  wish  to  be  and  hope  are  frieu 
declare  our  present  purposes  and  endeavours  to  be  only  in  vindi< 
and  defence  of  the  true  reformed  religion  in  its  profession  and  doctrine, 
as  we  stand  obliged  thereunto  by  our  national  andSolemn  League  and 
Covenants,  and' that  solemn  acknowledgment  of  sins,  and  »■:._ 
ment  to  duties,  made  and  taken  in  the  year  1648,  declarii 
popery,  prelacy,  Erastianism,  and  all  things  depending  thereupon." 

At  another  meeting,  Mr.   Hamilton,  and  those  of  his  Bentaments, 
moved,  that  they  might  observe  a  day  of  fasting  and  humilation  he- 
fore  they  should  be  engaged  with  the  enemy.    They  who  w< 
different  sentiments  with  .Mi-.  Hamilton  would  not  agree  to  hi,  i. 
of  humiliation,  and  so  no  fast  was  kept.   Thus  divisions  broke  this  little 
army,  before  they  were  broken  by  the  enemy. 

When  the  cause  of  their  appearing  and  continuing  in  a: 
to  be  considered  at  a  meeting  of  the  officers,  which  thej  called  a 
council  of  war,  Mr.  Hamilton  and  hi-  adherent,  were  for  having  it 
stated  upon  the  footing  of  the  Rutherglen  Declaration  ;  but  they  who 
favoured  the  indulgence  proposed,  that  the   kin  —  autho 
be  expresslv  owned,   according  to  the  third   article  el  ti 


620 


BATTLE    OF    DRUMCLOG. 


League  and  Covenant.  Against  tins  it  was  argued,  that,  as  they  had 
made  no  declaration  against  him,  so  they  must  be  excused,  and  not 
urged  to  declare  positively  for  him;  especially  as  he  was  now  in  a 
stated  opposition  to  the  interest  of  Christ,  and  had,  upon  the  matter, 
declared  war  against  his  people,  and  all  the  present  opposition,  cruelty, 
and  persecution  in  Scotland,  for  redress  of  which  they  were  now  ap- 
pearing, were  carried  on  in  his  name.  The  Covenants,  they  said,  only 
bound  them  to  him  in  the  preservation  and  defence  of  the  true  reli- 
gion, and  the  liberties  of  the  kingdoms  ;  but  the  king  had  actually 
overturned  the  true  religion,  set  up  prelacy  and  Erastianism,  ruined 
the  covenanted  work  of  reformation,  invaded  the  liberties  of  the  king- 
dom, persecuted  to  the  death  the  assertors  of  both,  and  plainly  broke 
the  conditions  of  government  sworn  at  his  coronation.  To  this  it  was 
answered,  That,  in  1638,  the  Assembly  and  Covenanters  owned  the 
king's  authority,  though  he  had  declared  war  against  them  ;  That 
this  method  of  throwing  off  the  king's  authority  would  obstruct  the 
redress  of  their  grievances,  and  frustrate  the  design  of  their  appear- 
ance. But  here  the  reader  must  observe,  that  Mr.  Hamilton  and  his 
adherents  proposed  no  declaration  against  the  king's  lawful  authority ; 
they  only  would  not  positively  mention  him  or  his  interest  in  the  de- 
claration :  and  it  is  certain,  that  what  they  asserted,  concerning  the 
king's  opposition  to  the  true  religion,  &c,  was  fact.  How  far  their 
inference  was  just,  must  be  left  with  the  reader.  However,  they  who 
opposed  Mr.  Hamilton  and  his  adherents  so  far  prevailed,  as  on  the 
13th  of  June  to  get  a  declaration  published  at  Glasgow,  called  the 
Hamilton  Declaration,  wherein  the  king's  interest  is  expressly 
asserted.  The  reader  may  easily  see,  that  this  little  army  must  have 
laboured  under  great  disadvantages  from  their  divisions,  when  the 
enemy  was  coming  upon  them. 

Here  it  will  be  proper  to  return  to  the  king's  army.  The  army 
under  the  command  of  the  earl  of  Linlithgow,  being  cantoned  about 
Edinburgh,  came  on  the  17th,  to  Kirkhill-park,  belonging  to  lord 
Cardoss,  who  suffered  much  at  this  time  by  the  soldiers.  On  the 
18th,  the  duke  of  Monmouth  came  to  Edinburgh,  and  was  admitted  a 
privy-counsellor.  On  the  19th,  he  went  to  the  army,  and  marched 
slowly  towards  Hamilton.  Next  day,  he  sent  to  the  council,  com- 
plaining that  their  march  was  retarded  for  want  of  provisions,  which 
were  accordingly  sent  him.  But  some  think  the  reasons  of  his 
Grace's  slow  motions  were,  because  he  expected  some  application  to 
be  made  to  him  by  those  now  in  arms. 

On  the  20th,  the  council  received  a  letter  from  the  king,  approving 
of  their  proceedings,  and  requiring  that  they  should  prosecute  the 
rebels  with  fire  and  sword,  and  all  other  extremities  of  war.  These 
orders  our  managers  were  ready  enough  to  obey ;  and  accordingly 
they  transmitted  a  copy  of  his  majesty's  letter  to  the  duke,  who-e 
army  then  lay  within  two  miles  of  the  Kirk  of  Shotts,  and  was  about 
ten  thousand  strong,  which  was  more  than  twice  the  number  of  those 
they  had  to  deal  with. 

There  were,  at  this  time,  pains  taken  to  dispose  those  in  arms  to 
lay  before  the  duke  their  grievances,  with  professions  of  loyalty  to 
the  king;  but  their  discords  still  increasing  did  much  damage  ;  for, 


BATTLE    OF    DRUMCLOG. 

as  the  time  of  action  approached,  their  numb< 
kings  army  came  up.    When  they  heard  of   Monmouth's  arrival 
a  motion  was  made  to  model  their  army,  and  pitch  npon  such  o 
as  were  best  skilled  in  military  affaire.     Aboul  this  time,  a  i 
unknown  came  into  one  of  their  meetings  with  a  pai 
from  some  ministers  and  others,  which'  they  earnestly  di 
might  sign.    The  tenor  of  it  was.  "We  the  officera  of  thi    :' 
tenan  army,  do  hereby  declare,  That  we  have  no  intention  • 
to  overturn  the  government,  civil  or  ecclesiastical ,  wherenn! 
solemnly  sworn  by  our  national  and  Solemn  League  and  Covenant; 
and  that  it  is  our  judgment  and  opinion  that  all  matters  now  u 
troversy  be  forborne  and   referred  to  be  determined  by  their  pi 
judicatories,   viz.,    a  free  and    unlimited  parliament,  and  a  lawful 
General  Assembly."    But  both  these  proposals  were  dropped  for  a 
time. 

On   Saturday  the  21st,  the  officers  met,   and  their   debates    ran 
higher  than  ever,  though  the  king's  forces  were  almost  in  \ 
this  meeting  it  was  urged,  that  all  places  in  the  army  should 
dared  vacant,  and  officers  harmoniously  chosen,  that  soti 
be  entirely  united  in' the  time  of  action.     Mr.  Hamilton,  and 
of  his  way  of  thinking,  declared  their  willingness,  on  condition  of  the 
right  stating  of  the  quarrel.    Upon  this,  the  indulgence  was  again 
brought  upon  the  carpet,  and  the  dispute  Was  carried  to  such  s 
that  Mr.  Hamilton,  John  Paton,  William  Carmichael,  Andrew  Turn- 
bull,  and  some  others,  left  the  meeting.    Those  who  remained  made 
choice  of  a  new  preses  and  clerk,  and  entered  upon  business ;  but 
were  unwilling  to  nominate  officers  when  BO  many  had  withdrawn. 
However,  being  acquainted  with  Monmouth's  willing!] 
applications  from  them,  and  that  being  an  affair  which  could  admit 
of  no  delay,  they  unanimous/jr  voted   a   supplication  to  his  Grace, 
wherein,  after   giving  a  general   account  of  their  grievances,  the;. 
prayed  that  some  of  their  number  might  have  liberty,  under 
conduct,  to  come  and  lav  before  him  their  grievances  and  requi 

On  Sabbath  the  22d,  the  duke  ami  his  army  were  come  to  Both- 
well-muir,  and   their   advanced    guards  to   Bothwell  town,  ab  tut  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  bridge.    The  countrymen  lay  encamped 
on  the   south   of  the  river  Clyde    in    Hamilton-muir,  and    had  an 
advanced  party  ready  to  dispute  the  passage  at   Bothwell-bridge,  if 
the  king's  army  should  attempt  it. — Early  thai  morning,  Mr.  ! 
Hume,  the  Laird  of  Kaitloch,  and  some  Bay  Mr.  John  welch  in  dis- 
guise, went   to    the   duke    with    the    Bupphcation.     They  had    easj 
access,  and,  besides  the  supplication,  prayed,  "  That  they  might  be 
allowed  the  free  exercise  of  religion,  and  to  attend  gospel  ordii 
dispensed    by   their    own     faithful    Presbyterian    ministers    without 
molestation;  that  a  free.  Parliament  and  a  free  General   Assembly, 
witlfbut  the  clogs  of  oaths  and  declaration-.  Bhould  be  alio* 
meet  for  settling  affairs  both  in  church  and  state  ;  and  that  all 
who  now  are  or  have  been  in  arms  should  be  indemnified.*'    The 
duke  heard  them  patiently,  but  refused  to  treat  with  them  till  they 
had  laid  down  their  arms',  and  submitted  to  the  king's  mere]  •     He 
sent  them  back  to  their  friends,  and  ordered  them  to  bring  an  answer 


022  BATTLE    OF    BOTHWELL    BRIDGE. 

in  half  an  hour  at  farthest.  In  short, when  the  commissioners  came  to 
the  army,  they  renewed  their  debates,  and  so  no  answer  was  returned. 
The  king's  troops  in  the  meantime  had  leisure  to  plant  their  can- 
non ;  and  lord  Livingston  began  the  attack  on  the  bridge  with  the 
foot,  guards.  The  countrymen  stood  their  ground  for  nearly  an  hour, 
and  defended  the  bridge  with  great  gallantry.  Hackston  of  Rathil- 
let,  of  their  commanders,  showed  a  great  deal  of  bravery  upon  the 
occasion ;  but  their  ammunition  failing  them,  and  not  being  properly 
supported,  they  were  obliged  to  quit  the  bridge  where  their  main 
strength  lay.  Upon  this,  the  duke  ordered  the  whole  army  to  pass 
the  bridge  with  the  cannon  before  them,  and  soon  after  the  whole 
west  country  army  was  routed. 


The  Battle  of  Bothwell  Bkidge. 

It  is  well  known,  that  after  the  disastrous  event  now  to  be  de- 
scribed, when  the  ranks  of  the  patriotic  Whigs  were  broken  by 
overwhelming  forces,  and  while  Dalziel  and  Clavers  swept  the  south 
and  west  of  Scotland  like  the  blast  of  the  desert,  breathing  pestilence 
and  death — the  individual  wanderers  betook  themselves  to  the  caves 
and  fastnesses  of  their  rugged  country.  This  was  their  situation 
chiefly  from  the  year  16S0  to  the  Revolution.  The  Laird  also  spent 
his  clays  in  seclusion ;  but  still  he  fearlessly  attended  the  weekly 
assemblies  in  the  fields,  for  the  worship  of 'Almighty  God.  What 
had  he  to  fear  ?  What  more  could  he  lose  ?  His  estate  had  been 
confiscated.  His  wife  and  babes  stript  by  the  life-guards  of  the  last 
remnant  of  earthly  comfort  which  they  could  take  away ;  and  him- 
self doomed  as  an  outlaw,  to  be  executed  by  the  military  assassins 
when  taken.  He  became  reckless  of  the  world.  "  I  have  lived," 
said  he  in  anguish,  "  to  see  a  Prince  twice,  of  his  own  choice,  take 
the  oath  of  the  covenants  to  support  religion  and  the  fundamental 
laws  of  the  land.  I  have  lived  to  see  that  Prince  turn  traitor  to  his 
country,  and,  with  unblushing  impiety,  order  these  covenants  to  be 
burnt  by  the  hands  of  the  executioner.  I  have  seen  him  subvert  the 
liberty  of  my  country,  both  civil  and  religious.  I  have  seen  him 
erect  a  bloody  inquisition.  The  priests,  imposed  on  us  by  tyranny, 
instead  of  wooing  us  over  by  the  loveliness  of  religion,  have  thrown 
oft  the  bowels  of  mercy.  They  occupy  seats  in  the  bloody  Council. 
They  stimulate  the  cruelties  of  Lauderdale,  M'Kenzie,  and  York. 
Their  hands  are  dipped  in  blood  to  the  wrists.  This  Council  will 
not  permit  us  to  live  in  peace.  Our  property  they  confiscate.  Our 
houses  they  convert  into  barracks.  They  drag  free  men  into  chains. 
They  bring  no  witnesses  of  our  guilt.  They  invent  new  tortures  to 
convert  us.  They  employ  the  thumb-screws  and  bootkins.  If  we 
are  silent,  they  condemn  us.  If  we  confess  our  Christian  creed,  they 
doom  us  to  the  gibbet.  If  we  offer  a  defence,  a  judge  rises  from  the 
bench,  and  with  his  naked  sword  wounds  us.  Not  only  our  sentence, 
but  the  manner  of  our  execution  is  fixed  before  our  trial.  In  our  hist 
moments  they  command  the  kettle-drum  to  beat  one  continued  roll ; 
and  when  a  strong  sense  of  injustice  extorts  a  complaint  against  our 


BATTLE    OF    BOTHWELL   BRIDGE. 

barbarous  treatment,   a   military  servant  of  the  ( ' 

dying  man  m  his  last  moments;*  and,  us  if  this  sanguinary  pi 

were  too  slow  in  exterminating  us,  I   ha 

loose  a  brutal  soldiery  un  us— on  us  who  recalled  him  fi 

who  placed  the  crown  on  his  bead.     He  lias  murdered 

wives,  and  our  children.     AW-  have,  indeed,  formally  renounce 

tyrant,  by  declaring  war  against  him  ;  but  we  have  hi; 

the  attempt  to  rouse  the  energies  of  our  sleeping  country. 

into  a  deadly  slumber.     It  has  hitherto  permitted  I 

us  under  martial  law.     Clavers  is  our  j 

executioners  ;  and  these  savages  do  still  continue  to  en  n  the 

■sagacity  of 'Uoodhounds  to  himt  us  down.     M \  bou!  tun     ':. 

these  loathsome  spectacles.    They  have  cut  in  pieces  the  frii 

companions  of  my  youth.     M'Kail,    Kid,   and   King,  are  do  more. 

Cameron  fell  bleeding  at  my  side.     Hackston  they  have  butchered. 

My  father,  Cargil — they  could  not  spare  even  thee  !     Nor  thee,  dear 

young  Kenwick  !    Brown  fell  by  the  bloody  Clavers,  al  the  :■ 

his  wife  and  crying  babes.     I  have  seen  my  friends,  and  th< 

whose  veins  my  blood  ran,  fall  in  the  ranks  on  bl ly  Both  well,  aa 

the  golden  flowers  of  the  meadow  beneath  the  mower's  hand.     1  have 
seen  the  greedy  axe  of  the  inhuman  executioner  mangle  the  liinl 
my  dearest  friends.     I  have  seen  the  minions  of  tyranny  perform 
their  disgusting  service  of  transporting  and  suspending,  sham- 

bles, the  bleeding  limbs  of  the  martyrs.     I  have  Been  the  hammi 
the  barbarians  fix  the  heads  of  my  companions   on    thy  wal 
bloody  Edinburgh!     And  oh!  disgusting  spectacle)    I   1 
these  forms,  once  dear  to  my  soul  as  the  light  of  heaven,  bee 
naked  and  bleached  bones,  under  the  rain  and  sun.     I  have  li\ 
see  the  dreadful  effect  of  civil  war.    The  frequent  bu1  a  the 

field  and  on  the  scaffold  have  rendered  men  callous.  The  ghastly 
heads  and  mangled  quarters  are  set  up  before  the  mob.  Mothers 
and  children  dally  feast  their  eyes  with  the  Bpectacle;  even  delicate 
females  roll  their  eyes  over  them  without  a  shudder.  ( >ur  snffei 
are  not  felt,  for  the  human  bosom  has  lost  it-  feelings. — i '  <  rod  of  my 
fathers  !  bend  in  mercy  thine  eyes  on  my  bleeding  country — a: 
thy  weeping  Kirk !  Shall  these  men  spread  havoc  without  bounds  J 
Shall  our  blood  stream  in  torrents?  Shall  the  Stuarts  and  their 
slaves  bind  these  chains  on  the  neck  of  our  country  and  of  thy  Kirk 
for  ever !" 

The  laird  while  he  was  uttering  these  words,  had  thrown  hi 
on  his  knees.     His  arms  were  stretched  forward  and  upward;  Ins 
long  hair,  grey,  not  by  age,  but  by  labours  and  sorrow, 
his  shoulders ;  his  eves  lighted  up  by  hope,  in  the  midsl  of  d 
dency,  were  fixed  on  heaven ;  and  the  tears  streaming  bud- 

burned  cheeks,  fell  in  large  drops  from  his  beard  on  hi 

*  This  was  exemplified  in   the  case  of  Jam. 
Lanarkshire,  who  was  executed  al  Edinburgh   on  15th  Dec, 
on  the  charge  of  holding  it  a  mthat  the 

were  not  guilty  of  rebellion.     -When  be  bega.    I 
runted  bv  the  ruffling  of  drams,  and  on  his  complaining  ol  this,  the  I 
h£ "Z  vSSZri  the  most  'barbarous  manne,       I 

man,  and  his  patience  and  composure  under  it,  were  -1 ku pi  deep  .  .. 

evil  of  persecution,  and  of  serious  impressions  on  the  subject  ol  religion 


(524  BATTLE    OF    BOTHWELL    BRIDGE. 

At  this  moment  his  brother  John  entered  with  looks  which  betrayed 
unusual  anxiety.  "  My  brother,"  said  he,  "  you  must  resume  these 
weapons,  which  your  studious  habits  have  thrown  into  the  corner. 
Praying  must  give  way  to  fighting  now.  A  trooper  advances  at  full 
speed,  and  he  is  followed  by  a  dark  column.  "We  have  not  even  time 
to  fly." — The  mind  of  the  Laird,  like  those  of  the  rest  of  the  wander- 
er?, always  brightened  up  at  the  approach  of  danger.  "  I  guessed 
some  such  tidings  from  that  tragedy  face  of  yours,"  said  he.  "  Our 
perils  are  so  great  that  they  do  not  allow  us  time  to  vent  our  com- 
plaints," added  he,  as  he  girded  on  his  sword  and  put  on  his  helmet 

"  Let  us  reconnoitre — "What  do  I  see  ?  but  one  trooper.  And  that 
motley  crowd  is  a  rabble— not  a  troop.  That  trooper  is  not  of  Cla- 
vers'  band ;  nor  does  he  belong  to  Douglas — nor  to  Inglis — nor  to 
Strachan's  dragoons.  He  waves  a  small  flag.  I  can  discover  the 
scarlet  and  blue  color  of  the  Covenanter's  flag. — Ha!  welcome  you, 
John  Howie  of  Lochgoin.* — But  what  news? — Lives  our  country? 
— Lives  the  good  old  cause  V — "  Glorious  news,"  exclaimed  Howie; 
"  Scotland  for  ever!  She  is  free.  The  tyrant  James  has  abdicated. 
The  Stuarts  are  banished  by  an  indignant  nation. — Orange  triumphs. 
Our  wounds  are  binding  up. — Huzza  !  Scotland  and  King  William, 
and  the  Covenant  for  ever  !" 

The  Laird  made  no  reply.  He  laid  his  steel  cap  on  the  ground, 
and  threw  himself  on  his  knees  ;  he  uttered  a  brief  prayer,  of  which 
this  was  the  close  :  "  My  bleeding  country,  and  thy  wailing  Kirk, 
and  my  brethren  in  the  furnace,  have  come  in  remembrance  before 
thee.  For  ever  lauded  be  thy  name."  "  Hasten  to  the  meeting  at 
Lesmahagow.  Our  friends  behind  me,  you  see,  have  already  set 
out,"  said  Howie.  And  he  set  off  with  enthusiastic  ardour  to  spread 
the  news. 

"  These  news,"  said  the  Laird,  after  a  long  pause,  while  his  eyes 
followed  the  courser  over  the  plains  of  Aven — "  these  news  are  to 
me  as  life  from  the  dead.  Our  martial  toils  have  not  been  unprofi- 
table, nor  has  our  blood  been  shed  in  vain.  "We  have  at  last  roused 
our  sleeping  country — we  have  saved  her — we  have  gained  our  civil 
and  religious  liberties.  I  feel  a  fresh  vigour  poured  into  my  nerves. 
I  feel  already  the  full  glow  of  liberty.  I  feel  that  I  am  a  free  man, 
and  no  tyrant's  slave.  The  Parliament  and  the  Assembly  will,  I 
trust,  set  all  things  right  again.  My  forfeiture  shall  be  restored,  and 
my  wife  and  babes  shall  surround  me  in  the  domestic  circle;  and. 
brother  John — -what  is  no  small  affair — I  shall  now  have  a  respite — 
far  from  the  horrid  din  of  war — quietly  to  finish  that  work,  over 
which  I  have  literally  trimmed  the  midnight  lamp,  with  my  sword 
and  musketoon  lying  before  me.  Gawn  Witherspoon,"  said  the 
Laird,  in  a  higher  tone,  "  call  my  moss-headed  hostler,  and  let  us 
have  our  horses.  I  have  a  mind  to  meet  my  old  friends  at  Lesmaha- 
gow.    And  then,  when  serious  business  is  despatched,  we  can  take 

*  The  grandson  of  this  person  (John  Howie,  the  Compiler  of  the  Scots  Worthies)  is  the 
person  whom  the  Great  Unknown  has  been  pleased  to  designate  Old  Mortality.  But  indi- 
viduals who  have  been  from  infancy  familiar  with  the  history  of  this  author  of  the  epi- 
taphs, this  repairer  of  the  tombs  of  the  Martyrs,  has  never  heard  him  called  Old  Mor- 
tality. There  are  comparatively  few  in  the  west  of  Scotland  who  are  not  familiar  wi'-h 
the  name  of  John  Howie — Old  Mortality  is  his  name  only  in  romance. 


BATTLE    OF   BOTHWELL    BRIDGE. 

Bothwell  field  on  our  return.  It  will  yield  me  at  lead  a  melancholy 
pleasure  to  visit  the  spot  where  we  fought,  I  trust,  our  last  battle 
against  the  enemies  of  our  country,  and  otthi 

Serious  matters  of  church  and  'state  having  been  discussed  at  tin- 
public  meeting,  the  brothers  found  th  -.  on  the  fourth  day,  on 
the  battie  ground  of  Bothwell. 

"  On  that  moor,"  said  the  Laird,  after  a  Ion-  Bilencc — and,  with- 
out being  conscious  of  it,  he  had,  by  a  kind  of  instinct  natural  ei 
to  a  soldier,  drawn  his  sword,  and' was  pointing  withit— "On  that 
moor  the  enemyfirst  formed  under  Monmouth.  There,  on  the  right, 
Clavers  led  on  the  life-guards,  breathing  fury,  and  resolute  to  wipe 
off  the  disgrace  of  the  affair  of  Drumclog.  Mziel  firmed  Ids  men 
on  that  knoll.  Lord  Livingston  led  the  van  of  the  foemen.  We  bad 
taken  care  to  have  Bothwell  Bridge  strongly  Becured  by  a  barricade, 
and  our  little  battery  of  cannon  was  planted  <>n  that  Bpot  below  as, 
in  order  to  sweep  the  bridge.  And  we  did  rake  it.  Thefoemen'a 
blood  streamed  there.  Again  and  again  the  troops  of  the  tyrant 
marched  on,  and  our  cannon  annihilated  their  columns.  Sir  R 
Hamilton  was  our  commander-in-chief.  The  gallant  General  llack- 
ston  stood  on  that  spot  with  his  brave  men.  Along  the  river,  and 
above  the  bridge,  Burley's  foot  and  captain  Nisbers  dragoons  were 
stationed.  For  one  hour  we  kept  the  enemy  in  cheek:  they  were 
defeated  in  every  attempt  to  cross  the  Clyde.  Livingston  Bent  ano- 
ther strong  column  to  storm  the  bridge.     I   shall   never  forget   the 

effect  of  one  fire  from  our  battery,  where  my  men  b< 1.     W< 

the  line  of  the  foe  advance  in  all  the  military  glory  of  brave  and 
beautiful  men — the  horses  pranced — the  armour  gleamed.  In  one 
moment  nothing  was  seen  but  a  shocking  mass  of  mortality.  Human 
limbs  and  the  bodies  and  limbs  of  horses  were  mingled  in  cm.  huge 
heap,  or  blown  to  a  great  distance.  Another  column  attempted  to 
crjoss  above  the  bridge.  Some  threw  themselves  into  the  current. 
One  well-directed  fire  from  Burley's  troops  threw  them  into  disorder, 
and  drove  them  back.  Meantime,  while  we  were  thus  warmly 
engaged,  Hamilton  was  labouring  to  bring  down  the  different  divi- 
sions of  our  main  body  into  action  ;  but  in  vain  he  called  on  colonel 
Cleland's  troop — in  vain  he  ordered  Henderson's  to  fall  in — in  vaxn 
he  called  on  colonel  Fleming's.  Hackston  flew  from  troop  to  tr 
all  was  confusion;  in  vain  he  besought,  he  entreated,  he  threat* 
Our  disputes  and  fiery  misguided  zeal,  my  brother,  contracted  a 
and  deadly  guilt  that  day."  The  Whig  turned  his  arm  in  fierce  hate 
that  day  against  his  own  vitals.  Our  chaplains,  Cargil,  and  King, 
and  Kid,  and  Douglas  interposed  again  and  again.  Cargil  mounted 
the  pulpit;  he  preached  concord ;  he  called  aloud  for  mutual  for- 
bearance. 'Behold  the  banner.-  of  the  enemy,' cried  he;  'hear  ye 
not  the  fire  of  the  foe,  and  of  our  own  brethren  \  ( >urbroth< 
fathers  are  falling  beneath  their  sword.  Hasten  to  their  aid.  See 
the  flag  of  the  Covenant.  See  the  motto  in  letters  of  gold— 
Cueist's  Crown  and  the  Covenant.  Hear  the  roice  of  your  weep- 
ing country.  Hear  the  waitings  of  th.-  bleeding  Kirk.  Banish  dis- 
cord. And  let  us,  as  a  band  of  brothers,  present  a  bold  front  \<>  the 
foemen.  Follow  me,  all  ye  who  love  your  country  and  the  I 
40 


526  BATTLE    OF   BOTHWELL    BRIDGE. 

nant.  I  go  to  die  in  the  fore-front  of  the  battle.'  All  the  ministers 
and  officers  followed  him — amidst  a  flourish  of  trumpets — but  the 
great  body  remained  to  listen  to  the  harangues  of  the  factious.  We 
sent  again  and  again  for  ammunition.  My  men  were  at  the  last 
round.  Treachery,  or  a  fatal  error,  had  sent  a  barrel  of  raisins  in- 
stead of  powder.*  My  heart  sunk  within  me  while  I  beheld  the  de- 
spair on  the  faces  of  my  brave  fellows,  as  I  struck  out  the  head  of  the 
vessel.  Ilackston  called  his  officers  to  him.  We  threw  ourselves 
around  him.  '  What  must  be  done  V  said  he,  in  an  agony  of  de- 
spair. '  Conquer  or  die,'  we  said,  as  if  wTith  one  voice.  '  We  have 
our  swords  yet.  Lead  back  the  men  then  to  their  places,  and  let  the 
ensign  bear  down  the  blue  and  scarlet  colours.  Our  God  and  our 
Country  be  the  word.'  Ilackston  rushed  forward.  We  ran  to  our 
respective  corps — we  cheered  our  men,  but  they  were  languid  and 
dispirited.  Their  ammunition  was  nearly  expended,  and  they  seemed 
anxious  to  husband  what  remained.  They  fought  only  with  their 
carabines.  The  cannons  could  no  more  be  loaded.  The  enemy  soon 
perceived  this.  We  saw  a  troop  of  horse  approach  the  bridge.  It 
was  that  of  the  life-guards.  I  recognized  the  plume  of  Clavers.  They 
approached  in  rapid  march.  A  solid  column  of  infantry  followed. 
I  sent  a  request  to  captain  Kisbet  to  join  his  troop  to  mine.  lie  was 
in  an  instant  with  us.  We  charged  the  life-guards.  Our  swords 
rung  on  their  steel  caps.  Many  of  my  brave  lads  fell  on  all  sides  of 
me.  But  we  hewed  down  the  foe.  They  began  to  reel.  The  whole 
column  was  kept  stationary  on  the  bridge.  Clavers'  dreadful  voice 
was  heard — more  like  the  yell  of  a  savage  than  the  commanding 
voice  of  a  soldier.  He  pushed  forward  his  men,  and  again  we  hewed 
them  down.  A  third  mass  was  pushed  up.  Our  exhausted  dragoons 
fled.  Unsupported,  I  found  myself  by  the  brave  Nisbet,  and  Paton, 
and  Ilackston.  We  looked  for  a  moment's  space  in  silence  on  each 
other.  We  galloped  in  front  of  our  retreating  men.  We  rallied, 
them.  We  pointed  to  the  general  almost  alone.  We  pointed  to  the 
white  and  to  the  scarlet  colours  floating  near  him.  We  cried,  '  God 
and  our  Country?  They  faced  about.  We  charged  Clavers  once 
more — '  Torfoot,'  cried  Nisbet,  '  I  dare  you  to  the  fore-front  of  the 
battle.'  We  rushed  up  at  full  gallop.  Our  men  seeing  this,  followed 
also  at  full  speed.  We  broke  the  enemy's  line,  bearing  down  those 
files  which  we  encountered.  We  cut  our  way  through  their  2'anks. 
But  they  had  now  lengthened  their  front.  Superior  numbers  drove 
us  in.  They  had  gained  entire  possession  of  the  bridge.  Livingston 
and  Dalziel  were  actually  taking  us  on  the  flank.  A  band  had  got 
between  us  and  Burley's  infantry.  '  My  friends,'  said  Ilackston  to 
his  officers,  '  we  are  last  on  the  field.  We  can  do  no  more.  We 
must  retreat.  Let  us  attempt,  at  least,  to  bring  aid  to  those  deluded 
men  behind  us.  They  have  brought  ruin  on  themselves  and  on  us. 
Not  Monmouth,  but  our  own  divisions  have  scattered  us.' 

"  At  this  moment  one  of  the  life-guards  aimed  a  blow  at  Ilackston. 
My  sword  received  it — and  a  stroke  from  Nisbet  laid  the  foeman's 
hand   and  sword   in   the  dust.     He  fainted  and  tumbled  from    his 

*  The  natives  of  Hamilton  have  preserved,  by  tradition,  the  name  of  the  merchant  who 
did  this  disservice  to  the  Covenanters'  army. 


BATTLE    OF   BOTHWELL   BRIDGE. 

saddle.    ATe  reined  our  horses,  and  galloped  to  our  main  h  dy 

what  a  scene  presented  itself  here  !     These  i, 
eyes  now  fully  opened  on  their  fatal  errors.     'I 
ing  up  their  whole  force  against  them.    I  w 
tator  of  it ;  for  a  ball  grazed  my  courser.     I 1 
then  shot  off  like  an  arrow.     Several  of  our  officers  drew  fa  i  th< 
place.     On  a  knoll  we  faced  about— the  battle  raged  I 
beheld  our  commander  doing  everything  that  a  brav< 
do  with  factious  men  against  an  overpowering  foe.     !' 
troops  were  inclose  conflict  with  Cavers'  di  him 

dismount  three  troopers  with  his  own  hand.     He  could  Dot  turn  the 
tide  of  the  battle,  but  he  was  covering  the  retreat  of  th  a  aided 

men.     Before  we  could  rejoin  him,  a  party  threw  thei 
way.     Kennoway,  one  of  Clavers'  officers,  led  them  on. 
God  that  this  wasGrahame  himself,'  some  of  my  comrades  ejaci 
aloud.     '  He  falls  to  my  share,'  said  I,  '  wh< 
advanced — he  met  me.     I  parried  several  t;  Ee  recei 

cut  on  the  left  arm  ;  and  the  sword,  by  the  same  strofo  . 
of  his  horses'  ears  ;  it  plunged  and  reared.     We  closed  again.     I  re- 
ceived a  stroke  on  the  left  shoulder.     My  blow  fell  on  I  arm. 
He  reined  his  horse  around,  retreated  a  few  paces,  then  n 
full  gallop.     My  courser  reared  instinctively  as  he  appn 
received  his  stroke  on  the  back  of  my  Ferrers  ;  and  by  a  back 
I  gave  him  a  deep  cut  on  the  check.     And  before  he  could 
position  of  defence,  my  sword  fell  with  a  terrible  b].. 
cap.     Stunned  by  the  blow,  he  bent  himself  forward — ami. 
the  mane,  he  tumbled  from  his  saddle,  and  his  steed  gall 
the  field.     I  did  not  repeat  the  blow.     I!'     left  hand                 1  his 
sword;  his  right  arm  was  disabled  ;  his  life  \              a  t<>  him. 
companions  having  disposed  of  their  ant;                                      them 
had  two  a-piecej  we  paused  to  see  the  fate  of  the  battle.   Dalz:. 
Livingstone  were  riding  over  the  field,  like  furies,  cutting  down  all 
in  their  way.     Monmouth  was  galloping  from  rank  to  rank,  and  call- 
ing on  his  men  to  give  quarter.     Clavers,  to  wipe  off  the  di 
Drumclog,  was  committing  fearful  havoc.    '  Can  we  not  find  I 
said  Hainjh-head. — '  No,  said  Captain  Paton,  '  the  gallant  c 
takes  careto  have  a  solid  guard  of  his                 bout  him.     I  have 
sought  him  over  the  field  ;  but  I  found  him,  as  I  now  perceive  him, 
with  a  mass  of  his  guards  about  him.'     At  this  instant  we 
general,  at  some  distance,  disentangling  bin  who 
had  tumbled  over  him  in  the  meU.    Bis  face,  and  hand 
were  covered  with  gore.     He  had  been  dismounted,  and  was  fighting 
on  foot.     We  rushed  to  the  spot,  and  cheered  him.     Our  pari 
back  the  scattered  bands  of  Dalziel.     'My friend 
as  we  mounted  him  on  a  stray  horse,  '  the  day  i 
Paton  ;  vou,Brownlee  of  Torfoot,  and  you,  Haugh-head— 1 
flao-  fall  into  the  hands  of  these  incarnate                J^e  bavt 
battle,  but,  by  the  grace  of  God,  neither  Dalzie]  nor  Clavers 
that  he  took  our  colours.     My  ensign  has 

down.     This  sword  has  saved  it  twice-.    I  leave  it  to  your  eai        J     I 
see  its  perilous  situation.'     lie  pointed  with  his  Bword  to 


62S  BATTLE    OF    BOTHWELL    BRIDGE. 

We  collected  some  of  our  scattered  troops,  and  flew  to  the  place.  The 
standard-bearer  was  down,  but  he  was  still  fearlessly  grasping  the 
flag  staff,  while  he  was  borne  upright  by  the  mass  of  men  who  had 
thrown  themselves  in  fierce  contest  around  it.  Its  well  known  blue 
and  scarlet  colours,  and  its  motto,  Christ's  Grown  and  Covenant,  in 
brilliant  gold  letters,  inspired  us  with  a  sacred  enthusiasm.  We 
gave  a  loud  cheer  to  the  wounded  ensign,  and  rushed  into  the  com- 
bat. The  redemption  of  that  flag  cost  the  foe  many  a  gallant  man. 
They  fell  beneath  our  broadswords  ;  and,  with  horrible  execrations 
dying  on  their  lips,  they  gave  up  their  souls  to  their  Judge. 

"  Here  I  met  in  front  that  ferocious  dragoon  of  Clavers,  named 
Tarn  Halliday,  who  had  more  than  once,  in  his  raids,  plundered  my 
halls  ;  and  had  snatched  the  bread  from  my  weeping  babes.  He  had 
just  seized  the  white  staff  of  the  flag.  But  his  tremendous  oath  of 
exultation,  (we  of  the  covenant  never  swear) — his  oath  had  scarcely 
passed  its  polluted  threshold,  when  this  Andro  Ferrara  fell  on  the 
guard  of  his  steel,  and  shivered  it  to  pieces.  '  Recreant  loon  !'  said 
I,  '  thou  shalt  this  day  remember  thy  evil  deeds.'  Another  blow  on 
his  helmet  laid  him  at  his  huge  length,  and  made  him  bite  the  dust. 
In  the  mele  that  followed,  I  lost  sight  of  him.  We  fought  like  lions 
— but  with  the  hearts  of  Christians.  While  my  gallant  companions 
stemmed  the  tide  of  battle,  the  standard,  rent  to  tatters,  fell  across  my 
breast.  I  tore  it  from  the  staff,  and  wrapt  it  round  my  body.  We 
cut  our  way  through  the  enemy,  and  carried  our  general  off  the  field. 

"  Having  gained  a  small  knoll,  we  beheld  once  more  the  dreadful 
spectacle  below.  Thick  volumes  of  smoke  and  dust  rolled  in  a  lazy 
cloud  over  the  dark  bands  mingled  in  deadly  fray.  It  was  no  longer 
a  battle,  but  a  massacre.  In  the  struggle  of  my  feelings  I  turned  my 
eyes  on  the  general  and  Paton.  I  saw,  in  the  face  of  the  latter,  an 
indescribable  conflict  of  passions.  His  long  and  shaggy  eyebrows 
were  drawn  over  his  eyes.  His  hand  grasped  his  sword.  '  I  cannot 
yet  leave  the  field,'  said  the  undaunted  Paton  ;  '  with  the  general's 
permission,  I  shall  try  to  save  some  of  our  wretched  men  beset  by 
those  hellhounds.  Who  will  go  ? — At  Kilsyth  I  saw  service.  When 
deserted  by  my  troop,  I  cut  my  way  through  Montrose's  men,  and 
reached  the  spot  where  colonels  Halket  and  Strachan  were.  We  left 
the  field  together.  Fifteen  dragoons  attacked  us.  We  cut  down  thir- 
teen, and  two  fled.  Thirteen  next  assailed  us.  We  left  ten  on  the 
field,  and  three  fled.  Eleven  Highlanders  next  met  us.  We  paused 
and  cheered  each  other.  "  ]STow,  Johnny,"  cried  Halket  to  me,  "  put 
forth  your  metal,  else  we  are  gone."     Nine  others  we  sent  after  their 

comrades,  and  two  fled.* Kow,  who  will  join  this  raid  V     'I  will 

be  your  leader,'  said  Sir  Robert,  as  we  fell  into  the  ranks. — We 
marched  on  the  enemy's  flank.  '  Yonder  is  Clavers,'  said  Paton, 
while  he  directed  his  courser  on  him.  The  bloody  man  was,  at  that 
moment,  nearly  alone,  hacking  to  pieces  some  poor  fellows  already  on 
their  knees  disarmed,  and  imploring  him  by  the  common  feeling  of 

*  See  this  chivalrous  defence  recorded,  in  the  life  of  Captain  Paton,  p.  546  of  this  edition. 
This  celebrated  officer  was  trained  up  to  warfare  in  the  army  of  Charles  Gustavus,  King  of 
Sweden,  and  affords  a  good  specimen  of  those  heroic  Whigs  who  brought  about  the  Revolu- 
tion of  16SS. 


BATTLE   OF    BOTH  WELL    BRIDGE. 


humanity  to  spare  their  lives.  He  had  just  finished  his  nana]  oath 
against  their  '  feelings  of  humanity,'  when  Paton  presented  1  i 
He  instantly  let  go  his  prey,  and  slunk  hack  into  the  mi 
troopers.  Having  formed  them,  he  advanced  :  we  formed  and  made 
a  furious  onset.  At  our  first  charge  his  troop  reeled.  Olavers  was 
dismounted.— But  at  that  moment  Dalziel  assailed  as  on  tin-  flank  and 
rear.  Our  men  fell  around  us  like  grass  before  the  mower.  The 
buglemen  sounded  a  retreat.     Once  more  in  the  ;  fell  In  with 

the  general  and  Paton.  We  were  covered  with  wounds.  W 
our  flight  in  the  rear  of  our  broken  troops.  By  the  direction  of  the 
general  I  had  unfurled  the  standard.  It  was  home  off  the  held  liv- 
ing at  the  sword's  point.  But  that  honour  cost  me  much.  1  was 
assailed  by  three  fierce  dragoons;  five  fell.. wed  close  in  the  rear.  I 
called  to  Paton, — in  a  moment  he  was  by  my  side.  I  threw  the 
standard  to  the  general,  and  we  rushed  on  the  foe.   Th(  Death 

our  swords;  but  my  faithful  steed,  which   had  carried  mi 
all  my  dangers,  was  mortally  wounded.     He  fell.     I  was  thro1 
among  the  fallen  enemy.     I  fainted.     I  opened  my  eyes  on  q 
I  found  myself  in  the  presence  of  Monmouth — a  prisoner — wit): 
wretched    creatures,    awaiting    in    awful    suspense,    their   ultimate 
destiny." 

Thus  the  rebellion  at  Bothwell,  as  it  was  called,  was  m 
There  cannot  be  any  just  account  given  of  the  number  of  the  slain, 
because  they  were  murdered  up  and  down  the  fields  as  the  soldiers 
met  them.     It  was  reckoned  that  400  were  killed,  and  1200  surren- 
dered prisoners  on  the  muir,  who  were  not  only  disarmed  and 
almost  naked,  but  made  to  lie  down  flat  on  the  ground,  and  q 
fered  to  change  their  posture.     If  any  of  them  so  much  as  r 
himself,  he  wras  shot  dead  in  an  instant.    There  had  been  a  much 
greater  slaughter,  had  it  not  been  for  the  duke,  and  tin-   int 
several  noblemen  and  gentlemen  at  that  time  with  his  Grace.    Never- 
theless, great  were  the  severities  used  by  the  Boldiers,  a-  the  follow- 
ing glaring  instances  will  evince  : — Mr.  William  Gordon  of  Earl 
having  his  affairs  to  settle,  could  not  join  the  country  army,  hut  sent 
his  son, Mr.  Alexander,  before,  who  was  in  the  action.     Mr.  William, 
not  knowing  of  the  disaster  of  the  west  country  army,  and  riding  as 
quickly  as  he  could  to  join  them,  was  met  by  a  party  i 
dragoons,  and,  refusing  to  surrender,  was  killed  on  the  spot.     His 
friends  could  not  get  him  buried  with   the  rest  ot'  his  family,  and 
therefore  he  lies  interred  in  the  church-yard  of  Glassford.     A  pillar 
was  erected  over  his  grave,  but  no  inscription  was  suffered  to  be  upon 
it.     Mr.  (afterwards  Sir)  Alexander  Gordon   narrowly  escaped,  hy 
means  of  one  of  his  tenants,  who,  knowing  him  as  he  rode  through 
Hamilton  after  the  defeat,  made  him  dismount,  put  his  horse  furniture 
into  a  dunghill,  and  obliged  him  to  put  on  women's  clothes,  and  rock 
the  cradle,  by  which  means  he  was  preserved. 

Several  were  murdered  in  cold  blood   hy  the  soldiers,! 
day,  on  the  road  near  Hamilton.    They  were  going  to  hear  sermon 
in  the  camp,  i 
over  the  river 
parish  of  Glassford 


(330  BATTLE  OF   BOTHWELL  BRIDGE. 

ton,  Eobert  Steil,  William  Pate,  and  Archibald  Dick,  from  the 
parish  of  Evandale,  and  Eobert  Findlay  in  that  of  Stonehouse. 
Next  day,  Arthur  Inglis  in  Cambusnethan,  reading  his  Bible  in  a 
furrow,  was  supposed  to  be  a  whig  by  the  soldiers  who  happened  to 
perceive  him,  and  therefore  one  of  them  fired  from  a  distance,  but 
missed  him.  The  good  man  looked  about,  and  not  offering  to  move, 
the  soldiers  came  aud  clave  him  through  the  skull,  and  so  despatched 
him  ;  and  indeed  they  scarcely  spared  any  they  met  with  near  the 
field  of  battle. 

Dreadful  were  the  consecpiences  of  this  fatal  action  ;  and  had  it 
not  been  for  Monmouth's  lenity,  they  had  been  much  greater ;  for 
some  of  the  officers  proposed  to  burn  Glasgow,  Hamilton,  and  the 
country  round  Bothwell-briclge  ;  but  the  general  rejected  the  propo- 
sal with  indignation.  Most  of  the  gentlemen  in  the  western  shires 
were  brought  to  trouble.  Sir  Thomas  Stuart  of  Coltness,  son  to  Sir 
James  Stuart,  who  was  provost  of  Edinburgh,  was  obliged  to  retire 
to  Holland,  orders  being  issued  for  apprehending  him,  though 
neither  he  nor  any  of  his  servants  were  there. 

Dalziel's  commission  to  be  lieutenant-general  came  down  on  the 
day  of  battle.  The  Laird  of  Lundin  brought  the  first  news  of  the 
action  to  the  council,  who  immediately  sent  despatches  to  Lauder- 
dale, and  wrote  to  colonel  Struthers  in  Northumberland,  to  secure 
the  borders,  stop  and  imprison  the  rebels,  and  give  what  orders  he 
thought  proper  to  accomplish  this  end. 

The  prisoners  taken  at  Bothwell,  among  whom  was  Mr.  John  Kid, 
were  sent  to  Edinburgh.  In  their  journey  they  were  generally  tied 
two  and  two,  made  a  gazing-stock  in  the  places  through  which  they 
passed,  and  exposed  to  the  cruel  mockings  of  the  profane,  who  said, 
"  Where  is  now  your  God?  Take  him  up  now,  and  Mr.  Welch,  who 
said  you  should  win  the  day  ;"  though  Mr.  Welch  never  said  any 
such  thing.  When  they  came  to  Edinburgh,  the  council  ordered  the 
magistrates  to  put  them  into  the  Inner  Gray-friars'  church-yard,  with 
proper  sentinels  over  them,  viz.,  twenty-four  to  guard  them  at  night, 
and  eight  in  the  day-time.  The  officers  were  to  keep  a  list  of  the 
sentinels,  that,  if  any  of  the  prisoners  should  escape,  the  sentinels 
should  throw  the  dice,  and  answer  body  for  body.  The  officers  were 
to  be  accountable  for  the  sentinels,  and  the  town  of  Edinburgh  for 
the  officers.  These  orders  were  put  in  execution,  and  the  prisoners 
were  all  carried  to  the  place  appointed,  except  a  few  who  were  put 
in  prison,  and  continued  in  that  enclosure  near  five  months,  mostly  in 
the  open  air.  Here  they  generally  stood  all  day,  and  lay  all  night 
on  the  cold  ground,  without  any  other  accommodation  ;  and,  if  any 
of  them,  in  the  night-time,  had  raised  their  heads  for  a  little  ease, 
the  soldiers  were  sure  to  fire  at  them.  It  would  be  endless  to  re- 
count all  their  hardships,  and  with  what  difficulty  persons  were 
allowed  to  bring  them  any  necessary  provisions,  and  how  the  women 
were  insulted  and  abused  by  the  soldiers.  It  was  esteemed  a  singu- 
lar favour  that  some  huts  made  of  deals  were  set  up  for  them  a  few 
weeks  before  they  were  brought  out  of  this  place. 

On  the  26th,  a  proclamation  was  issued  against  the  rebels,  as  they 
called  them.     Many  names  were  inserted  in  this  proclamation  and, 


SKIRMISH    AT   AIRSMOSS.  631 

among  others,  that  of  Mr.  John  King.  The  two  brothers  of  the  earl 
of  Galloway  were  also  named  in  it;  but  the  council  afterwards  de- 
clared they  had  made  it  appear  that  the}7  were  not  in  the  rebellion. 

This  proclamation  made  way  for  the  soldiers  to  commit  many  cru- 
elties through  the  country.  A  great  many  parties  were  dispersed 
through  the  west  and  south,  but  none  were  so  noted  for  their  bar- 
barities as  Claverhouse,  and  those  under  his  command.  Accordingly. 
upon  any  frivolous  information,  they  attacked  the  houses  of  those 
whom  they  pretended  had  been  in  the  rising,  especially  through  the 
shire  of  Ayr,  which  had  suffered  so  much  the  last  year  by  the  High- 
land host. 

Claverhouse,  marching  into  Galloway,  with  some  English  dragoons, 
scarcely  made  any  distinction  between  those  who  had  been  at  Both- 
well  and  others,  seized  all  the  horses  they  could  find,  plundered  the 
houses,  particularly  in  the  parishes  of  Carsphairn,  Balmaclellan,  and 
Glencairn ;  ravages,  murder,  and  the  most  atrocious  barbarities 
marking  his  progress. 

Soon  after  this,  the  duke  of  Monmouth  published  a  pardon  and  in- 
demnity to  all  tenants  and  subtenants  who  had  been  at  Bothwell,  in 
case  they  submitted  themselves  against  such  a  day.  There  was  like- 
wise a  bond  required  of  the  heritors  in  the  west  country,  obliging 
themselves  to  use  their  utmost  for  securing  those  who  did  not  accept 
of  this  favour.  But  as  few  of  the  tenants  chose  to  venture  themselves 
into  the  hands  of  the  magistrates  at  that  time,  so  the  heritors  chiefly 
concerned  refused  the  bond.  On  the  6th,  the  duke  took  his  leave  of 
the  council,  and  in  two  or  three  days  returned  to  England. 


Account  of  the  Skirmish  at  Airsmoss,  1680* 

We,  getting  notice  of  a  party  out  seeking  us,  sent  two  on  Wednes- 
day night,  late,  to  know  their  motion,  and  lay  on  a  moor  side  all 
night.  °  On  Thursday,  about  ten  hours,  we  went  to.take  some  meat, 
and  sent  out  other  two,  and  desired  them  to  consult  with  the  former 
two,  who  had  not  come  to  us,  but  were  lying  down  to  sleep.  They  all 
i*  >ur  returned  and  told  us  it  was  unnecessary  to  send  any  for  intelligence, 
they  having  secured  it.  Whereupon,  after  we  had  gotten  some  meat, 
we  came  to  a  piece  of  grass  and  lay  down,  and  presently  we  were 
all  alarmed  that  they  were  upon  us,  and  so  making  ready,  we  saw 
them  coming  fast  on,  and  that  about  three  or  four  hours  in  the  after- 
noon, and  each  one  resolving  to  fight,  I  rode  off  to  seek  a  Btrength  for 
our  advantage,  and  being  desired  by  a  countryman  to  go  into  such 
a  place  for  the  best  strength,  I  went  and  they  followed  ;  but  coming 
to  it  I  found  we  could  go  no  farther,  and  so  turning  and  drawing  up 
quickly,  eight  horse  on  the  right  hand  with  E.  D.,  and  fifteen  on  the 
left  with  me,  there  being  no  more,  the  foot  not  being  forty,  and  many  of 
them  ill-armed,— in  the  midst,  I  asked  all  if  they  were  willing  to  tight, 

*  This  paper,  from  the  pen  of  Hackston  of  Rathillet,  who  commanded  the  Presbyterians 
on  the  occasion  to  which  it  refers,  is  preserved  in  the  Appendix  to  Vol.  II.  of  Wodrow  s 
History. 


jq  SKIRMISH    Al 

J".  Gr.     The  enemy,  whom  I  took  to  be 
abov  i 

wind  of  us  ; 

a;,  sent  ,  and  the  rest  of 

d  the  enemy,  a  sb      _  rs<  coming  hard 

on  ns  hen  we  •■  Brst,  and 

ended  an  .  of  them,  both  horse  and  foot 

Our  horse  we  fire."  er.     I 

and  finding  the  horse  be- 
hind me  brok  gst  :      n,  and  went  or.  le,  with- 
ond.     I  was  pursued  by  severals,  with  whom  I 
space;  e               -  they  following  me.  and  sometimes 
I  :             _  \.e:n.     At  length  my]               __    1,  and  the  foremost    : 

oaintanee.    TTeboth 
:.  :  :.ght  with  small  -  [vantage  of  one 

ano:  -._""..    -     sing,  -        -   stricken  down  with  : 

h:  behind  rue.  and  received  three  sore  wounds     o  the  head, 

and  e  _  I  submitted  to.   T.       -        hed 

.  and  carried  me  to  their  rear,  and  laid  me  down,  where  I  bled 

their  men  sore  wounded.  They 
tony  of  being  brave  resolute  men.     "What  mo: . 
illed  I  did  r.  t  as  they  told  me 

as  theirs.     I  was  brought  toward  Douglas.     They 
and  brought  me  drink  out  of  an  house  by  the  way. 
t  C  ".el  Ian  was  kir.  1  I    me,  and  brought  a  chirurgeon 
1  but  little  nnds,  -     inching  the  blood. 

Xe:  a  ught    to  Lanark,  and  brought 

Lord  Ross  -  asked  many  que- 

tot  satisi  ;ng  them  with  answers.  Dalziel  threatened  to 
arrying  me  to  the  tolbooth,  caused  bind  i 

where  I  lay  till  Saturday  morn     a 

-     tiers,  be     a  ted  to  speak  to  me.  or  look 

give  -  And  nextmorni    _ 

hn  Pollock,  and  other  tw  us,  nc  a  two 

mile-  \  I   being  without   -      . -.   when  the  party  which  had 

broken-.  -      They  were  commanded  mall. 

^Ve  wei  y  used  by  :hem  on  the  way.  and  brought  to 

.oon,  and  carried  about  the  north 

where  the  town  mag  - 

-  .  ;.nd  setting  me  on  a  horse  with  my  I 

ther  three  bound  on       _  and  Mr. 

n  a  halbert  before  me.  and  another  head  in 

;k.  which  I  -      ..:'.-::  : hey  carried  us  up  the 

.  where  I  was  taken  down,  and  the  rest 
- 


DATE  DUE 

**mL'i    fifft 

GAYLORD 

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